The wisconsin fuel efficient transportation (fet) program was funded with $1.5 Million in "oil overcharge" funds to reduce fuel consumption by implementing computer-optimized traffic signal timing plans. The fet program provided funds to the 24 participating communities to be used only for traffic signal hardware improvements. Data from 28 signal networks were used to develop regression models of the fuel savings generated by the hardware improvements. The results of various network-level benefit-cost measures are also presented. Finally, the potential for adoption of the fet program by other states is explored. Under the fet program, optimal signal timing plans were developed using the transyt-7f microcomputer program. Transyt-7f provided estimates of fuel and travel time savings and stop reduction. Most of the communities required significant hardware improvements to achieve full interconnection with three-dial capability. On average the program resulted in fuel savings of 4, 350 gal/year per intersection and total annual savings of $28, 450/intersection. Considering only the hardware improvement costs, the overall benefit-cost ratio for a 10-year project life and a 10% discount rate was 44.0 The mostsignificant independent variables for the regression models of fuelsavings per signal were cost per signal, average volume, population, percentage difference in interconnection, and percentage actuated signals. The best multivariate model included cost per signal and population. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1327, Visibility, rail-highway grade crossings, and highway improvement evaluation 1991
Abstract