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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 11, 2013

QUESTION NO.8

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Manager if there are plans to upgrade the MOVA system (which was designed for the control of traffic light signals at isolated junctions) to a SCATS or similar system for areas of our County where there are multiple signal-controlled junctions in close proximity?

REPLY:

'Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation' (MOVA) has been developed for use at signal controlled junctions with high demands and originally at isolated junctions. The Council's traffic section utilises differing variants of this software. The one variant 'Link MOVA' is in use on the Grangecastle Road between Willsbrook Road and Old Lucan Rd which co-ordinates traffic signal operation between nearby junctions.

Where it is in use it is the most appropriate tool currently available. However the Council is also running two Urban Traffic Control (UTC) regions and the use of this software has proved to be effective in further reducing congestion. The UTC coordinates signals within a region (a location with several nearby signal controlled junctions). SCATS is one type of UTC technology the council currently operates SCOOT.

As infrastructure allows it is intended to increase the number of UTC regions in the county. Amongst the regions under investigation are the Grangecastle Road between Willsbrook Road and Lucan Rd, The Newcastle Road at Hillcrest and the N4 interchange, the Palmerston By-Pass at Kennelsfort Road and The Oval and the Cookstown Way. It is hope to add at least two of these regions, including the Grangecastle Road, next year subject to funding.

The main requirements for the UTC system are additional infrastructure for vehicle detection and for resilient communications with the Traffic Management Centre.