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RTA develops 412 signalised junctions

The number of signalized junctions in Dubai increased to 412 junctions, most of which are controlled by Traffic Control System Centres of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).

Engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said that the installation criteria and operational plans of traffic signals conform to clear-cut specifications and standards aligned with the latest international practices of traffic systems. She also stated that the Agency sought the assistance of specialized international firms to review and evaluate the performance of traffic signals.

She stressed that the number of signalized junctions increased recently to 412 junctions, adding: ‘The RTA is currently working on an integrated project to synchronize and upgrade databases for 180 main signalized junctions, where 60 of them will be completed by the current year, and 120 next year.’ She added that the implementation of the project was in response to recommendations concluded to in a traffic study conducted by the RTA to improve the performance of the traffic signals in the emirate, noting that the experimental studies conducted on some junctions in Dubai showed that the trip time dropped by 15% in areas covered by the study and in which the necessary adjustments were made.

‘The Agency attends to training engineers and operators of the Intelligent Traffic Systems on a number of traffic plans for synchronizing the timing of traffic lights, where such plans may in some junctions reach 6 different plans for a single traffic light per day, depending on peak hours and frequency of congestion in roads leading to junctions. The Agency also trains them on the latest techniques of signals timings, and methods of linking a number of traffic lights. The RTA is keen that the lapse time for all directions shall not exceed 240 seconds and that the connected traffic signals should not exceed 16 signals,’ she continued.

Engineer Maitha indicated that the Traffic and Roads Agency upgraded the capacity of devices operating the signalling system at the Control Centre in order to manage the current and future of signalized junctions. ‘The Centre is equipped with the latest version of data analysis system to analyse information transmitted by sensors. The number of surveillance cameras increased to 240 cameras, and the Agency is moving ahead with plans to improve the calibre of traffic services rendered to the public,’ Maitha added.