82% of L.A.'s signal-controlled intersections are now synchronized, mayor will announce

About 82% of Los Angeles' signal-controlled intersections are now synchronized, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will announce today when a new set of intersections comes on line in South Los Angeles.

The new project includes synchronizing 70 intersections to improve traffic flow.

Named the Hyde Park West Project, the effort will help quicken north-south traffic flow on Crenshaw Boulevard and Western Avenue, according to the mayor's office.

The total number of signal-synchronized intersections in the city now stands at 3,597.

Traffic-signal synchronization has been a priority of Villaraigosa since taking office.

In 2007. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Villaraigosa announced that Los Angeles would receive $150 million to synchronize the city's 4,385 intersections with signals -- claiming that it would reduce drive times up to 16%, or shaving about 5 minutes from a 30-minute drive.

They also said the plan would help the environment because cars would idle less.

But officials acknowledged at the time that reduction in drive times was general and that motorists who use jammed roads would probably not see much relief. The synchronized lights aren't very effective at intersections with heavy traffic, they said.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

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Comments

[Wendy]

I hope this affects the unsynchronized and absurd timing of the lights around San Vicente/Fairfax.

[beamdog]

Is is time again to show off the wonderful "ATSAC" system with it's futuristic control center somewhere under downtown Los Angeles ?

If you don't have 100 per cent control of any one area, you have no control.

[Todd]

This is complete and total lie as any driver in Hollywood can attest to. Those "signal sync" signs went up with a flourish, but the program it is meant to trumpet is going down in flames. It's a pathetic, blatantly political ploy to draw attention to one of hizzoner's pet projects.

[Larry Scholnick]

San Vicente/Fairfax/Olympic is a special case because 3 separate traffic flows meet in close proximity. One approach is to divide the time into 3 segments, one for Olympic, one for Fairfax, and one for San Vicente; the result of this approach would be that all traffic would spend 2/3 of the signal cycle time (40 seconds per minute) waiting at a red light. A better approach divides the time into 2 segments, one for Olympic and one for Fairfax. San Vicente traffic crossing Olympic would get their green during the Fairfax-green portion of the cycle; San Vicente traffic crossing Fairfax would get their green during the Olympic-green portion of the cycle; however, this means that all San Vicente traffic spends half the cycle time in the short span of San Vicente between Olympic and Fairfax. When San Vicente traffic exceeds the amount that can be stored in that short span, then San Vicente traffic backs up.

[pe]

Wow! 1970s traffic light technology arrives in Los Angeles.

[lsm]

I must be one of those "motorists who use jammed roads." Here on the west side, I know no motorist who is not. We look forward to a sorely needed subway alternative to buses creeping and cars crawling through gridlock.

[Justin]

Wow! Why so harsh!

ATSAC was around long before the current mayor so don't blame it for his failings.

Further, LA's ATSAC is widely-respected by transportation professionals as one of the most complex and effective traffic synchronization systems in the world. Unfortunately, signal synchronization can only do so much when traffic is as bad as ours.

So, everyone play nice.

[Andrew V]

When a small motorcycle gets one person to work quickly, why the box?
A car is useful for family drives and grocery shopping.
Kids can use a bus to go to school.
Every grandmother can plan their drives at good times.

Understandably, a cot can be used for office sleeping during long days.
People need to understand what is really important in their lives.