Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Signals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sunbury explores traffic-signal modernization and coordinated fiber conduit to improve safety and traffic flow
Summary
Consultants and staff briefed the committee on options to modernize traffic signals (connected controllers, radar/camera detection, adaptive timing) and on aligning fiber conduit installation with private providers. Staff estimated a citywide deployment using cellular modems could cost about $700,000; phased options would reduce up-front cost.
Consultants and city staff briefed the Sunbury Services Committee on April 2 on a phased approach to modernize traffic signals, install modern vehicle and pedestrian detection, and link signals to a centralized system for remote monitoring and dynamic timing.
Bob Tierley, a consultant with Verintas, told the committee most of Sunbury’s signal controllers and communications are roughly 20 years old and that modern systems add sensors, fault detection and remote monitoring that can reduce congestion and improve safety. “In a modern system, we’ve got controllers in the field that has sensors. They’re connected to the Internet that goes to somewhere in the office,” Tierley said, describing benefits such as incident response, failure notifications and the ability to modify timing for events like fireworks or traffic incidents.
Tierley and staff described a multi-step rollout: first choose a technology platform, then phase upgrades either by intersection, by corridor (for example, the Miller Drive/square area), or by functional feature (connectivity first, advanced detection later). Adaptive signal control, which allows software to change timings dynamically without operator selection of timing plans, was presented as a longer-term option after initial connectivity and data collection.
City staff and the consultant discussed communications options. A mix of fiber, cellular modems, and future city-owned conduit was presented; staff said fiber running past intersections lowers long-term communications cost but is expensive to install. Staff said they are negotiating with a provider to install city-owned conduit (duct) concurrently with provider work along corridors such as SR 36/307 and around the square to reduce the number of future digs and minimize neighborhood impacts.
When asked about cost, staff provided a rough estimate for an all-at-once deployment using cellular connections of about $700,000. Committee members discussed phased approaches and grant opportunities; staff said they are seeking grants but had one application delayed by a federal grant-site outage.
The committee discussed data benefits from modern sensors—vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian counts, red-light-run statistics, and camera-based detection for police and planning use—and the potential for the signal program to reduce the need for future roadway widening projects. No final funding decision was made; staff said they will return with refined platform recommendations, phasing options and funding scenarios for capital planning.
