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The Institute of Transportation Engineers found that in Texas, retimed lights resulted in a 24.6 percent
reduction in delays, and a 9.1 percent drop in fuel consumption. In California, traffic light tweaks
resulted in a 7.2 percent drop in travel time, the institute found.
Synchronized traffic lights, which form a progression of greens to keep traffic flowing, cut down on
delay and driver frustration, and also reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Emergency vehicles can
respond faster, too, according to the Institute.
It works on Hylan in the mornings, for example, funneling traffic toward the Verrazano Bridge, and
toward Tottenville during the evening commute. Other arteries are synched during rush hours, too, to
keep cars moving toward business districts or commuter destinations like the Staten Island
Expressway, a DOT spokeswoman said.
Most signal cycles fall between 45 and 120 seconds, with patterns varying at mid-day and overnight,
depending on traffic in the area and allowing ample time for pedestrians to cross.
"As with all major corridors citywide, we do monitor the roadways and make adjustments on an asneeded
basis to ease congestion and expedite traffic," a DOT spokeswoman said, adding the agency
has received no formal complaints regarding light timing along Hylan.
New technologies are being considered here, including Smart Lights, which Borough President James
Molinaro discovered while vacationing in Florida. Smart Lights use cameras to detect cars that are
waiting to proceed, and change the light accordingly.
Molinaro allocated $1 million for a study of how the lights would work here, and he believes they
could do wonders for traffic along Richmond Avenue between Arthur Kill Road and Victory
Boulevard, where he often gets stuck at red lights. Signals are often synched to stop traffic around
store parking lots along the stretch, he said, whether there are cars waiting to exit or not.
A Smart Light is currently undergoing a test at the Victory Boulevard entrance to the College of
Staten Island.
When it comes to considering new technologies, "we've got to come out of the Dark Ages," Molinaro
said. "We're supposed to be the cutting edge."
The DOT also plans to introduce wireless lights, which offer improved communication between
signals on streets like Hylan. The new wireless signals can be modified in the future based on
recommendations from the light-retiming study.
The DOT monitors more than half of the city's 12,300 signals, including about 60 percent of the
Island's traffic lights, through the Traffic Management Center in Long Island City, Queens. Problems
with lights wired through the center can be detected and corrected remotely. Problems with the city's
"freestanding" lights not connected to the center are found by inspectors or through calls to the 311
system. Contractors usually make repairs within two hours of notification.
TAIL:Maura Yates covers transportation news for the Advance. She may be reached at
myates@siadvance.com.
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