INIT and Denver RTD launch central traffic signal priority (TSP) project

First LIVEtsp System in the United States will support up to 400 buses simultaneously

RTD’s buses will be prioritized at intersections due to the modern centralized system LIVEtsp. (© RTD)

Karlsruhe / Germany, Denver, CO / USA– 21 June 2024

The public transport provider in the Denver region of Colorado, The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD), and INIT have launched a centralized live traffic signal priority system project (LIVEtsp). It is INIT’s first project of that kind in the United States. This innovative pilot empowers smart traffic control resulting in improved schedule adherence for public transport and better on-time vehicle performance with minimal wayside investments. LIVEtsp has been developed by Mattersoft, a member of the INIT group, specializing in Software-as-a-Service solutions for public transport.

System will speed up journey time and increase punctuality

The system will help speed up buses’ journey times. Priority requests are swiftly processed on the server based on incoming vehicle data and transmitted to the city’s traffic signal controllers through a seamless cellular connection from the LIVEtsp backend. Priority is calculated and generated based on given parameters.

The LIVEtsp web-based user interface provides a real-time map showing vehicle positions once per second for real-time accuracy and offers comprehensive performance reports with valuable insights into system performance and optimization opportunities.

Conditional TSP feature automatically favours buses with bigger delays

LIVEtsp at RTD adjusts traffic signals in real-time allowing their buses to spend less time at red lights resulting in shorter travel times and more efficient routes. The system does include a conditional priority feature, i. e. buses are prioritized according to their current lateness and/or load. Buses that are ahead of schedule will not be granted priority. Eric Farrington, RTD Senior Project Manager, IT remarked, "RTD is excited about the new conditional TSP feature. It lets our buses skip priority requests when they're ahead of schedule or empty, making our service smarter and more efficient."

Real-time data received from INIT on-board computers

LIVEtsp has been configured at 22 of RTD’s key intersections throughout the Denver area. RTD’s system supports up to 400 vehicles online simultaneously and manages approximately 3,000 TSP requests daily. Real-time vehicle data including GPS positions is received from INIT’s COPILOTpc2 on-board computers via mobile networks. The system is seamlessly connected to RTD’s Intermodal Transport Control System, MOBILE-ITCS provided by INIT.

Due to its centralized nature, the system requires no additional vehicle hardware and only a small modem and basic relay in each traffic control cabinet. Therefore, thanks to the limited number of requirements and the modern SaaS concept, the LIVEtsp system was quickly set up and implemented.

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