City of Arlington Leverages Technology at More Than 100 Traffic Signals to Optimize Traffic Flow for Heavy Freight Vehicles

By Office of Communication

Posted on May 01, 2023, May 01, 2023

The City of Arlington announces a new traffic signal technology system that will help to reduce harmful greenhouse gases, while reducing stops and delays imposed to heavy freight vehicles.

The Freight Optimization Services Program will be deployed on roadways in Arlington designated as freight routes and in freight-oriented development areas.

Paid for by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) through a U.S. Department of Transportation grant, the City is participating at no additional cost to local taxpayers. Click here to watch a video about this project.

The benefits to our community, which include enhanced road safety, improved quality of life and environmental consciousness, are significant, Public Works Director Keith Brooks said.

The technology being deployed has been proven successfully in transit and emergency vehicle applications across the United States and in several cities in Texas, including San Antonio and Austin.

“The technology works with our traffic management system to provide a few more seconds of green time to allow the heavy vehicle to pass through the intersection without stopping,” Brooks said.

Passenger vehicles driving alongside the heavy trucks get the same extended green time, so there are benefits to all vehicles on the main street. The technology deployment also includes information to the truck driver announcing the recommended travel speed to arrive at a traffic light on green that is currently red. This technology is available today in production vehicles including several Audi and Volkswagen models.

The Freight Priority program, which aligns with the Arlington City Council’s priorities to Enhance Regional Mobility and Leverage Technology, will optimize traffic flow through signalized intersections by helping freight vehicles minimize their stops at red lights. This first-of-its kind service based on cloud-computing technology is designed to save money, time and fuel while reducing emissions.

The program is being deployed across 500 traffic signals in multiple jurisdictions throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex including more than 100 in Arlington.

The Freight Priority System also requires no new equipment in the freight vehicles or in the roadway. Data will be fully anonymized in program operations, which means participant information will not be collected or used for any other purpose.

The program will run through 2028 and is expected to expand to more signals in Arlington and throughout the DFW metroplex. If you would like to know more information about the program, or to sign up as a freight operator for no cost, go to freightpriority.com.