Cost
From The National Traffic Signal Report Card: costs to update signal timing is $3,000 per intersection.
2005
Nationwide,United States
Summary Information
Optimizing signal timing is considered a low-cost approach to reducing congestion. Based on data from six separate studies, the costs range from $2,500 to $3,100 per signal per update. While this range is reasonable, costs could be slightly more or less. A cost summary from the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) study is presented below; links to cost summaries from the other five studies as well as the synthesized costs summary are also provided.
The National Traffic Signal Report Card: Technical Report developed by the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) used three key components to estimate the costs of traffic signal operations:
1.) Appropriate traffic signal hardware
2.) Routine traffic signal timing updates; and
3.) Maintenance performed by well-trained technicians
Traffic signal hardware consists of several primary components: the signal heads, sensors to detect vehicular traffic, and the signal controller. Having up-to-date equipment is important to sound traffic signal operations. The signal controller should be upgraded, at a cost of approximately $10,000 each, minimally every 10 years.
Routine traffic signal timing updates cost $3,000 or less per intersection. Signal timing plans should be updated every three to five years, or more frequently depending on growth and changes in traffic patterns.
Well-trained technicians are needed to maintain traffic signal hardware so that the signal system is operating in good order and according to the timing updates. A current assumption is one traffic signal technician can maintain 30-40 signals. The average costs of a technician is $56,000 per year which includes salary, benefits (approximately 30-35% of salary), vehicles, parts/supplies, and other required items.
Given the cost data above and assuming the U.S. has 265,000 signals, the annual costs associated with signal timing can be calculated.
Hardware:
Each year 1/10 of the controllers are replaced
265,000/10 = 26,500 controllers per year
Total cost is $256 million per year
Timing updates:
Signal retiming interval is every four years
265,000/4 = 66,250
$3,000 per signal
Total cost is roughly $200 million per year
Maintenance:
One technician maintains 30 signals
265,000/30 = 8,822 technicians
$56,000 per technician
Total cost is roughly $500 million per year
Grand total cost for signal timing per year across the U.S. is $965 million.
Related links:
Synthesized Costs of Traffic Signal Retiming
Cost range for retiming traffic signals: $2,500 to $3,100 per signal per update.
Millenia Mall Signal Retiming Project
Cost of retiming signals: $3,100 per intersection.
Regional Signal Timing Program - 2005 Cycle Program Performance
Average cost to retime signals under the MTC program: $2,400 per intersection.
Benefits of Retiming Traffic Signals: A Reference for Practitioners and Decision Makers About the Benefits of Traffic Signal Retiming
Cost range for signal retiming: $2,000 - $2,500 per intersection.
The Benefits of Retiming Traffic Signals
Costs of retiming traffic signals is roughly $2,500 per intersection.
Costs of retiming traffic signals in the Washington, DC area is about $3,500 per intersection.
Denver Regional Council of Governments Costs of Retiming Traffic Signals
Cost to retime each signal ranges from $1,800 to $2,000 which includes consultant time and DRCOG staff review time.
The National Traffic Signal Report Card: Technical Report developed by the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) used three key components to estimate the costs of traffic signal operations:
1.) Appropriate traffic signal hardware
2.) Routine traffic signal timing updates; and
3.) Maintenance performed by well-trained technicians
Traffic signal hardware consists of several primary components: the signal heads, sensors to detect vehicular traffic, and the signal controller. Having up-to-date equipment is important to sound traffic signal operations. The signal controller should be upgraded, at a cost of approximately $10,000 each, minimally every 10 years.
Routine traffic signal timing updates cost $3,000 or less per intersection. Signal timing plans should be updated every three to five years, or more frequently depending on growth and changes in traffic patterns.
Well-trained technicians are needed to maintain traffic signal hardware so that the signal system is operating in good order and according to the timing updates. A current assumption is one traffic signal technician can maintain 30-40 signals. The average costs of a technician is $56,000 per year which includes salary, benefits (approximately 30-35% of salary), vehicles, parts/supplies, and other required items.
Given the cost data above and assuming the U.S. has 265,000 signals, the annual costs associated with signal timing can be calculated.
Hardware:
Each year 1/10 of the controllers are replaced
265,000/10 = 26,500 controllers per year
Total cost is $256 million per year
Timing updates:
Signal retiming interval is every four years
265,000/4 = 66,250
$3,000 per signal
Total cost is roughly $200 million per year
Maintenance:
One technician maintains 30 signals
265,000/30 = 8,822 technicians
$56,000 per technician
Total cost is roughly $500 million per year
Grand total cost for signal timing per year across the U.S. is $965 million.
Related links:
Synthesized Costs of Traffic Signal Retiming
Cost range for retiming traffic signals: $2,500 to $3,100 per signal per update.
Millenia Mall Signal Retiming Project
Cost of retiming signals: $3,100 per intersection.
Regional Signal Timing Program - 2005 Cycle Program Performance
Average cost to retime signals under the MTC program: $2,400 per intersection.
Benefits of Retiming Traffic Signals: A Reference for Practitioners and Decision Makers About the Benefits of Traffic Signal Retiming
Cost range for signal retiming: $2,000 - $2,500 per intersection.
The Benefits of Retiming Traffic Signals
Costs of retiming traffic signals is roughly $2,500 per intersection.
Costs of retiming traffic signals in the Washington, DC area is about $3,500 per intersection.
Denver Regional Council of Governments Costs of Retiming Traffic Signals
Cost to retime each signal ranges from $1,800 to $2,000 which includes consultant time and DRCOG staff review time.
Related Unit Cost Subsystems
Roadside Control (RS-C)
Transportation Management Center (TM)
Keywords
coordinated signals, signal coordination, centralized signal control, signal synchronization, traffic signals, advanced signal control, signal timing optimization, coordinated signal control, advanced signal controller, traffic signal retiming, retiming
Cost ID: 2007-00114
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