RTC, City of Henderson and Clark County Collaborate on Adaptive Traffic Signal Pilot on Eastern Avenue to Reduce Congestion and Improve Travel Time

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), together with the City of Henderson and Clark County, launched a smart adaptive traffic signal pilot program in Southern Nevada, along 14 intersections on Eastern Avenue between Beckler Drive and Pebble Road, to reduce traffic delays and congestion and improve travel time.

Instead of using traditionally timed traffic signals, adaptive signal control technology (ASCT) has been deployed to determine if it can help make traffic signals more efficient and improve performance metrics, potentially resulting in:

• reduced traffic delays and congestion
• improved travel time reliability
• decreased vehicle emissions
• improved safety

“Roadways are limited in their capacity, but technology can be the new asphalt and help increase capacity for additional vehicles,” said MJ Maynard, RTC chief executive officer. “We appreciate the collaboration with City of Henderson and Clark County on this project along a continually busy corridor that sees thousands of vehicles per day.”

Unlike traditionally timed traffic signals, signals with ASCT are supposed to react to changing traffic conditions caused by special events, road construction, and other roadway incidents to provide the best solutions to traffic signal phasing based on real time. First, strategically placed sensors collect data and feed this data into a controller to evaluate and develop signal timing improvements and modifications. Then, the adaptive signal technology implements the signal timing updates. This process is continuously updated to ensure the signal timing is responding to real-time conditions on the roadway. In comparison, traditional signals require manual traffic counts and periodic timing adjustments.

Motorists may notice a difference with the order of green phases at an intersection. This means that when a motorist is stopped at a red signal, instead of waiting for the entire cycle to complete, the ASCT will identify the best course of action and turn the signal green sooner than may be expected.

The Eastern Avenue corridor, from Beckler Drive and Pebble Road, has 14 signalized intersections. It consistently receives a high volume of traffic and connects to the I-215. The corridor generates high-peak traffic and complaints from drivers and pedestrians. This, along with its unique mix of residential and commercial uses, makes Eastern Avenue an ideal location to deploy and pilot ASCT.

This pilot project began October 2020 and concludes March 2021. For more information, visit rtcsnv.com/adaptive-signal. Those who travel on Eastern Avenue are encouraged to share their experience via a short survey on the webpage.

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