The Baltimore City Department of Transportation debuted today a new traffic management center (TMC) that features Siemen’s advanced i2 and NextEdit software products.

Siemens, leveraging the design and construction expertise of project partners Jacobs Engineering Group, Plexus Communications Group, SK Design and Activu Corporation, upgraded the city’s outdated UTCS main frame traffic control system to a state-of-the-art traffic management system that offers flexible control devices and advanced communication and surveillance technologies.

The new traffic management system supports more than 1200 traffic signal controllers in a mixed vendor environment using industry standard NTCIP protocols. The system was seamlessly integrated using the city’s existing communications infrastructure and new higher speed modems while maintaining operations transparency between the new and old system during the transition period.

Baltimore's new TMC featuring workstations and video wall.

“The use of an open architecture and standard protocols allows the city to easily expand and upgrade their traffic control systems into the future,“ said Diederick VanDillen Siemens Senior Project Manager, “Siemens has been able to incorporate some of their own traffic signal controllers along the City light rail corridor intermixed with other third party controllers – something that would not have been possible under the old system. Ultimately this flexibility provides the City options and saves them money in the long run.”

Operators will use the new, centrally-managed software to monitor traffic signal operations, override normal time-of-day plans with centrally-commanded response plans for special events such as Ravens football and Orioles baseball games, manage incidents, remotely- manage traffic signal controller timing and perform traffic signal timing optimization.

The center will also function as the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during inclement weather, catastrophic or other major traffic impacting events by coordinating responses with other city and regional partner agencies including the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA), Maryland Transit Admin (MTA), Maryland Port Administration (MPA) and Maryland Department of Homeland Security MHA (MHA).

Siemens today announced Western Systems as its new Northern California dealer for Intelligent Traffic Solutions (ITS). Western Systems has been in the Intelligent Transportation Systems market since 2001, and is also the Siemens dealer in the Pacific Northwest.

"Western Systems is a solutions company" said Robert Nims, president of Western Systems. "We listen to our customers and we understand the ITS market. We carry the best solutions available and Siemens is a big part of that. We believe our business model is a perfect fit for Siemens and Northern California."

"The transfer of dealership into the hands of the Western Systems team will enable Siemens to explore continued success within the northern Califronia area, where traffic solutions are always at a high demand," says Robert Cartwright, Director of Sales & Marketing at Siemens. "This partnership in the Northern California area brings many opportunities to address the challenges of managing California traffic systems."

Siemens announced today that Phoenix Highway Products is its new Southern California dealer for Intelligent Traffic Solutions (ITS). Phoenix Highway has served the Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico market for more than 10 years, providing superior service and support in ITS. As a turnkey distributor, Phoenix Highway handles everything from systems to signals and is poised to continue to provide innovative Siemens products throughout the region.
"At Phoenix Highway, we pride ourselves on our inside and outside support with the focus always on customer service,” said Donna Matthews, president, Phoenix Highway Products. “Through our large stocking facility and level 2 and 3 International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) techs, Phoenix Highway will be looking into new avenues and opportunities to implement the quality, versatility and advanced technology of the Siemens product line.”
“The transfer of dealership into the hands of the Phoenix Highway Product team will enable Siemens to explore continued success within the southern California area, where traffic solutions are always at a high demand,” says Robert Cartwright, Director of Sales & Marketing at Siemens ITS Road. “Siemens is equipped to handle this challenge and we are looking forward to better servicing our customers through Phoenix Highway.” 

Siemens attends NTOC 2007 National Traffic Signal Report Card Press Conference Siemens attended the NTOC 2007 National Traffic Signal Report Card Press Conference on October 9, 2007 in Washington DC as a representative of NEMA. The event was well attended by the media, federal highway, ITE, and various other agencies. Master of Ceremonies Marshall Elizer, NTOC Spokesperson, summarized the report card findings highlighting some of the improvements over the previous evaluation in 2005. Although the overall score was a 'D' it was an improvement form the 'D-' from 2005 with noted improving trends. The cities of Austing and Dallas were singled out as having made significant improvements over the past two years. Guest speakers included Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) 25th District, Austin TX; Ronald Kirby, Director of Transporation Planning, Metroppolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, DC; and Elizabeth Ramirez, Assistant Director of Transportation Operations, Dallas, TX. Econolite and Siemens provided the displays on behalf of NEMA. More information on the NTOC Traffic Signal Report Card can be found at http://www.ite.org/reportcard/.

Siemens today announced the official product launch of EagleVision, Siemens new video detection system for traffic monitoring and control. EagleVision will debut at the 2007 Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting and Exhibit in Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 5 - 8.
The advanced technology used to develop the new EagleVision video detection camera ensures reliable and functional monitoring of intersection vehicle progression. The new EagleVision system was designed to eliminate the costly installation and maintenance of traditional in ground loop detectors. It is a low-cost solution requiring no additional hardware or manpower to commission and install the system. Once the camera has been mounted, users have the ability to isolate and focus on a specific section of the viewing area via the computer interface, eliminating the need to return to the physical camera for target adjustments.

• EagleVision Official Press Release

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. today announced the official product launch of TACTICS, Siemens next generation, transportation system suite. TACTICS will debut at the 2007 ITS America Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Palm Springs, Calif., June 4-6.
TACTICS is a suite of products that combines all of the features of previous Siemens’ transportation systems into an enhanced and streamlined product line that ranges from a PDA upload/download device to the most complete transportation management system currently available. The entire family of products works together to provide a platform for traffic control, web services, regional interface, freeway management, parking guidance and tunnel applications.

• TACTICS Official Press Release