PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The city is preparing to test technology that would give SEPTA buses priority at traffic signals, in an effort to improve bus speed and reliability.
SEPTA buses would get longer green lights or shorter red lights, under a pilot program set to begin later this year. Using GPS technology, a bus approaching a signalized intersection is given priority with an extended green. It's expected to be tested at 20 intersections within the area bounded by Callowhill and South streets, and Broad and 6th streets.
The system works with Philadelphia's existing traffic signal controllers, using software from LYT, a firm based in Santa Clara, California.
The city says no final decisions have been made on which bus routes will test the system. SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch said the Route 47, which runs north on 7th Street and south on 8th Street, is a possibility. "It's within our top three in terms of ridership—over 10,000 riders a day," Busch told KYW Newsradio. "It has a number of intersections with traffic signals that we think could really benefit from signal prioritization."
The 47, for example, has an overall on-time performance rate of 70%, Busch said. In other cities, Busch noted, the system has improved bus trip times by 10% to 15%, and often more.
"What we hope to see is improvements in the overall times because buses are moving more smoothly through these very congested areas," Busch said. "We'll see how the pilot performs and what the data looks like once we start getting it back. But there's a number of routes that could benefit from this technology."
The city is using a $200,000 federal SMART grant to pay for the 12-month pilot.