Coordinated traffic operations involve collaboration between transportation agencies to collect data, monitor and adjust equipment, detect traffic incidents, reroute travelers, and dispatch resources to address problems on the region’s roadways. Traffic management centers are the hub of this coordination. The region’s largest TMCs are the Tollway Traffic and Incident Management System and Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) ComCenter. Local governments in the region operate TMCs at various scales and with varying degrees of coordination.

The ability for traffic signals to adapt to changing conditions is a key component of coordinated operations, but many of the region’s signals currently operate on fixed timing plans. These signals are not only unable to adapt in real time to changing conditions, but they also may have timing plans that are out of date, created years or even decades ago when traffic volumes were significantly different from current and anticipated conditions. Updating these older signals in areas with high current bus ridership or planned high-frequency bus service should be a high priority to make them compatible with future transit signal priority implementation. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is leading the Regional Transit Signal Priority Implementation Program, which has identified 13 transit corridors spanning about 100 miles of roadway and 400 signalized intersections as strategic corridors for transit signal priority implementation.{{Regional Transportation Authority, “Regional Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Implementation Program,” accessed March 28, 2018, http://www.rtams.org/rtams/transitSignalPriority.jsp.}}

Action 1

Work toward implementing a regional, multijurisdictional traffic management center, either virtual or traditional.

Implementers

CMAP, IDOT, and local agencies

Action 2

Enhance communication and coordination to improve work zone management.

Implementers

IDOT, the Tollway, and local agencies

Action 3

Continue to share operational information and expand coordination opportunities.

Implementers

Highway and transit agencies

Action 4

Work with stakeholders to develop a regional communications master plan and update the regional Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) architecture.

Implementers

CMAP

Action 5

Establish a program to modernize traffic signals, including the provision of transit signal priority and centralized communications.

Implementers

CMAP and partner agencies

Action 6

Review traffic signal policies, ensure up-to-date signal timing plans to minimize delay and crashes, and implement adaptive signal timing where appropriate.

Implementers

Highway agencies

Action 7

Continue to maintain its highway traffic signal inventory.

Implementers

CMAP

Action 8

Work with transportation agencies to fund and execute planning activities that work toward implementing active expressway management, active arterial management, and integrated corridor management.

Implementers

CMAP