Launceston Traffic Signal Upgrade Project

1. Project Update

An innovative intelligent transport system developed in Adelaide will be rolled-out across Launceston by the Department of State Growth.

The AddInsight Travel Time Information System (TTIS) was developed by the South Australian Government and is used across several larger cities across the country, including Hobart.

TTIS provides real-time, anonymous road traffic data using Bluetooth and WiFi technology.

The system consists of a network of roadside devices - known as detection stations - that detect wireless signals (typically Bluetooth or WiFi) in vehicles as they pass by one of the devices.

That signal is given a unique code or address, which is encrypted and made anonymous by the system before it is processed.

The detection stations then allow TTIS to evaluate actual travel times around the road network. This allows the department to better understand travel conditions, patterns and identify when traffic is not moving as expected.

By analysing this data, traffic patterns and conditions can be determined and used by the department to make improvements in the system.

"Because the data is in real-time, people using the system can quickly identify incidents such as crashes and breakdowns, unusual congestion and then manage the traffic signal system accordingly to make and plan for improvements to the network," City of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said.

"This real-time situational awareness will allow the department to provide faster responses to incidents and ultimately reduce delays to drivers and other road users."

Mayor van Zetten reassured motorists that no personally identifiable information is collected or retained by the TTIS system or the department.

"The system is also completely safe - using the same technology available on any smartphone," Mayor van Zetten said.

It is expected that the travel data collected by TTIS will be made available to the public at some stage in the future.

The TTIS roll-out is part of the wider $6.8 million smart traffic signal system, which is jointly funded by the Federal and State governments, and the City of Launceston and is a component of the Launceston City Deal.

Other improvements to the system include the traffic signal upgrade project, which was launched earlier this year.

The signal upgrade project includes the replacement of old traffic signal control boxes, upgrading telecommunication infrastructure to, and between, signal sites, and installing a network of CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera units across the network.

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2. Project Details

The Department of State Growth, in partnership with the City of Launceston and the Federal Government, are in the process of delivering a significant traffic signal upgrade project across the City.

The project is a $3.4 million investment that includes the replacement of old traffic signal control boxes, upgrading telecommunication infrastructure to, and between, signal sites, installing a network of CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera units across the network and the installing a city-wide network of sensors to monitor the performance of the network.

The project seeks to deliver the following outcomes:

• Utilise the latest traffic signal technology to manage the transport network, including an upgrade of the traffic signal software (software was unable to be upgraded due to the age of many traffic signal units that don't integrate with the latest software);
• Enable high quality monitoring of the network through live travel times, variable signal phasing to manage peak traffic, live video streaming of intersections to improve traffic and incident management;
• To increase the quality of traffic signal infrastructure such as telecommunication, control boxes, electrical supply and road sensor loops to meet the future demands of the network;
• Improve the location of traffic signal boxes and minimise their conflict with pedestrian movement and sightlines;
• Improve the communication and information available to the public to inform travel planning and movement;
• Allow remote connection, monitoring and changes to the traffic signals via the Hobart control centre.
• Allow prioritisation of public transport, emergency vehicles and large freight through the network, especially inner Launceston.

This project is one of many Smart City initiatives the Council is delivering, and forms part of a broader $4.8 million Traffic Signals and Intelligent Transport System project.