27 Sep New York City Launches Nation’s Most Sophisticated Active Traffic Management System Powered by TransCore’s TransSuite Traffic Management Software and RFID Technology
HARRISBURG, Penn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TransCore’s traffic management expertise supports the New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYCDOT) “Midtown in Motion” program that launched the most advanced active traffic management (ATM) system in the nation. TransCore designed New York’s next generation traffic control system that will encompass 12,400 traffic signals located throughout the five boroughs, creating the largest traffic signal control system in North America.
TransCore’s work includes its integrated TransSuite® traffic management software and the integration of its Encompass® radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, microwave sensors, KLD’s adaptive control module, and other related equipment using the New York City Wireless Network (NYCWiN).
New York City’s deployment will serve as a model for other metropolitans deploying intelligent transportation systems to mitigate choke points in their transportation network and reduce congestion and vehicle carbon emissions.
In a press conference held at New York City’s Joint Traffic Management Center (TMC), Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan joined by Federal Highway Administration Administrator Victor Mendez announced the “Midtown in Motion” program, a sophisticated traffic management system that will improve the flow of traffic in a 110-square-block area in Manhattan.
Many existing traffic management systems use pre-programmed signal patterns for different times of day; however, with the new traffic management system, real-time traffic data is transmitted from the field sensors, RFID readers and cameras, and integrated into the TransSuite traffic management software running at the TMC. This integrated view of active traffic conditions enables engineers to immediately address factors that contribute to traffic backups caused by congestion, construction, special events, dignitary motorcades or accidents.
Currently half of the City’s signalized intersections have been converted and integrated to the TransSuite management system, and the City plans to complete integration of all 12,400 signals by 2013. The work also includes the installation of 53 new turn lanes and 23 new turn signals enabling vehicles to turn from cross-town streets onto the avenues without blocking an entire lane of through-traffic.
Midtown in Motion utilizes advanced solid state traffic controllers (ASTC) and a state-of-the-art traffic controller installed at signalized intersections that are wirelessly controlled by TransSuite. The wireless system is powered by NYCWiN, the high-speed, citywide infrastructure dedicated to public safety and public service applications. The system employs the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol (NTCIP) standards, the Advanced Transportation Controller (ATC) standard, and NEMA TS2 Standards for traffic control. TransCore also assisted NYCDOT with the traffic controllers specification development, procurement, and testing as well as the NYCWiN wireless router procurement.
The Midtown in Motion system also provides real time, adaptive signal performance. Current traffic data is captured by TransCore’s RFID readers and other sensors, and then transmitted via NYCWiN to the traffic management center. Then KLD’s Adaptive Decision Support System (ACDSS) and TransSuite integrate and process the data to update and transmit applicable signal timing patterns for each intersection. The result of this integration enables Midtown in Motion to actively manage traffic and adapt the timing at each intersection to address real-time traffic conditions and alleviate congestion.
About TransCore
TransCore’s 75-year heritage supporting the transportation industry spans the development of RFID transportation applications at Los Alamos National Labs to implementation of the nation’s first electronic toll collection system. The breadth of the company’s expertise includes traffic management systems, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), systems integration, design consulting, operations, maintenance, RFID manufacturing, and extensive Web-based logistics systems. TransCore has installations in 46 countries and a vast portfolio of intellectual property. In 2011, Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranked TransCore No. 154 out of the Top 500 Design Firms.
TransCore offers an extensive suite of enterprise software applications, business process outsourcing, system integration, customer care and maintenance services to provide complete solutions, configurable to customers’ requirements. TransCore is a U.S. owned and operated company with headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa. TransCore operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Roper Industries, a Standard and Poor’s S&P 500 Index company.