CTDOT Evaluating Clearance Interval Timings at Hundreds of Municipally Owned Traffic Signals Across Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has initiated projects to evaluate and recalculate yellow and red change intervals for existing municipally-owned traffic control signals in Connecticut. After evaluating the signal timings, a contractor will implement any changes and new timing tables will be provided to the municipality. The locations included in these projects are a result of a subsequent project that requested and collected traffic signal plans from municipalities. There is no cost to municipalities that are participating in these projects.

A yellow change interval is the amount of time the yellow light is shown following a green light, alerting motorists that a red light is soon to follow. Here’s why proper timing is important:

 CTDOT has already implemented these type of projects on state owned traffic signals and is now aiming to further improve safety throughout Connecticut by evaluating and recalculating hundreds of municipally owned traffic signals. 

 “A properly timed traffic signal can lead to a nearly 50 percent reduction in red light running and improve intersection safety. Studies have shown that proper timing can reduce crashes by as much as 14 percent,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Project Manager Jonathan Corilla. “We are looking at hundreds of traffic signals owned by towns and cities throughout the state to improve safety for all roadway users.”