New tech for traffic management

[normtwofinger]

This divergent diamond thing looks confusing. Is there traffic lights, or just yield signs? Who gets right-of-way?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If this is based on some knowledge, I'm trying to think of where it could be. It would have to be an existing or U/C one that's being converted. I don't think that the City has any interchanges under construction right now (other than Sarcee/17th as part of the WLRT). The only U/C ones I can think of are the SE ring road, and Nose Hill Drive will be starting up soon. None of those interchanges were originally drawn up as diverging diamonds.

It will be new construction. I was sort of surprised that the location was getting an interchange at all (if it all goes forward).

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

This divergent diamond thing looks confusing. Is there traffic lights, or just yield signs? Who gets right-of-way?

Video looks like its got traffic lights.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

As for SPUIs, the only one I know of in Calgary is at 14th St. and John Laurie. But that thing seems to have been working great for years. Are there any others in town?

What's an SPUI?

[lazypucker]

It took Calgary years (and countless accidents) to get used to the regular roundabouts traffic circles. I can't imagine how long it will take for Calgarians to learn how to use the divergent diamonds...

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

What's an SPUI?

Single Point Urban Interchange.
John Laurie/14th St and Glenmore/McLeod are two examples in Calgary.

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

It will be new construction. I was sort of surprised that the location was getting an interchange at all (if it all goes forward).

The only interchange on the City's 2012-2014 capital infrastucture plan is TCH/ Bowfort Road that I can see. Which doesn't seem like a prime spot for a Diverging Diamond to me.

The unfunded list has 16th Ave/19th St NE, McLeod/162nd, Airport Trail/Barlow/19th Street, and Crowchild/Flanders Ave upgrade. Could be one of those.

[SebC]

For Bauer and PTV, it’s the middle step toward the “holy grail” of traffic management — personalized route mapping based on real-time congestion.

That’s why BMW is involved as well. Eventually, it hopes the city’s data will feed back to personal navigation systems, giving BMW drivers access to the best route maps possible to avoid congested areas.

They have a prototype for 2014 deployment. They’ll be showing off a customized version this month with data from Edmonton at the upcoming Intelligent Transit Systems World Congress in Orlando, Fla.

In Bauer’s vision, the day will come when anyone with smartphone or GPS device will feed their travel plans back to the city, too.

Drivers will get in their cars and punch in their routes. The city will use that data to make even better predictions about congestion in real time, and send better route suggestions back to the smartphone, said Bauer.

“Five years from now, 10 years from now (we’ll see this),” he said. “It’s not science fiction. This is not as far-fetched as it might seem. If you’re willing to share your route with traffic management, in return, traffic management will give you the best route possible.”

Personalized route mapping isn't the "holy grail" of traffic managment. Fully automated, networked cars that talk to each other and the traffic signals are. Get rid of the ripple effect, maybe even have cars pass through each other without stopping? Can't do that with human drivers. Also, the optimal route for the driver isn't necessarily the optimal route for the whole traffic system. Automation would ensure compliance.

Also, PTV was a Family Guy episode, ha!