GDOT Working to Install Smart Signals

The Georgia Department of Transportation says it has deployed state-of-the-art “smart” signals at 1,000 intersections throughout Georgia.

The project, in partnership with Intelight, Inc., is part of a statewide upgrade which converts traffic lights in Georgia to an up-to-the-second traffic signal controller technology.

According to the Georgia DOT, the new software provides significant improvements to how it and local agencies can operate their signal systems.

DOT officials said the proactive response will no longer require engineers to rely on citizen complaints or on-site checking of signals, but rather this system will allow for signals to automatically provide feedback to a central system in the Traffic Operations Center in real time.

This, the DOT said, allows for engineers to focus attention where it is needed.

The 1,000 intersection milestone was achieved in late July and marks the beginning of the final project goal of deploying “smart” signals at approximately 9,000 intersections.

This project includes signals in Metro Atlanta, Cartersville, Thomaston, Gwinnett County and Athens-Clarke County.

According to the DOT, the software was launched in Fall 2015 and is scheduled to be fully deployed on Georgia DOT-maintained signals across the state by fall 2017.

Also, the DOT said it is providing this system to local agencies at no cost, with statewide deployment expected to be complete by 2018.