Our traffic engineers have been hard at work over the past several years assisting Pennsylvania municipalities in applying for grants through the Green Light-Go Program. Green Light-Go (GLG): Pennsylvania’s Municipal Signal Partnership Program is a competitive state grant program designed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals throughout the Commonwealth.
Many people don’t realize that in Pennsylvania, traffic signals are owned, maintained, and repaired by local municipalities. Most of the congestion in the Greater Philadelphia region occurs at signalized intersections and can be due to signals that do not have current technology or have not been updated in some time to accommodate current traffic patterns. PennDOT recognized that municipalities need additional funding support to assist in modernizing and optimizing traffic signals, particularly along critical corridors that serve multiple municipalities.
Another related program PennDOT that will be implementing is a pilot project intended to improve traffic conditions on and around the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) between King of Prussia and Philadelphia, PA. One part of the project, which Pennoni will be leading for PennDOT, will interconnect and modernize the traffic signals along several critical corridors in Montgomery County, which typically act as diversion routes from the Schuylkill Expressway. PennDOT will be taking the lead to monitor and maintain these signals to provide uniform coordination across multiple municipal boundaries. This project will complement other planned operational improvements on the Schuylkill Expressway mainline, which include flexible lane use, variable speed limits, and queue detection.
Through the GLG program, our team has assisted numerous municipalities with implementing more than $5 million dollars in traffic signal related upgrades that will improve safety and mobility at numerous intersections within their communities.
Earlier this week, Philly News published an article that highlighted work that has been done as a result of the GLG program, and specifically the upcoming PennDOT pilot program. Read more on some of the factors that go into the feeling of “Why do you hit every red light?”
If you’re interested in learning more about Pennoni’s work with Green Light-Go grants, please contact Brian Keaveney.
Brian Keaveney, PE, PTOE, serves as Associate Vice President and Division Manager of the Transportation division. His project experience includes Open-End Traffic Engineering Contract management, traffic studies, traffic signal design, procurement and construction monitoring, traffic signal system design (including adaptive implementation), corridor analysis and optimization, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) planning and implementation, capital improvement plan development/management, and congestion mitigation and safety improvement measures. Knowledge includes PennDOT specifications and policies, current Highway Capacity Manual methodologies, and current traffic and transportation analysis software.