Holly Springs is another step closer to being able to help alleviate traffic backups in real-time and make more frequent traffic signal adjustments to unclog congestion.
The Town of Holly Springs has been chosen by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to be a pilot for the state when it comes to using smart technology to ease traffic congestion. They chose the Town to be the recipient of a $2 million investment to modernize software in traffic signals across Holly Springs. Construction on the project will begin this fall. Once the software is upgraded, the state will be able to remotely diagnose and correct signal issues, instead of waiting for a complaint to be filed and sending NCDOT workers into the field to investigate.
“Many people don’t understand that most of the roadways and almost all of the traffic signals in Holly Springs are controlled by NCDOT,” said Holly Springs Utilities & Infrastructure Executive Director Kendra Parrish. “By getting these signals to talk to each other and be remotely monitored, it will eventually reduce signal downtime, congestion and frustration for commuters in Holly Springs and the entire region.”
One of the reasons NCDOT chose Holly Springs for the pilot project is because of the groundwork the Town has already completed to connect all traffic signals with an advanced fiber network. Over a decade ago, the Town began installing miles of fiber to connect Town facilities.
Over the past year, the Town continued to invest in traffic solutions, by completing the installation of traffic monitoring cameras, which will enable real-time visibility of traffic conditions and enhance traffic data collection. NCDOT updating the software to complete the next step in the project not only saves the Town millions of dollars, but it also moves the timetable up for residents to begin seeing results on the roadways.
“Holly Springs has a history of innovation, whether it’s leading the way with economic development projects, quality of life improvements, or smarter ways of planning for the future,” said Holly Springs Chief Information Officer Jeff Wilson. “We are continuing this trend through this innovative partnership with NCDOT, which over time, should increase the frequency of signal timing adjustments and reduce the time it takes to resolve issues on our roadways.” The project will be complete in 2025.
