Travel speeds increase up to 19 percent
Feb. 14, 2011
ORANGE – The results are in and the Beach Boulevard signal synchronization project has increased travel speeds for commuters up to 19 percent, decreased travel times up to 16 percent and reduced the number of stops up to 38 percent.
Completed in November, the project synchronized more than 70 traffic signals along the 21 miles of Beach Boulevard, which spans from Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach to Whittier Boulevard in Whittier.
“Signal synchronization is a cost-effective way to provide significant improvements quickly for the public,” said Orange County Transportation Authority Chair Patricia Bates. “With 84,000 vehicles traveling along stretches of Beach Boulevard everyday, this allows more vehicles to travel farther in less time, without major new road construction, and I look forward to expanding the program as part of Measure M2.”
Signal synchronization helps reduce stop-and-go traffic patterns and improve travel flow by coordinating green lights for a series of signals. When implemented, drivers can often pass through a number of green lights before stopping.
It decreases travel times, reduces the number of stops and increases average speeds, translating into $7 million in fuel savings along Beach Boulevard over a three-year period.
OCTA is synchronizing signals along 10 major roads throughout Orange County with funds from Proposition 1B and the original Measure M. Work is currently under way at Orangethorpe Avenue, Brookhurst Street, Edinger Avenue and El Toro Road.
As part of Measure M2, OCTA plans to synchronize 2,000 signals countywide.
