Chicago will look to deploy a new signal timing technology that will prioritize buses at traffic lights across the city after being awarded a $3.9 million federal grant on Wednesday.
“With these grants, the Biden-Harris Administration is helping communities deliver modern transportation systems that connect people to where they want to go more affordably, efficiently, and safely,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “We’re pleased to support these innovative solutions that will improve driving and public transit for Americans in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.”
It is one of 10 projects nationwide to receive grant money to build advanced intelligent transportation technologies that will improve mobility, safety and provide multimodal transportation.
Chicago’s Centralized Transit Signal Priority Project will improve existing transit infrastructure and modify communication and software systems to prioritize buses at every traffic signal in Chicago. The new system will eliminate the need for separate field equipment to detect buses and implements a more centralized and seamless signal prioritization system for buses.
The grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration total $45.2 million so far.
Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said the grant promotes “innovations that help expand access to transportation for communities in rural areas and cities alike, improve connectivity, and prepare America’s transportation systems for the future.”
“Chicago’s project will use advanced technologies to help improve transit operations,” Pollack said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.