Greenwich is one of 10 towns picked by the state Dept of Transportation picked for a grant through the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program.
The program funds transportation projects aimed at improving air quality and vehicular traffic and is awarding Town of Greenwich Department of Public Works $4 million for the US Route 1 Corridor Traffic Signal Optimization Project.
To help improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and lower emissions, this project is proposing to install adaptive signal control technology on 29 traffic signals, adjust signal timing, and install audible pedestrian signal hardware. This project is located on US Route 1 within the Town boundary, from Port Chester, NY, to Stamford.
As part of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program invests federal funds in local, cost-effective projects that will reduce vehicle exhaust emissions.
The US Route 1 Corridor Traffic Signal Optimization Project is designed to improve traffic patterns and flow, which reduces unnecessary idling at traffic lights.
The project will utilize Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) hardware and software, which allows traffic signals to respond to traffic demand in real-time by continuously optimizing signal timings by detecting actual vehicle volume and identifying traffic coming from the surrounding intersections.
“These strategic investments will not only help eliminate traffic bottlenecks in certain communities and build out electric vehicle chargers in others, but they will also help move Connecticut towards cleaner air and a cleaner transportation system,” Governor Lamont, said in a release.
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection transportation emissions are the largest contributor to Connecticut’s greenhouse gas emissions, and responsible for over 67% of smog-forming air pollution in Connecticut.
“The Town’s project is a $4 million dollar grant to update the signals along US Route 1 and install new Adaptive Signal Technology that should improve traffic flow, improve pedestrian safety and reduce congestion in the corridor,” said DPW deputy commissioner Jim Michel. “The Town will start working with the state to determine the next steps to get the project into design in the coming months.”