(COLORADO SPRINGS) —The City of Colorado Springs is prioritizing safety and traffic flow on Powers Boulevard by carefully managing the timing of its traffic lights.
With 720 traffic lights under its management, the City uses data-driven strategies to determine the timing of green lights, particularly favoring main roads like Powers Blvd. during peak hours to maintain smooth traffic flow.
“We’re trying to balance the flow of traffic and not make people sit forever on a side street,” said Todd Frisbie, a Traffic Engineer for the City of Colorado Springs.
Traffic lights are timed based on data that informs the City about the optimal amount of green time, known as ‘splits,’ for each movement. These splits are synchronized across intersections using a method called ‘offsets’ to create a coordinated traffic flow.
Frisbie explained that the offsets are set by starting one intersection at zero and the next one a few seconds later, based on the time it takes to travel between them. This synchronization aims to create a ‘synced band’ of traffic lights that work together efficiently.
However, incidents such as pedestrian calls can disrupt this synchronization. When a pedestrian needs to cross Powers Blvd., the timing must adjust to allow safe crossing, which can affect the coordinated flow.
Malfunctions have also been reported, particularly at the Dublin Boulevard and North Carefree Circle intersections, where issues like short cycling and skipped movements have occurred.
Frisbie noted that when a traffic light controller malfunctions, it defaults to programmed splits and may resort to flashing if the issue persists, disrupting the timing band.
Despite these challenges, Frisbie advised drivers to maintain the speed limit to stay in sync with the traffic lights.
The City continues to monitor and adjust traffic light timing on major roads like Powers Blvd. to ensure safety and efficiency, with surveys conducted every few years to assess and improve the system.
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