News Release

Town of Hilton Head Island to Install Adaptive Traffic Signal Management System

February 15, 2023

A new adaptive traffic signal management (ATSM) system the Town of Hilton Head Island is having installed will use advanced technology to improve travel times and the flow of traffic along William Hilton Parkway, Town officials announced.

The Town has executed a nearly $3 million contract with Control Technologies, Inc. of Sanford, Florida, to install the system with a goal of having it fully operational by June of this year. With the new traffic signal management system, motorists and pedestrians will benefit from major improvements to operations and safety, as well as air quality through reduced vehicle emissions.

"The Town is making a significant investment to upgrade our coordinated signal system technology to ensure we are providing our residents, commuters, and guests with the most efficient signal operations made possible by recent technological improvements. Our goal is to improve safety with real-time monitoring of the locations, speeds, and travel direction of all motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists," said Town Manager Marc Orlando.

"The Town has worked with our community planning consultant, MKSK Studios, and numerous agencies across the nation that have direct experience with these systems, to solicit guidance toward the development and fruition of a highly successful project," Orlando said.

"I am excited that we will have this technology in place to better manage the volume of traffic in our community and increase safety for everyone who uses our roadways and pathways. It will benefit traffic as the system helps to reduce congestion on our main roads and allows residents and visitors to travel more safely to their destinations. It will also create a safer environment for those who use our pathways. We want them to be able to cross roadways at our traffic signals as safely as possible using the latest video detection and tracking technology," said Mayor Alan Perry.

A key benefit of the ATSM system is its ability to adapt operations in real time, a function that traditional signal systems do not have. ATSM uses technology to change and adapt the timing of traffic signals based on actual traffic demand and variations in demand.

The upgraded, adaptive signal system will:

• Monitor the location of pedestrians and bicyclists within the immediate vicinity of traffic signals to minimize delays for motorists when the bicyclists and pedestrians have finished crossing the street.
   
• Adapt signal changes as warranted to allow pedestrians or bicyclists that are still in the crosswalk to complete their crossing before motorists are given the green traffic signal to drive through the crosswalk.
   
• Feature video cameras to provide enhanced detection. These cameras will not record any footage nor be used for any law enforcement purpose. However, the video camera technology will make it possible to locate and monitor the movement of all pedestrians and bicyclists in the vicinity of the traffic signal.

Pedestrian signals at strategic locations will be motion-activated and provide audible spoken-word messages to better serve pedestrians with disabilities.

Installation of the adaptive traffic signal management system on Hilton Head Island is an initial step towards advancing work on a regional integrated system. Last October, the Town and Beaufort County signed a memorandum of understanding in which they mutually agreed to work together, along with the SC Department of Transportation and the Lowcountry Area Transportation Study, to design, implement and maintain a connected and synchronized system along the entire length of U.S. 278 from I-95 to Sea Pines Circle.

The public can follow the progress of the adaptive traffic signal management system installation on the Town's website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

About Control Technologies, Inc.

Control Technologies is a nationwide company that seeks to provide its customers with traffic signal control and ITS solutions in various markets. Established in 1980, the company works closely with modern high-tech organizations known for delivering innovation solutions that improve the efficiency, intelligence and safety of transportation networks while enhancing usability and productivity to keep traffic moving. The company has offices in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey, California, Oregon and Washington. Control Technologies has manufactured over 15,000 traffic signal control cabinets and ITS cabinets, which were supplied nationwide. Among some of its recent works are the Google-funded signal modernization project with the City of Sunnyvale, California, and the EasyMile project (driverless vehicle solution) in San Ramon, California. For more information, please visit cttraffic.com.