GTT and partner GPI to highlight collaboration that led to installing TSP on the largest bus network in the United States at Detroit conference in June
An innovative project aimed at speeding up bus service in New York City has been named a national award finalist by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America).
The project – which uses industry-leading OpticomTM Transit Signal Priority (TSP) to allow buses to request a green light at intersections — is a collaboration between smart mobility technology provider Global Traffic Technologies, engineering firm Greenman-Pederson, Inc. (GPI), ITS provider Transcore, the New York City Department of Transportation and the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Signal priority is being deployed to nearly 6,000 buses and 13,000 intersections in NYC.
The award will be presented next month in Detroit at the annual meeting of the ITS America. The Best of ITS awards will highlight the most impactful partnership projects this year. On Monday, June 4, finalists will present their projects to state Department of Transportation delegates who will then vote for the best project.
Bringing an essential transportation technology to the largest bus network in the United States has taken years of collaboration, coordination and testing, said Victor Darias, GTT’s vice president of strategic sales – East.
“Every project that we’re part of involves some type of partnership,” Darias said. “But the sheer scale and complexity of New York City make this project incredible.”
Darias will pitch the project alongside Mark Yedlin, GPI’s director of simulating modelling services.
Darias and Yedlin will share how GTT and GPI worked together to develop, test and deploy a centralized TSP solution. The project started as a pilot program along NYC’s second busiest bus route – SBS M15. GPI used advanced traffic modelling simulations to estimate travel time savings and traffic impacts from the TSP technology. GTT developed and deployed a software-based TSP program that leverages existing network connectivity to communicate between buses, the central advanced traffic management system and to intersections throughout the city.
The pilot project was a huge success, reducing bus travel times an average of 18 percent. The TSP technology is now being deployed to many more routes in the network.
The New York City project epitomizes GTT’s approach to creating smart city solutions, Darias said. GTT and GPI were able to develop a solution that protected the MTA’s existing investments, leveraged previously-deployed communication networks and helped allay concerns about how TSP would impact other vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
“We took the time to ask the right questions and listen to everyone’s needs and concerns,” Darias said. “The result is a scalable solution that is having an immediate positive impact in New York.”
In addition to the presentation, GTT will be part of ITS America’s vendor exhibition June 5-7. GTT staff will be available to discuss smart mobility and intelligent transportation solutions Tuesday through Thursday at Booth 714.
To learn more about the ITS America 2018 annual meeting, visit itsdetroit2018.org.
Traffic Technology Today: http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=91325
