Adaptive Traffic Signal Technology Deployed in King of Prussia

Recently I have been writing about ways technology can help improve our transportation system (such as virtual subway storefronts and live transit data) unfortunately these technology initiatives seem to be taking place in other countries or are in their infancy. We can enjoy some of this marriage between transportation and technology right now, in our own backyard. Adaptive Traffic Signals, deployed eighteen months ago in King of Prussia at the intersections of 202 and Gulph Road and 202 and Mall Boulevard have already improved traffic flow and safety.

The product being used is an InSync system by Rhythm Engineering that has been installed in about 50 locations across the country. The technology does as its name implies: it adapts signals based on traffic. Regular traffic signals rely on a timing cycle to distribute traffic, this often leads to wasted green time when little to no traffic is on the cross street. With the addition of cameras and computer processing, the InSync system is able to gauge traffic and adjust timing on the fly, depending on the amount of congestion. This flexibility creates a much more efficient signal.

Since being deployed 18 months ago traffic flow has increased 50% and the amount of accidents at the intersections has also decreased. The technology is currently in the early planning stages to be extended all the way along 202 to the William F. Danne Hower Bridge with the goal of being completed by Black Friday.

A few weeks ago, GVF had the chance to talk with Charles DeVitis, Upper Merion Township Traffic Signal Division Supervisor about the adaptive traffic signals, check out the video below:

Posted in: Alex Felts,local,transit,video