There is much more to synchronizing traffic lights then getting cars to move faster through our road networks. Montreal is in the (much overdue) process of rolling out a synched core with a projected completion of Q4 2008.
The impact isn’t trivial. Even changing the delay of lights by a few seconds could reduce road congestion by as much as 10%. It would reduce air pollution from vehicles by as much as one-fifth, cut accidents at intersections and save about five tanks of gasoline per household each year.
Read on at Autopia.
Tags: Montreal · Synchronized · Traffic Lights3 Comments
3 responses so far ↓
Traffic Light synchronization is just one idea in a long list of ‘improvements’ to the traffic situation. Others are road widening (higher road capacity), wider turns at curves (less need to slow down), removal of trees (to improve visibility).
What of the impact of the people living nearby? Is there an increase in accidents since the average speed of the cars has increased?
In the context of montreal, it is interesting to see that the ‘charte de pietion’ is going in the opposite direction with measures to slow down traffic (at least on local streets) and to increase the security of pedestrians.
I agree with James. I think the reduction in pollution from synchronising traffic lights is negated by the increase in traffic (induced demand….). Making it easier to drive in the city should not be a priority. I don’t know if this is intentional but walking down Sainte-Catherine street downtown, it seems like the lights are synchronised for pedestrians… also, they should synchronise the lights on de Maisonneuve for the average speed of cycling.
The post was intended to highlight the reduction of vehicular emissions due to less frequent idling at a red or fewer stop-starts on their journeys. I’m all for reducing traffic in the city, reducing speeds on the side streets and for that matter on the mains. Having driven down Lacordaire blvd which has 50kph synched traffic lights you can witness the speeds being shaped by the process. Speeding serves no purpose, so those that frequent the street all travel at ’safe’ fuel efficient speeds.
Living on the corner of a Blvd and a fairly well traveled street I can attest to the fact that having this light synced with the other blvd intersections would reduce my local noise levels and pollutants from idling.
@jon I don’t think people would drive into the city more just because some of the streets flow better, they still have to sit in traffic on their commute and deal with parking issues. So ‘induced demand’ is a bit of a stretch in this regard I would think. I like the idea of bike speed regulated traffic lights!!!
@james I all for placing pedestrian and cyclist safety first above the automobile. I wonder though for your question about average speeds increasing… I would think that once the driver’s get used to the new speed limitations everyone would benefit. There would be fewer excessive speeders and less running of yellows and reds perhaps?