Fuel-Efficient Traffic Signal Management. Three Years of Experience 1983-85

Nearly one-fifth of California's annual petroleum consumption occurs on streets controlled by traffic signals. This report presents results from three years of a statewide initiative to retime those signals to produce more energy-efficient traffic flow:  the Fuel-Efficient Traffic Signal Management (FETSIM) Program.  To date, sixty-one cities and one county have retimed a total of 3,172 signals under grants from the FETSIM Program.  Improved timings have reduced vehicular delays by over 15 percent in project areas, and stops have been decreased by 16 percent, resulting in smoother traffic flows.  Overall travel times through these systems have dropped by 7.2 percent.  Fuel use has been cut by 8.6 percent.  The reduction in fuel expenditures alone will produce savings of $72.3 million for California motorists--almost 18 times the total cost of the FETSIM Program.  Reduced vehicular wear and tear and faster travel times will add as much as $224.4 million in benefits. The program also reduces air pollution emissions, improves traffic safety, creates better operating conditions for public transit vehicles, strengthens capabilities of local traffic engineering staff, and builds better data bases for future traffic-related work in participating communities.