Fed up with the Sault's poorly synchronized traffic signals?

A new traffic data collection and analytics software system will improve the way traffic signals are synchronized at Sault Ste. Marie's signalized intersections, says Carl Rumiel, the city's manager of design and transportation engineering.

City staff have recently completed Phase 1 of installing the new software, known as Centracs.

"The current module that the city has installed can remotely monitor up to 25 signalized intersections," Rumiel says.

"In this initial phase, the city only monitors operations, however Phase 2 of the project is anticipated to be complete later this year, which will allow signal operation modifications to occur remotely and on a daily basis," he says in a report prepared for Monday's City Council meeting.

"The Centracs software will have the capabilities to adjust signal timing plans according to traffic conditions by providing uninterrupted data collection and monitoring of performance. The system can automatically optimize traffic signal programming according to traffic conditions on a continual basis."

"The system is designed to run daily analysis through an algorithm comparing daily events such as vehicle delay, pedestrian delay, peak hour traffic volumes etc. When this program is running, it will have the capability to change timing plans based on experience."

"Traffic operations staff have indicated this implementation will be complete in 2020," Rumiel says.

Sault Ste. Marie has 77 signalized intersections.

Last year, City Council's two Matthews – Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker and Ward 5's Matthew Scott – expressed concern about the 37 intersections that have advanced left turns.

Drivers must often wait at these intersections even when no other vehicles are present.

"During off-peak traffic hours, advanced traffic signals serve only to delay vehicles for a longer period of time," Shoemaker and Scott said.

The councillors asked city staff to look into disabling advanced traffic signals at most or all intersections with advanced signals from 9 p.m. each night until 6 a.m. the following morning.

But Rumiel says the new software should do the job.

"If vehicles are waiting unnecessarily in the evening hours for advanced turn phases, then timing plans will be automatically adjusted to shorten or eliminate advanced turns during these hours," he says.

"Therefore, while it is possible to program signal timing plans manually into each controller that would eliminate left turn phases during off-peak hours, it would be better to utilize the newly purchased Centracs system to optimize timing plans and reduce unnecessary wait times for motorists."

Monday's City Council meeting will be held by teleconference to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

It will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.