Adaptive Signal Control System Implementation & Integration
DCI was selected by the District Department of Transportation to assist in the deployment of adaptive signal control systems along three (3) major corridors for more efficient traffic signal operations. This project consisted of upgrading field controllers from 170E to 2070E compatible formats, configuring them with the adaptive control software and integrating the system from the field to the TMC level. 170E controllers were upgraded along the following corridors:
- New York Avenue from 4th Street NW to Bladensburg Road NE
- Rhode Island Avenue from 5th Street NE to Eastern Avenue NE
- Pennsylvania Avenue from Fairlawn Avenue SE to Southern Avenue SE
For the first phase of the project, DCI procured and configured QuicTrac Adaptive Control components for fifty-five (55) 2070E controllers with 2033 firmware and the licenses to integrate the project corridors. Once receiving the controllers, DCI converted existing 170E signal timings from the project controllers to 2033RV format using McCain’s® QuicLoad utility program. Once verified, new 2033RV timing configuration database files were uploaded to assigned controllers and tested for 48-hours continuously, using an off-site QuicNet Pro system. The DCI team then met with DDOT’s traffic signal maintenance team and provided initial training for the first set of controllers deployed at the local level and for the QuicNet Pro server hosted at DDOT’s TMC. The signal maintenance group then completed the remaining 2070E installations at all of the intersections.
Installation of the new controllers during off-peak hours required signals to be placed into flash operation mode by carefully monitoring traffic conditions to find the right moment when the least number of vehicles were present or approaching the intersection. Using this method, the team was able to have new 2070E controllers installed and running coordinated signal operations in as little as 60 seconds.
The second phase of the project involved fine‐ tuning signal operations once adaptive control modules were properly sending data and receiving commands from DDOT’s QuicNet Pro server. Fine-tuning included documenting detection and intersection operations observed during peak and off-peak hours and then reviewing splits and offsets to ensure that demand-driven signal timings managed by the QuicNet Pro system provided sufficient green times.