New Traffic Signals Save Time, Money and Fuel
By Space Coast Daily // October 9, 2013
Intelligent Traffic System
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Motorists spend less time on the road and spend less money on fuel as a result of 114 traffic-responsive signal controls installed along nine major roadways in Brevard County, according to a cost-benefit analysis conducted by Lassiter Transportation Group Inc.
The Intelligent Traffic System, designed to alleviate traffic jams, cut down on environmental pollution and reduce accident rates, saves motorists in the county an estimated $24.9 million annually in time and fuel costs, according to the engineering and planning analysis of cost and benefit.
“This is a savings where we’re not talking about less money being collected in taxes, but literally in terms of dollars people are keeping in their pockets as a result of fuel savings and less time on the road,” said John Denninghoff, director of Public Works.
“Traffic signals are a necessary evil, but when they don’t work like they should it can cost you a lot of money.”
In the past year, traffic-responsive signals have been installed along 40 miles of roadway throughout the county, including:
• U.S. 192 –between Interstate 95 and Dairy Road
• Wickham Road – between Fountainhead and U.S. 192; Shoppes and Pineda Causeway; and Mariah and Sarno
• Palm Bay Road – between Minton and Robert J. Conlan
• Minton Road – between I-95 and Emerson
• SR 520/US1 – between Clearlake and S. Banana River
• U.S. 1 South – between Lake Washington and Babcock
• SR50 – between I-95 and SR405
• SR405 – between SR50 and U.S. 1
• SR518 – between Wickham and Pineapple
Brevard County’s Advanced Traffic Control System is projected to save county motorists more than one million road-time hours and $3.9 million in fuel costs. Time-saving value, based on Texas A&M University Transportation Institute’s 2011 Urban Mobility Report (and assuming 1.25 occupants per vehicle,) amounts to $20.9 million, according to the report.
Denninghoff said the $9.1 million signal system, funded through federal stimulus funds, county transportation funds and grants was completed in mid-April.
