The City of Calgary has activated a Bluetooth tracking technology along Deefoot Trail to give Calgarians real-time information about the travel time along Deerfoot Trail during their commute.
This innovative technology collects publicly available information from Bluetooth devices and estimates travel times and congestion. These times are then displayed on electronic signs at key locations along the freeway.
Deerfoot Trail: travel time information system
Bluetooth detection sign with estimated travel times
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Based on a successful pilot project using Bluetooth technology to monitor and display travel times to road users, The City has installed and recently activated a Bluetooth detection system along Deerfoot Trail called the Travel Time Information System. Currently, the system consists of 15 sensors and seven permanent message boards from Airport Trail in the northeast to Barlow Trail in the southeast. The detection system is programmed to filter out signals from vehicles drivers and pedestrians who are near Deerfoot Trail but not traveling on it.
Initially the system will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, in order for The City to test and monitor the system while having it in operation during the peak travel times. Once the reliability of the system is assessed an expansion of its hours of operation will be rolled out.
The benefits of this technology to Calgarians are:
- Improved ability for drivers to make informed route planning choices.
- Decreased driver frustration.
- Collection of transportation data for planning purposes.
- Reduction of drivers using handheld devices to predict traffic during their commute.
The City will implement the system on two other major corridors as funding becomes available. The locations are Crowchild Trail from Glenmore Trail to 24 Avenue N.W. and Glenmore Trail from Deerfoot Trail to Crowchild Trail. Sensors have been installed. Options for signage to display the information are being considered.
