City seeks AMATS funds to expand adaptive traffic signals beyond downtown

Hudson staff told council on June 17 they intend to apply for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds through the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) to expand the city’s adaptive signal program beyond the downtown core.

The proposed Phase 2 scope would add signal optimization on perimeter corridors such as Middleton Road, State Route 91, Stow Road and other arterial signals. Staff said Phase 1 covered the downtown core and that integrating adaptive signaling on the outskirts would improve corridor operations without widening roadways.

City engineers noted the project also facilitates telecommunications and fiber conduit between signals as part of the controller network and that the emergency-services preemption system is already integrated into the signals. Officials said Aurora had earlier implemented a similar system and that comparative data show the approach can reduce delay without major capital roadway expansion.

Council asked for data on congestion at proposed Phase 2 intersections; staff said they would provide roadway-level data and scoring information used by grant reviewers to justify funding. The AMATS application would be brought to council for consideration if the city decides to move forward.