Temecula Implements Citywide Adaptive Traffic Signal Control to Optimize Traffic Flow

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Hefty Commute Times and Congestion Plagued the City’s Primary Arterials and Freeway Interchanges. Temecula’s major corridors connect the City’s residential communities to commercial districts, institutions, and the region’s primary interstate, the I-15 freeway. Existing signal coordination did not respond to prevailing traffic conditions causing unnecessary congestion. In addition, the lack of communication with I-15 signal interchanges caused traffic to backup on the off-ramps, causing residual queuing during the morning and evening rush hours. The project scope included seven major arterials spanning 18 miles of roadway, connecting residential communities, commercial districts, and the freeway. The city faced significant congestion levels, traffic backup on off-ramps, and major intersections that included freeway access.

The City of Temecula is a rapidly growing urban area in California, USA, known for its residential communities, commercial districts, and proximity to the I-15 freeway. The city has been facing significant traffic congestion issues, particularly during peak hours, which has affected the quality of life for its residents. Temecula's major corridors are crucial for connecting residential areas to commercial zones and institutions, making efficient traffic management a priority for the city administration. The city has been proactive in seeking advanced traffic solutions to improve mobility, reduce commute times, and enhance the overall quality of life for its residents. With a focus on leveraging technology to address these challenges, Temecula has implemented various initiatives to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion.

McCain’s QuicTrac adaptive control software was implemented to lower congestion and maximize thoroughfare with a system that is easy to understand, and simple to set up and maintain. It was selected for its proven local success and ability to maximize the use of Temecula’s existing infrastructure - detectors, controllers, and central control software. Each arterial was evaluated for current conditions highlighting necessary infrastructure improvements (i.e., separating loop detectors to provide lane-by-lane vehicular data) and signal timing plan updates. New traffic volume counts were collected and analyzed to engineer new coordination plans that served as the base parameters for adaptive operations. At the major freeway access points, yellow yield or one-way communication with Caltrans’ signals was established. Coordination plans were then implemented to clear traffic from the ramp signals onto the main corridors to minimize queuing down the ramps, whereas normal coordination emphasizes only movement along the corridor.

• Temecula successfully achieved their goal of improving the quality of life for residents by reducing commute times and smog-producing vehicle emissions.
• Results varied on an arterial by arterial basis, yielding significant citywide improvements in travel time (14%) and corridor speeds (17%), as well as reductions in stops (29%) that far exceeded expectations.
• Results also showed enhancements in the level of service (LOS), measured in delay per vehicle (sec/veh), for each intersection during AM and PM peaks.

• $2.6 million in annual travel time savings.
• $437,000 in annual fuel costs saved.
• 29% fewer stops during peak periods.