The economic and social impact of dynamic signal coordination in Sydney

The Department of Main Roads, NSW is currently engaged in the implementation of the Sydney coordinated adaptive traffic (scat) system. Associated literature is used to analyse the social and economic benefits of the dynamic, traffic responsive signal coordination on which scat control is based. The results indicate improvements in travel times, accident rates, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. Arterial travel times are reduced by 20 per cent and this corresponds to an annual delay saving of 30 million vehicle hours - worth $120 million to the community. The increase in average speed also benefits air pollution levels with carbon monoxide concentrations expected to drop by 10 per cent adjacent to scat arterials. The reduction in the number of vehicle stops following coordination improves fuel consumption, saving 37 million litres of petrol each year, at a retail value of $10 million. Traffic accident rates are also predicted to decrease by 20 per cent, saving twenty lives, 1000 injuries and associated costs to the community of $9 million. The improved traffic flow is expected to attract through traffic to the arterials to the benefit of the residential environment. The communication network associated with the scat system has a diverse capability and is especially useful in detecting fault conditions for prompt attention. In financial and social terms it is apparent that the benefits discussed clearly justify the costs of implementing the scat system.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Bastable, A J
• Conference:
  • Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) Conference, 10th, 1980, Sydney
• Publication Date: 1980-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 245-51
• Monograph Title: Procedures for analysis of traffic flow patterns using detector loops
• Serial:
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue Number: 4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Arterial highways; Costs; Crash rates; Fuel consumption; Stopping; Traffic control; Traffic delays; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signals; Travel time
• Geographic Terms: Australia; Sydney (Australia)
• ATRI Terms: Air pollution; Area traffic control; Arterial road; Cost; Crash rate; Delay; Fuel consumption; Linked signals; Stops; Traffic signal; Travel time
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01439203
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 10:04PM