The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has announced traffic signal technology system partnerships to help trucks move more efficiently through some of the region’s key freight corridors. The cities of Arlington, Carrollton, Fort Worth, Garland, Grand Prairie and McKinney, as well as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, are helping deploy a Freight Signal Optimization Program across more than 500 traffic signals in their jurisdictions.

In North Texas, trucks are involved in the shipment of approximately 77% of goods. The freight optimization program will improve traffic flow through signalized intersections by helping freight vehicles stop at fewer red lights. This service, based on cloud-computing technology, is designed to save money, time and fuel while reducing emissions. Passenger vehicles driving alongside the heavy trucks will benefit from the same extended green time.

Funded through a US Department of Transportation grant, participation is at no additional cost to freight operators. The technology being deployed has proved successful in transit and emergency response applications across the United States, including Austin and San Antonio. The technology deployment also includes information announcing to the truck driver the recommended travel speed to arrive at a traffic light on green that is currently red.

The system also requires no new equipment in the freight vehicles or in the roadway. Data will be fully anonymized in program operations, which means participant information will not be collected or used for any other purpose.