A high tech traffic computerized system will soon improve traffic flow at 14 intersections seven miles of Murfreesboro roadway. TDOT awarded this city a $3.35-million grant to cover the project on sections of East Northfield Boulevard as well as Rutherford Boulevard.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded Murfreesboro a Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant for an Adaptive Signal Control Technology System. The project includes Rutherford Boulevard (Southwest Broad Street to New Lascassas Highway) and East Northfield Boulevard (New Lascassas Highway to Highland Avenue). The CMAQ Grant funds 100 percent of the ASCT project containing 14 signalized intersections.
"The City of Murfreesboro is extremely thankful for the funding and support by Commissioner Schroer and TDOT. The City and TDOT have collaborated on a number of projects and this is another example of that partnership," said City Manager Rob Lyons.
"We are delighted to receive full grant funding for an Adaptive Traffic Signal Technology System as part of the Rutherford Boulevard Project," said Transportation Director Jim Kerr. "Implementation of the ASCT technology will not only enable the City to achieve many of the traffic signal operational efficiencies realized with other City coordinated signal systems, but will enable the transportation department to actively and effectively identify and respond to changing traffic patterns and roadway conditions for the corridor."
The City hopes to bid for the project sometime in 2018. According to TDOT, the Adaptive Signal Control Technology Project will help reduce mobile source emissions and improve Tennessee's air quality. Funding will enable the City to implement the following:
1) Upgrade each of the signalized intersections with new signal control cabinets and internal control equipment;
2) Install fiber optic communication cable and hardware along the entire corridor;
3) Install corridor and system vehicle detection infrastructure and communications;
4) Install CCTV cameras;
5) Install pedestrian signals at selected signalized intersections;
6) Develop and implement new traffic signal timing for each intersection and system as a whole.
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program provides funding for transportation projects that reduce mobile source air emissions (e.g., cars, trucks, construction equipment) in areas that do not meet federal air quality health standards for ozone, microscopic particles or carbon monoxide. Federal CMAQ funds are apportioned to TDOT to be invested by the state and local metropolitan planning organizations in projects and programs that help achieve and maintain federal air quality health standards. Learn more at https://www.tn.gov/tdot/article/cmaq-funding.
The City of Murfreesboro has a long history of utilizing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) based traffic congestion mitigation solutions. The City implemented its first Closed Loop Systems and integrated these interconnected arterial traffic signals into a Traffic Operations Center (TOC) in the mid-1980s. Since implementation of the initial system, the City has to-date interconnected 88 or 60 percent of the traffic signals out of the current 146 signalized intersections in the City.
The additional interconnection of the 14 existing intersections included in the project corridor will increase the City's interconnected signal system from the current 88 signalized intersections to 102 or seventy-one percent 70 percent of the City's total traffic signal inventory accessible.
The project will expand the City's CCTV system by adding 9 cameras to the current 32 camera system for a total 41 cameras to provide strategic visual coverage of key locations for remote intersection and roadway monitoring and evaluation of traffic progression.
The City of Murfreesboro Transportation Department applied for the funding necessary to cover the cost of implementation. The TDOT grant funds 100 percent of the project.
