Greenwich Gets $2.75M to Upgrade Traffic Lights on Arch Street

Ever been frustrated with the timing of the traffic lights on Arch Street? Soon they will react to changing traffic conditions in "real time."

will receive a grant of $2.75 million to install Adaptive Signal Control Technology along the busy artery just off I-95 Exit 3, Gov. Dannel Malloy's office recently announced.

Greenwich is one of nine Connecticut towns that will share a $20 million federal grant for transportation projects designed to ease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and reduce energy use, according to a press release from the governor's office.

Adaptive Signal Control technology is said to improve the flow of traffic between traffic lights. It works by automatically adjusting the timing of red, yellow and green lights based on changing traffic patterns. This is in contrast to conventional systems, which are set on timers.

"With less idling at signals and less stop and go between signals, there will be fewer exhaust emissions and less fuel wasted," Malloy said in the release.

The Federal Highway Administration's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funded the grant. The project, which will be managed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, is expected to commence in 2013.