EVP — Who Is Using It?
EVP systems are deployed and operating across the U.S. In fact, the U.S. DOT ITS Deployment Statistics website,14 which tracks ITS deployment in the country's largest metropolitan areas, indicates that there are over 30,964 signals equipped with EVP technology in 375 separate jurisdictions. About 20 percent of traffic signals in the 78 largest metropolitan areas are equipped with EVP.
"Electing to equip 100 percent of the signals was a natural choice for Plano. As a part of its vision and comprehensive development plan, the city committed to using technology as a a cost-effective means to develop the highest possible standards of service across the board. EVP was one of those choices." — Lloyd Neal |
The scale and patterns of EVP deployments seen in individual jurisdictions across the country cover a broad range. The number of signals and the specific signals equipped depend on the issues and problems faced. Some jurisdictions have equipped only a few signals in an effort to provide safe and efficient arterial access from fire/rescue, EMS, and police stations located on side streets. Many others have used the systems to address arterial access as well as to address known problem intersections. Some jurisdictions have adopted policies of 100 percent coverage across the entire jurisdiction or in selected downtown areas.
Most of the jurisdictions that reported 100 percent EVP coverage are located on the fringe of older, major metropolitan areas and report that they own and operate signal systems of 150 signals or less. As these communities began to grow into suburbs, EVP was adopted as an integral component of the public safety and traffic control development plans at any early point in the growth cycle with stakeholders committed to policies to equip 100 percent of the signals. In cases where existing signals were not equipped with EVP, signal systems were brought up to a 100 percent deployment level over several years using bonds or other capital improvement project funding mechanisms. Once at the 100 percent level, these jurisdictions enacted policies requiring that each new signal be installed with EVP.
14 U.S. DOT's ITS Deployment Statistics Website (2005). http://www.itsdeployment.its.dot.gov.