Matthew BoyleThe Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has launched a Smart Cities program in Falls Church, Northern Virginia, aimed at modernizing traffic control systems to serve as a foundation for more intelligent technologies. The initiative seeks to enhance traffic flow, minimize conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, and reduce energy and maintenance costs. VTTI’s approach uses smart intersection technology, which is already implemented in other areas of Northern Virginia, such as Alexandria. The project is funded by a $10 million investment from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the state budget. The next phase, starting in 2024, will involve further traffic signal upgrades, real-time adjustments, dynamic lighting, and smart parking solutions to improve safety and reduce congestion. By utilizing sensors and real-time data, the program will dynamically adjust signal timing and street lighting based on traffic conditions, lowering energy consumption and light pollution. Future advancements include smart parking technologies, allowing drivers to find parking spaces efficiently through a smartphone app, cutting fuel consumption and emissions. Falls Church aims to use technology to enhance transportation safety and efficiency, benefiting residents, businesses, and visitors.
Virginia Tech Launches Smart Cities Program to Modernize Traffic Systems in Falls Church
In the City of Falls Church, northern Virginia, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI ) has launched a Smart Cities program. The city’s traffic control systems will be modernized in the first phase of the program to serve as a framework for more” intelligent” technologies.
The upgraded traffic control systems aim to improve traffic flow, reduce conflicts between cars and bicycle/foot traffic, and save money by reducing energy and maintenance costs.
Similar bright intersection technology is being used by VTTI in other areas of Northern Virginia, such as at the intersections of Nutley Road and US Highway 50. At the intersection of East Glebe Road and Potomac Avenue in the City of Alexandria, researchers have also created a bright intersection test bed just outside of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.
VDOT and Virginia Tech Partner on $10 Million Smart Traffic Signal Upgrades in Falls Church
The State of Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the partnership, which was first announced in 2021, also provides $10 million in funding from the state budget. A fresh road, which connects Virginia Route 7 to the West Falls Church site of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, runs parallel to the Falls Church campus.  ,  ,
The next phase of the project is expected to start in 2024 and will run through 2025, and it will involve addition traffic signal upgrades and the use of bright intersection technologies. Through real-time adjustment of signal timing plans and the identification of vehicle-pedestrian conflict areas, the traffic signal system will be able to adapt to changing traffic and pedestrian levels while increasing safety. These capabilities help the project team identify the best countermeasures to lessen the risks in high-conflict areas.
Virginia Tech to Implement Dynamic Lighting and Smart Parking in Falls Church Smart City Initiative
Implementation of dynamic lighting will be a part of the project’s next steps, which will involve utilizing sensors installed on roads to track different levels of traffic flow and adjust the lighting to meet visibility requirements. Brighter streetlights will be produced by more road users, whereas fewer road users will result in a lower light brightness. Adjustments in lighting levels will lower both energy consumption and gentle pollution in densely populated urban areas.
In addition, the project will use clever parking technologies in the future, which will enable car users to find parking spaces via a smart phone app rather than frantically searching for a parking spot. The application will make parking fees simpler for users and help to lower the fuel consumption and emissions that vehicles use while searching for parking spaces.
Virginia Tech and Falls Church Collaborate on Advanced Traffic Technologies for Safer, Smarter Roads
“VTT I is proud to be working hand in hand with the City of Falls Church, VDOT, and our industry partners to bring contemporary traffic signal control technologies to the area” said Mike Mollenhauer, the institute’s main investigator on the project. These devices will enable more sophisticated intersection control, which will enhance safety and traffic flow through the city’s major corridors. As we assist them in deploying dynamic lighting, wise parking, and other smart city technologies in the near future, we look forward to continuing our cooperation with Falls Church.
According to Dave Snyder, Falls Church City Council member and vice chair of the Northern Virginia Transit Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority” This is a tangible example of the commitment of the city, the region, and elected officials to use technology to improve transportation for our residents, businesses, and visitors, locally and especially in the City of Falls Church.”
