Ramp Signals have been activated along northbound Interstate 95 (I-95) in Miami-Dade County, helping motorists merge onto the expressway easier and safer.

Ramp Signals are improving traffic flow by controlling the rate at which vehicles enter the highway. The signals are traffic control devices that alternate from red to green lights to ensure that vehicles enter the mainline in a spaced and steady manner. They are designed to improve the merging process by ensuring there are enough gaps available for each car to fit.

When drivers merge onto the interstate in a controlled manner, the corridor can accommodate more vehicles per hour, helping to maximize efficiency and increase the overall capacity of the existing roadway. Regulating ramp traffic improves mobility, which reduces congestion and decreases the incidence of crashes along the highway. Recent environmental studies have also indicated that because cars spend less time idling on the expressway, the consumption of fuel decreases as well, helping to reduce the quantities of nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and reactive carbons – the pollutants contained in smog.

Ramp Signals are activated during times of high congestion, for the most part, such as weekday rush-hour periods. However, they may also be activated in the case of a traffic incident or special event that may impact regular expressway operations. Ramp signals operate based on real-time traffic conditions and, depending on the indicated signage on each ramp, will allow one or two vehicles to enter the interstate at a time. Drivers should be patient, and pay attention to all signage when approaching the ramps. A short wait at the light will help reduce travel times and improve the overall commute for motorists along the mainline.

How Does Ramp Signaling Work?

1. When the signal is red: Motorists should pull up to the marked white line on the pavement before the "Stop Here on Red" sign to activate the ramp meter light.

2. When the signal light turns green: One or two vehicles, as indicated by the signage on the ramp, should proceed and merge onto the interstate.

3. Motorists should remain patient. A short wait on the ramp will help reduce travel times and improve the overall commute along the mainline.

Ramp Signals are active along the northbound entrance points from NW 62nd Street north to NW 167th Street. The system was deployed as part of Phase 1A of the Department’s overall congestion-relief plan, which along with the 95 Express is helping to improve mobility along the interstate. Phase 1B is expected to launch shortly after southbound 95 Express operations begin in late 2009.

To learn more about the Ramp Signals, click on the links below to obtain a copy of the:

• Brochure (PDF)
• Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Spanish (PDF)
  • Creole (PDF)

To see the Ramp Signals in action watch the video in the Video Gallery, or click here to view the webinar.

To see a list of on-ramps along I-95 in Miami-Dade County that will be implementing Ramp Signals in the near future, click here for Northbound, and here for Southbound.

A. Ramp signals are an important traffic management technique designed to keep traffic flowing on the expressways and help reduce crashes. With traffic congestion constantly increasing, sound management of the region’s transportation system is vital to the movement of people and goods throughout the region.

A. Generally, many cars try to merge on to the expressway all at once. Drivers on the expressway slow down to let the cars enter, and these slower speeds quickly cause backups. If cars enter the expressway in a spaced, controlled manner, they merge easier and with less disruption to mainline traffic. A short wait on the ramp allows drivers to increase their average expressway speed and shorten expressway travel times. By regulating the flow of traffic entering the expressways during peak traffic hours, the overall flow of traffic on the expressways will be smoother. This regulated flow means we can accommodate more vehicles per hour on the expressways, improve commute times, and provide a higher degree of safety.

A. Yes, all ramp signals along I-95 in Miami-Dade county area will essentially operate the same way. Because of the different ramp characteristics, there may be some slight modifications at specific ramps so that the ramp signals can be the most effective for actual traffic conditions at a particular location. All signalized ramps will have a sign at the entrance letting drivers know if the signals are turned on or not. There will be a signal at the end of the ramp as well as a stop bar on the pavement, and signs providing any special directions. Whenever you use any signalized on-ramp, remember to follow these basics steps:

• Signals at on-ramps work like all traffic lights: red means stop and green means go.
• Special instructions will always appear directly at the signal light itself and on other ramp signs. For example,
  • When in operation, signs located at or adjacent to signalized ramps will be illuminated. For example, signs which read “Ramp Signals in Operation When Flashing” will be turned on to notify motorists that ramp signaling is in effect.
  • Signs at each ramp signal will also be introduced informing motorists that one or two vehicles can proceed through each green light. These signs will read either “One Car Per Green” or “Two Cars Per Green”.

A. The purpose of ramp signals is to help regulate expressway traffic flow and merging during periods of intense use. Ramp signals on I-95 in Miami-Dade County will be "demand responsive" – that is, the signals will turn on based on traffic flow. What this means is that signals will typically operate during periods of heavy traffic, such as weekday morning and afternoon commute hours. Ramp signals also may be activated during the "off" hours in the event of an incident on the expressway or for special event traffic.

A. The red-green cycles will vary from ramp to ramp. The green light will typically be on for two seconds, and the red light may vary anywhere from two to thirteen seconds depending upon traffic flow conditions. These timings will be adjusted depending on current traffic conditions. Because the ramp signals will be "demand responsive", the operating hours and the red-green cycles will be controlled by traffic at that moment. Sensors in the pavement indicate how heavy traffic volumes are on the expressways. Lighter volumes would send a signal to the ramp signal controller to "tell" the signal to speed up the red-green cycles to let more cars on the expressway. Similarly, if the signals detect heavier traffic on the expressways, the red-green cycles would be adjusted to space out merging traffic at a safer rate.

A. Waiting times will vary depending upon how many cars are ahead of you on the ramp. In the slowest situation - a thirteen-second red and a two-second green cycle - four cars each minute would be allowed to enter on a specific lane; in the fastest situation, fifteen cars each minute could enter. For those traveling a good distance on one or more expressways, the time spent on the ramp is gained back - and more - with faster speeds on the expressway itself. Depending on the location and time of day, if someone is only traveling a short distance during the commute period, it might be just as fast (or faster) to use a surface street. Also, some signalized on-ramps will be used less frequently than others, and the wait will be shorter at those locations.

A. Over the years, every ramp signaling project in the United States has been subjected to exhaustive "before and after" tests using electronic counters, in-pavement sensors, computer studies, and even photography. Systems with ramp signals in place show that average speeds on the mainline expressways do increase, and sometimes rather substantially. With the future implementation of ramp signals, it is estimated that there will be:

• Reduction in time spent in traffic due to the easing of recurring and non-recurring congestion
• Savings in gas due to less stop and go traffic on the mainline
• Savings due to a proven record of reduced crashes
• An increase in travel time reliability due to lower flow and congestion which will allow a more consistent commute time during ramp signal operation.

A. In terms of return on investment, no, because the accumulated savings to users yields dividends far beyond the minimal costs involved.

A. Generally speaking, with the implementation of ramp signals expressway crashes have been measurably reduced according to before and after studies. The Minnesota Department of Transportation conducted a study of expressway conditions with their ramp signals turned off. All 430 ramp signals in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area were turned off for six weeks in the fall of 2000, and the results show a definite safety benefit in favor of ramp signals. With the ramp signals turned off, there was a 26% increase in crashes - rear-end crashes were up by almost 15%, "run off the road" crashes increased by 60%, and sideswipe crashes were up 200%. Research shows that most expressway crashes occur during stop-and-go traffic conditions by inattentive drivers. Ramp signaling provides a smoother flow of traffic, which minimizes this problem.

A. Overall, congestion around the Miami-Dade County area will constantly grow, but the type of congestion referred to is known as "bottlenecking". Whenever traffic enters an expressway - and then shifts left from lane to lane - it creates a slowing pattern behind that entrance zone. This is true with or without signals. Ramp signals help to space the entrance of cars onto the expressway at a steady and safer rate, even though expressway lanes might already be congested.

A. No, it's not. Energy and air quality are somewhat improved by maintaining faster expressway flow. While vehicles obviously burn some gas while waiting on a signalized ramp, the average speed is increased on the expressway itself. The incidence of stop-and-go driving is reduced on the expressway, and this is what really burns up most of the gasoline. In terms of air quality, environmental experts have concluded that ramp signal programs slightly reduce the quantities of nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and reactive hydrocarbons - the pollutants in smog. Again, this is a trade-off: while there might not be any measurable differences on the on-ramps themselves, with decreased expressway stop-and-go driving and smoother flow, the overall air quality actually improves.

A. No. There are two ways ramp signals can adversely affect adjacent city streets. The first is backing of ramp traffic onto mainline city streets. FDOT has addressed this by installing end of queue detectors in the ramp signaling system that will send alerts when back-ups are occurring and will speed up the metering rate to avoid back-ups onto the city streets. However, if back-ups currently exist, they will not be eliminated by the signals. It is also important to remember that there is often a bit of confusion during the first few days of all signaling projects, which does cause a bit more traffic congestion near the ramps. As commuters become accustomed to the signals and adjust their travel patterns, this temporary congestion disappears. In cases where traffic continues to back up on the ramp, most problems can be handled by adjusting the signal timing. FDOT will closely monitor each signal as it is brought on-line and make adjustments as needed.

The second instance where ramp signals may pose adverse affect is in the diversion of traffic to city streets due to backlog and wait times entering the expressway. This issue has been studied in extensively in their cities where ramp signals were installed show that in those cases where traffic has increased on city streets, the volume has not been significant enough to impact the operation of these streets.

A. The ramp signals are considered traffic control devices and failure to obey a traffic control device are subject to the same rules of enforcement and fines. In Miami-Dade County the cost of receiving a citation for failure to obey a traffic control device will range from $123 up to $183 or more. The Florida Highway Patrol will be responsible for enforcing the ramp signals.