Georgia Smart Communities Transit Research Project - Streamlining Suburban Transit

In partnership with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Georgia Tech, and the City of Dunwoody, the City of Sandy Springs studied the use of innovative Transit Signal Priority (TSP) technologies along MARTA Bus Route 5. Transit Signal Priority (TSP) is an operational strategy in which the transit vehicle communicates with the traffic signals along its route to request minor signal timing modifications.

The Sandy Springs TSP Pilot Project used bus location data published through an application program interface (API) which gives access to MARTA tracking information. This is different than other currently deployed methodologies which require additional hardware on board the bus. The TSP functionality and interoperability across jurisdictions was tested and shown to work successfully. Transit on-time performance and travel times along this route were also evaluated. Future studies may evaluate additional operational impacts to the transportation network.

The Sandy Springs and Dunwoody TSP Pilot Project helps inform communities throughout the metro region and has the opportunity to shape how communities throughout the State will implement TSP to support better transit ridership, reliability, and efficiency. 

More Information about the Project can be found on the Project Fact Sheet.

Next steps are outlined in the Transit Signal Priority Implementation Plan.

Events

• August 12, 2021, 9am -12pm: Transit Signal Priority Workshop for Regional Transit Operators. The meeting date has passed. The meeting presentation materials and recording of the meeting are available to view.

• September 9, 2021, 12pm - 1pm: Final Project Presentation Webinar. The meeting date has passed. A recording of the meeting is available to view.