A green light for trams in new trial

Innovative traffic light technology will be introduced onto our network in March 2019 in a new trial to provide more reliable journey times for our passengers and tackle congestion for road users.

The signalling system trial will use GPS technology to track the position of trams, taking into account current road conditions in determining traffic light sequencing.

Cooperative Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) technology will be fitted to 25 trams on Route 75, which runs along Toorak Road and the Burwood Highway, to improve network efficiency and traffic management, and reduce congestion on our roads.

The trial will test tram signal priority using real-time GPS technology and local tram data to track the position of trams and determine traffic light activity based on live road conditions.

The system will integrate with VicRoads’ existing road management system, while also providing a link in to Yarra Trams’ operations centre.

The traffic-light priority trial is a project funded under the VicRoads Transport Technology Industry Grant as part of the Victorian Government’s Smarter Journeys program and is being coordinated by the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) in conjunction with Public Transport Victoria, VicRoads, Yarra Trams and La Trobe University.