FUEL-EFFICIENT TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT. THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 1983-85

Nearly one-fifth of California's annual petroleum consumption occurs on streets controlled by traffic signals. This report presents results from three years of a statewide initiative to retime those signals to produce more energy-efficient traffic flow: the Fuel-Efficient Traffic Signal Management (FETSIM) Program. To date, sixty-one cities and one county have retimed a total of 3,172 signals under grants from the FETSIM Program. Improved timings have reduced vehicular delays by over 15 percent in project areas, and stops have been decreased by 16 percent, resulting in smoother traffic flows. Overall travel times through these systems have dropped by 7.2 percent. Fuel use has been cut by 8.6 percent. The reduction in fuel expenditures alone will produce savings of $72.3 million for California motorists--almost 18 times the total cost of the FETSIM Program. Reduced vehicular wear and tear and faster travel times will add as much as $224.4 million in benefits. The program also reduces air pollution emissions, improves traffic safety, creates better operating conditions for public transit vehicles, strengthens capabilities of local traffic engineering staff, and builds better data bases for future traffic-related work in participating communities.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Berkeley

  Institute of Transportation Studies Library
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94720

  California Energy Commission

  1516 9th Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  California Department of Transportation

  1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814
• Authors:
  • Deakin, E A
  • Skabardonis, A
• Publication Date: 1985-12

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Benefits; Fuel consumption; Improvements; Reduction (Chemistry); Savings; Stopped time delays; Stopping; Traffic delays; Traffic flow; Traffic safety; Traffic signal timing; Traffic signals; Travel budgets; Travel costs; Travel time
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00470909
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1988 12:00AM