The time buses spend sitting at traffic lights may be reduced according to a plan presented at the Centre Area Transportation Authority Board of Directors meeting yesterday.
A bus approaching a green signal would receive an extended green for about 15 to 20 seconds longer than normal.
Computer simulations of the system predicted time saved to be about 50 seconds for each round trip of a bus along North Atherton Street and 20 to 30 seconds for automobiles, said Brian St. John, traffic consultant for McCormick, Taylor and Associates Inc.
St. John said the system would ultimately result in savings for CATA and other motorists.
While the amount of time each passenger saves is not huge, the overall difference is significant, he said. The total of all passengers during peak hours spend 24 hours idle in traffic. The proposed change could reduce that by 6 hours, St. John said.
He also said the time savings would result in reduced maintenance cost for CATA, recouping about $20,000 a year.
Equipping intersections along Atherton Street with the new technology, which uses optical signaling to communicate with traffic lights, will cost about $213,000, St. John said.
For the past 24 months, the study examined the Atherton Street corridor, from the intersection of Curtin Road through Vairo Boulevard.
Atherton Street has 11 intersections, and carries an average of 36,000 vehicles a day, St. John said.
"It's a very congested corridor," he said.
Due to the high cost and minimal time and money saved, it is unlikely the project will be paid for with local funds, said CATA general manager Hugh Mose.
"This will only happen if PennDOT recoups most or all of the money," Mose said.
Should the system be implemented, Atherton Street will become a testing area for higher traffic communities where it would have a more pronounced effect, he added.
If it proves to be successful, the results will be used to demonstrate what works and what doesn't for other communities around the state, Mose said.
St. John said the system would have no impact on side streets or crosswalks.
Unlike the system that emergency vehicles are equipped with -- instantly turning all traffic signals to green -- the proposed priority traffic system would only allow an extended green if the traffic situation permits it, St. John said.
"I am more pleased with this than I have been for the past two years," said State College Borough Council President Richard McCarl.
The proposal also must meet the approval of Ferguson, Patton and College Townships before it can be considered for implementation toward the end of April.
