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Transport
Transport within the community uses both communication technology and command technology. The communication side of it is the link between the buses and the bus stop. The command technology is used within the traffic light system of Warrington.
Bus travel in Warrington is stepping into the future with the latest technology known as Real Time Passenger Information. Up-to-the minute information about bus arrival times will be displayed to travellers on electronic information signs at over 150 bus stops across the town's bus network.
The system uses satellite tracking devices to monitor the location of buses. Accurate real time information is then relayed to bus stops to keep passengers informed on an "as it happens basis". Operations Managers at the Bus Station will have access to the information through computer screens, which will enable them to react to problems and delays as they happen.
This technology works well for what it does. However it does have its problems; the technology is expensive and will take a while to bring in the system to every bus stop. Also the data is not always accurate so when accurate data cannot be displayed the sign read ‘delayed’.
Traffic Lights
Traffic signals at a junction or pedestrian crossing are controlled by computerised electronic equipment housed in a metal cabinet at the side of the road, known as the 'controller'. A junction is described to the controller in terms of separate traffic or pedestrian movements known as 'phases'. A phase would be a single approach or a filter arrow or a single pedestrian movement (crossing) at the junction. A combination of phases all running together is known as a stage. One stage will incorporate a number of phases that do not conflict with each other, i.e. north bound phase and south bound phase on a main road and maybe a pedestrian phase across a side road.
Conflicting phases such as north bound and east bound would have to run in different stages. Special software, know as a conflict monitor, continually monitors the signal cables so that if power were detected on the cables going to conflicting green lights, the controller would shut down completely within a fraction of a second and all lights would go out. This is the safest option because drivers would then have to use their own common sense and judgement to negotiate the junction.
When designing a junction, it is important to model the predicted traffic flow and to produce a design that is suitable both for capacity and for the various traffic movements. Special modelling software is used to achieve this and suggested initial maximum green timings are also produced. These are based upon expected traffic flow and aim to give priority to the busiest approaches. The designer will then work out the safety related timings: those between green to one stage and the next, and all data is then 'blown' into an EPROM or computer chip. Once mounted into the controller, the chip supplies all the information necessary to run the junction.
A junction can run in isolation using its own local detection or under computer control from a UTC centre. Computer control can be Fixed Time - same length of green time for every cycle, or under SCOOT control, which is the most up to date real-time control method.
The traffic light system works well in Warrington if you are waiting at a pedestrian crossing you never have to wait wrong. Although it has happened on some occasions there is hardly ever that much congestion that traffic comes to a complete standstill. There are some trouble areas though ‘Chester road’ for example always has a lot of congestion. Also when sections of the M62 are closed the traffic diverts through Warrington and the traffic light system is not properly designed to cope with that amount of traffic
