Budget Boost for AI Smart Traffic Lights
This week East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) Transport Committee agreed £4M for ‘Traffic Light Priority’, at up to 40 road junctions. This is 23% of all this year’s bus improvement funds. Put simply – smarter traffic lights will allow faster journeys for all vehicles , especially once the lights can co-ordinate between each other.
Importantly the MOVA8 system, used in the county, could be configured in two modes. It can speed up all traffic during normal uncongested traffic. Then when there is heavy congestion, during the rush hour, it can focus on clearing as many vehicles as possible. For example this could improve traffic flow, during busy summer holiday traffic and especially Airbourne
Buses need to be faster and the timetables more reliable but the buses are hindered by congestion. As a bus campaigner, I am only too aware as to how contentious bus lanes can be with some residents, but these traffic lights improve journey times for all road users and are likely to be supported by the public
In Tees Valley they are running a national pilot, pioneering an AI-driven ‘digital twin’, slashing road delays by over 13% and improving bus reliability. The system, like here, integrates real-time traffic data, GPS-tracked buses, and traffic signals to optimise traffic flow.
We are all well aware of the time wasted, when no traffic is moving through a junction due to the phasing of the lights. This will be reduced. Although there has been no analysis, available to the public, by ESCC, the large increase in spending suggests a high level of confidence by the officers. It is expected that it could significantly reduce delays, particularly along key routes like the A259 and A2270.
So you may ask how does it specifically help buses. As a bus approaches the lights, the GPS signal from the bus can trigger any of :- a longer green light , a shorter red or a dropped phase . When the bus is very delayed the lights can get a ‘hurry up’ signal and prioritise the bus even higher.
As the UK adopts more intelligent transport systems, East Sussex’s £4 million investment, is a significant step towards a modern, responsive road network.
I have also included a photo I took today, of one of the relevant lights at the junction of Ashford Road and Terminus Road
By Paul Humphreys – Chichester Close Willingdon