California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology

This report presents the findings from the evaluation of a statewide initiative to retime traffic signals to produce more energy-efficient traffic flow: California's FuelEfficient Traffic Signal Management (FETSIM) Program. During the 11 years of the Program, over 160 cities and counties have retimed a total of 12,245 signals under grants from the FETSIM Program, in 334 projects. Improved timings have reduced vehicular delays by 14 percent in project areas; stops have been decre~sed by 13 percent. Overall travel times through these systems have dropped by 7 percent and fuel consumption has been cut by 8 percent. The reduction in fuel expenditures alone has produced annual savings of $85.1 million for California motorists--more than 5 times the total cost of the FETSIM Program. Reduced vehicular wear and tear and faster travel times added as much as $189.3 million annually in user benefits. Other benefits include reduction of air pollution emissions, traffic safety improvements, and better operating conditions for public transit vehicles. The Program also strengthened the capabilities of local traffic engineering staff, and has built better data bases for future traffic studies in participating communities.

The FETSIM Program was carefully designed to off er local agencies the tools, know-how and financial assistance necessary for improving the timing of traffic signal systems. Grants have been awarded for all aspects of retiming, including the costs of data collection, development of timing plans, implementation and field evaluation. Training and technical assistance in advanced methods for achieving optimal signal timing has been provided to the staff and consultants of the participating agencies. A number of research and development activities in support of the Program have produced improved analysis tools for traffic signal management that are used by practicing engineers nationwide.

The FETSIM Program has served as a model for several statewide signal management programs across the country. It has received recognition as a major success, not only in California but nationally. In 1985, the California Energy Commission and the California Department of Transportation received the Institute of Transportation Engineers' Transportation Energy Conservation Award for the Program.