Hamilton lighting project: City seeks synchronicity
By Lynn Zerschling | Posted: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Traffic flows on Hamilton Boulevard Monday, taking advantage of the new system of synchronized traffic lights. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
SIOUX CITY -- As a red Dodge Ram pickup led the way, a platoon of cars followed south on Hamilton Boulevard from Marketplace, caravanning together uninterrupted until they reached the busy intersection at West 19th Street.
Then, they hit a red light. When the signal turned green, the group sailed south hitting green lights all the way to Tri-View Avenue.
What a difference a million-dollar-plus project makes.
The city's contractor is nearly finished installing the master equipment to control 16 traffic lights along Hamilton Boulevard. A controller already has been installed in each signal, programmed to allow traffic to flow smoothly along the heavily traveled roadway.
"This will allow people to hit as many green lights as possible," David Carney, the city's senior civil engineer, said.
"I take that road every day," said Hilary Budde, a personal banker at Central Bank at 2906 Hamilton Blvd. "I have noticed a vast improvement, but around 4 p.m. every day it still gets congested."
As part of the project, the contractor, KWS of Cedar Falls, Iowa, installed yellow flashing arrows on the signals. The arrows allow drivers to make left turns if there is no oncoming traffic.
While others contend they haven't seen much improvement in traffic flow, delivery truck driver David Ryan said, "Anything that will keep traffic moving is fine with me."
Vehicles sitting at those red lights and spewing exhaust garnered the city a state grant to help pay for the project as a way to improve air quality. Carney said studies show a reduction of 350,000 gallons a year in carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide.
The project will also assist the Sioux City Fire Department. Pre-emption equipment has been installed in traffic signals along Hamilton Boulevard allowing firefighters the ability to trigger the lights to green. The equipment still needs to be installed in the rigs.
12 things to know about the project
How many lights? 16
What hours are the lights synchronized? 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, going off line overnight.
Anybody noticing? Maybe not. "You mean they're connected? I just thought I was getting lucky hitting the green lights!" Nancy Olson, retired, Sioux City quipped.
How much time will the pre-emption feature save emergency responders? 41 seconds.
Where else can firefighters trigger lights green: South Lakeport Street and Sergeant Road intersection by the malls.
How long will the green lights last? Each intersection has a different minimum and maximum green time splits of up to 55 seconds, depending on traffic volumes and time of day. From the time a light turns green, goes to red and cycles back to green will vary from 80 to 85 seconds, depending upon the light's location.
How is cycle time determined? Based on traffic counts, turning movement counts, pedestrian requirements and engineering judgment.
How do the lights work? A separate computer installed on each signal is connected by underground fiber optic lines and eventually will be connected to a central computer. Now lights are programmed with a coordinated timing sequence.
What's left to do? Installing a central computer controller in Woodbury County Courthouse to control Hamilton Boulevard lights and eventually those downtown. Once the computer is operating, city will work with engineering consultants to tweak the timing of the lights along Hamilton Boulevard.
What is the peak traffic along Hamilton? 22,000 vehicles per day.
What did the project cost: Estimated total: $1.156 million. Original contract cost $921,907, with state paying $772,400 of the bill. Some other costs: $108,230 to install fire department pre-emption equipment and $1,500 for more wiring at Stone Park Boulevard.
What's next? Synchronizing the traffic signals downtown in 2010. Then, it's on to Gordon Drive, Floyd Boulevard and Lewis Boulevard.
Then, they hit a red light. When the signal turned green, the group sailed south hitting green lights all the way to Tri-View Avenue.
What a difference a million-dollar-plus project makes.
The city's contractor is nearly finished installing the master equipment to control 16 traffic lights along Hamilton Boulevard. A controller already has been installed in each signal, programmed to allow traffic to flow smoothly along the heavily traveled roadway.
"This will allow people to hit as many green lights as possible," David Carney, the city's senior civil engineer, said.
"I take that road every day," said Hilary Budde, a personal banker at Central Bank at 2906 Hamilton Blvd. "I have noticed a vast improvement, but around 4 p.m. every day it still gets congested."
As part of the project, the contractor, KWS of Cedar Falls, Iowa, installed yellow flashing arrows on the signals. The arrows allow drivers to make left turns if there is no oncoming traffic.
While others contend they haven't seen much improvement in traffic flow, delivery truck driver David Ryan said, "Anything that will keep traffic moving is fine with me."
Vehicles sitting at those red lights and spewing exhaust garnered the city a state grant to help pay for the project as a way to improve air quality. Carney said studies show a reduction of 350,000 gallons a year in carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide.
The project will also assist the Sioux City Fire Department. Pre-emption equipment has been installed in traffic signals along Hamilton Boulevard allowing firefighters the ability to trigger the lights to green. The equipment still needs to be installed in the rigs.
12 things to know about the project
How many lights? 16
What hours are the lights synchronized? 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, going off line overnight.
Anybody noticing? Maybe not. "You mean they're connected? I just thought I was getting lucky hitting the green lights!" Nancy Olson, retired, Sioux City quipped.
How much time will the pre-emption feature save emergency responders? 41 seconds.
Where else can firefighters trigger lights green: South Lakeport Street and Sergeant Road intersection by the malls.
How long will the green lights last? Each intersection has a different minimum and maximum green time splits of up to 55 seconds, depending on traffic volumes and time of day. From the time a light turns green, goes to red and cycles back to green will vary from 80 to 85 seconds, depending upon the light's location.
How is cycle time determined? Based on traffic counts, turning movement counts, pedestrian requirements and engineering judgment.
How do the lights work? A separate computer installed on each signal is connected by underground fiber optic lines and eventually will be connected to a central computer. Now lights are programmed with a coordinated timing sequence.
What's left to do? Installing a central computer controller in Woodbury County Courthouse to control Hamilton Boulevard lights and eventually those downtown. Once the computer is operating, city will work with engineering consultants to tweak the timing of the lights along Hamilton Boulevard.
What is the peak traffic along Hamilton? 22,000 vehicles per day.
What did the project cost: Estimated total: $1.156 million. Original contract cost $921,907, with state paying $772,400 of the bill. Some other costs: $108,230 to install fire department pre-emption equipment and $1,500 for more wiring at Stone Park Boulevard.
What's next? Synchronizing the traffic signals downtown in 2010. Then, it's on to Gordon Drive, Floyd Boulevard and Lewis Boulevard.
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Frank wrote on Oct 31, 2008 7:57 AM:
etto wrote on Oct 30, 2008 4:57 PM:
RM wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:32 AM:
RM wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:26 AM:
At that time, we got lucky, and only hit 25 red lights. Yes, that's right 25 red lights from Triview all the way to Country Club. I was even generous and didn't count the one near the riverfront.
Now, a few days ago, I traveled up Hamilton and hit only 4 red lights, something that I did notice as being an ASTOUNDING improvement.
Thanks guys! I had my doubts, but you pulled it off. Keep up the good work. Now if you can get downtown back in sync where we don't have to go 30 to hit all the green lights. "
siouxciytysue wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:20 AM: