California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology

This report provides an overview of the federally-sponsored Anaheim Advanced Traffic Control System Field Operations Test, and of the technical issues associated with the evaluation of SCOOT performance during this test. The primary FOT objective was the implementation and performance evaluation of adaptive traffic signal control technologies including an existing second generation approach, SCOOT, and a 1.5 generation control (1.5GC) approach under development. Also selected for implementation was a video traffic detection system (VTDS). The SCOOT evaluation was defined relative to existing, first generation UTCS-based control but using standard field detectorization rather than that normally associated with SCOOT. Furthermore, SCOOT was installed to operate in parallel to UTCS. The 1.5GC system was planned to be efficiently utilized to update baseline timing plans. The VTDS was planned for use as a low cost system detector for deployment in critical areas.

Both SCOOT and the VTDS were implemented with some degree of success, with technical and institutional issues limiting expected performance. Technical issues that limited SCOOT performance included existing communication and controller systems of lower quality than anticipated. Corresponding institutional factors included inconsistent project management due to staff changes and delays due to contractual issues. Both SCOOT and a modified version of the VTDS are in current use in selected areas, with plans for system expansion.

This evaluation report summarizes an introduction to the project, the evaluation objectives for Tasks A and B, and Task A of the three part evaluation project. Separate reports summarize Tasks B and C, assessment of institutional issues and the advanced Video Detection Systems, respectively