Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures Case Studies:
Maricopa County, Arizona
Printable Version [PDF, 587KB]
You may need the Adobe® Reader® to view the PDFs
on this page.
Contact Information: Operations Feedback at OperationsFeedback@dot.gov
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
FHWA-HOP-18-052
December 2018
Maricopa County Traffic Signal Program Overview
Traffic Signal Systems Capability Maturity Self Assessment
Traffic Signal Systems Capability Maturity Self-Evaluation Tool: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tsmoframeworktool/tool/tssc/
ATSPM Capability
Maricopa County plays a leadership role in the 24-member consortium called the AZTech Regional Partnership in Arizona. Members of the partnership represent organizations in the Phoenix metropolitan area and work together under the shared mission of providing seamless transportation across jurisdictional boundaries.
The AZTech Regional Partnership implemented Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) in a regional context using Maricopa County's central ATSPM server. The ATSPM server is part of AZTech's Regional Archived Data System (RADS), which is a system for collecting, processing, and archiving intelligent transportation systems (ITS) data from regional and local subsystems and 14 traffic management centers. Maricopa County's deployment approach leverages the existing Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Communication Network (RCN) communication infrastructure, minimizing implementation costs and maximizing the availability of the technology for agencies in the region. AZTech ATSPM installations use a simplified detection configuration capable of collecting the following signal performance measures:
- Approach delay
- Approach speed
- Approach volume
- Arrivals on red
- Coordination diagram
- Pedestrian delay
- Phase termination
- Preemption details
- Split failure
- Split monitor
ATSPM System Maturity
Photo credit: Maricopa Co. DOT
"All the agencies involved are impressed that when a citizen complaint arrives, how quickly and easily this tool can help identify the severity of a traffic signal issue, and narrow into its root cause."
ITS Project Manager
Maricopa County Department of Transportation
Photo credit: Maricopa Co. DOT
"ATSPM is a helpful tool for getting funding support. Showing good data representations of performance, how specific investments can improve performance, is very convincing to nontechnical audiences."
ITS Branch Manager
Maricopa County Department of Transportation
Maricopa County's ATSPM program is part of AZTech's long-term deployment initiative and evolution since the inception of AZTech in 1996. In 2016, Maricopa County launched its regional ATSPM pilot program with 70 signalized intersections (10 signals per jurisdiction). Today, the system integrates 273 signals equipped with high-resolution controllers.
ATSPM Implementation
Jurisdictions that form the Phoenix metropolitan area have pooled resources for ITS collaboration since the creation of AZTech in 1996. AZTech is an operational partnership of regional transportation interests to improve coordination throughout the Phoenix area. The technical expertise of AZTech has enabled ITS deployment across the Phoenix region. Jurisdictions that are home to the AZTech ATSPM systems are responsible for the installation of compatible controllers and detection configuration. AZTech takes responsibility for the consolidation, analysis, and storage of data for its members' ATSPM systems.
Maricopa County has led AZTech in the deployment of ATSPM systems, which are spread across eight jurisdictions. Maricopa County and AZTech used the open source Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) ATSPM monitoring software to manage information being collected by the ATSPM system. The ATSPM server, which allows ATSPM data signals to communicate to the same server, is linked to AZTech's pooling data from various agencies in the region into one interface. The one-of-a-kind ATSPM system is the outcome of trust and working relationships that have formed and solidified over 22 years of AZTech Regional Partnership collaboration. Furthermore, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) ATSPM Peer Exchange provided meaningful learning opportunities for AZTech Regional Partnership partners to gain knowledge about the system.
Additional Resources
- To learn more, visit http://www.aztech.org/ and https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/arterial_mgmt/performance_measures.htm
- More information on Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures is available on the Every Day Counts website at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/atspm.cfm
For additional information please contact:
Eddie Curtis, FHWA
Resource Center, 404-562-3920, Eddie.Curtis@dot.gov
Every Day Counts (EDC), a State-based initiative of FHWA's Center for Accelerating Innovation, works with State, local, and private sector partners to encourage the adoption of proven technologies and innovations aimed at shortening and enhancing project delivery.
www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/
