Iteris Awarded Contract by OCTA for Harbor Boulevard Smart Mobility Initiative
Iteris, the world’s trusted technology ecosystem for smart mobility infrastructure management and a proud part of the Almaviva Group, has announced that it has been awarded a significant new contract by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). The new initiative is designed to enhance public transit operations and improve the overall mobility experience along Harbor Boulevard in Orange County, California. By leveraging Iteris’ cutting-edge technology and microsimulation expertise, this project aims to optimize traffic management and support the delivery of smart, sustainable solutions for public transportation.
A New Era for Smart Mobility in Orange County
The collaboration between Iteris and OCTA represents a major step forward in the ongoing efforts to improve transit services in Orange County. The focus of the project is to study and optimize the movement of public transit along Harbor Boulevard, one of the most heavily used corridors in the region. This particular initiative will examine the travel patterns, traffic interactions, and congestion along transit routes, ultimately identifying strategies to improve service, increase efficiency, and reduce delays for commuters.
The study area covers five cities and includes a total of 53 signalized intersections along Harbor Boulevard, one of the busiest stretches of roadway in the county. The two key transit routes affected by the project, Route 43 and the OC Bus Rapid Route 543, together account for more than 10,000 boardings daily—representing nearly 8% of the total bus ridership in the county. This makes the initiative particularly important, not only for improving local mobility but also for ensuring that an essential public service continues to meet the growing demand.
Harnessing the Power of Microsimulation for Smarter Planning
At the heart of this project is Iteris’ expertise in microsimulation planning, which enables the company to model real-world traffic and transit conditions using advanced software. This powerful tool helps analysts simulate how changes in traffic demand, infrastructure, and signal timings will impact the flow of vehicles and transit services across the corridor. By virtually recreating real-life operations, Iteris can evaluate how various factors—such as construction projects, local traffic patterns, and adjustments to signal parameters—will affect the efficiency and effectiveness of public transit routes.
In addition to identifying current inefficiencies, Iteris will provide actionable insights to improve the flow of traffic and optimize the service delivery for commuters. With these insights, OCTA will be able to implement targeted strategies designed to increase the efficiency of public transit services, improve operational reliability, and reduce overall travel time for riders.
Collaboration with Other Ongoing OCTA Projects
This new project is part of a broader effort by OCTA to improve transit efficiency in the county and comes at a time when the agency is actively investing in a number of important initiatives. Iteris has also been supporting the OCTA Traffic Signal Priority Pilot Study on Harbor Boulevard, which focuses on using real-time data to give priority to buses at traffic signals, allowing for quicker travel times and fewer delays.
The current Harbor Boulevard Transit Initiative will leverage data collected during the Traffic Signal Priority Pilot Study, allowing for a more holistic and integrated approach to optimizing mobility in the region. These combined efforts represent nearly $10 million in recent contracts awarded to Iteris by OCTA, further demonstrating the agency’s trust in Iteris’ ability to provide innovative and effective mobility solutions.
ClearGuide®: A Key Technology for Optimizing Traffic Flow
A central tool in this initiative will be Iteris’ ClearGuide® solution, part of the ClearMobility® Platform, which will be used to analyze traffic patterns and conditions along the studied routes. ClearGuide is an advanced Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that offers real-time traffic monitoring and data analytics, enabling OCTA and Iteris to visualize, interpret, and optimize traffic operations across the county.
ClearGuide’s ability to provide a real-time, data-driven view of traffic conditions is critical to identifying bottlenecks, congestion points, and other inefficiencies in the transportation system. By integrating this tool into the Harbor Boulevard Transit Initiative, Iteris can deliver powerful insights that will guide decisions on signal timings, traffic flow adjustments, and improvements to public transit scheduling.
ClearGuide is a core component of the ClearMobility® Platform, which is recognized as the most complete solution for continuously monitoring, visualizing, and optimizing mobility infrastructure in the world. This platform leverages cloud computing, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, advisory services, and managed services—an innovative combination of technologies that helps improve safety, efficiency, and overall mobility for all users of the roadway.
Iteris’ Commitment to Improving Mobility Infrastructure
Iteris’ involvement in this project is not only about providing a technological solution, but also about bringing years of experience and a deep understanding of the transportation network to the table. The company’s experience with OCTA, coupled with its expertise in microsimulation, positions Iteris as the ideal partner to drive the success of this initiative.
Steven Bradley, senior vice president of mobility professional solutions at Iteris, expressed his enthusiasm about the project: “We’re thrilled to further our work with the Orange County Transportation Authority with this new planning project. With our extensive microsimulation experience and coinciding knowledge of OCTA’s transportation network from our other work with them, we’re uniquely positioned to help the county improve transit efficiency with this initiative.”
Bradley further emphasized the importance of this project for the region, stating, “Improving transit efficiency is essential for reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and enhancing the overall quality of life for commuters. We’re excited to bring our expertise to this project and contribute to OCTA’s ongoing efforts to improve transportation in Orange County.”
Looking Ahead: A Smart Mobility Future for Orange County
The Harbor Boulevard Transit Initiative marks a key milestone in Iteris’ ongoing commitment to improving smart mobility infrastructure in communities across the globe. By providing the tools and expertise needed to optimize public transit and enhance the overall transportation experience, Iteris is helping to shape a future where mobility is safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for all.
As cities and regions continue to face increasing population growth and evolving transportation needs, solutions like those provided by Iteris will become even more crucial in addressing these challenges. The integration of smart technology into the transportation ecosystem is essential for ensuring that public transit remains a viable and effective option for urban mobility.
In conclusion, the partnership between Iteris and OCTA for the Harbor Boulevard Transit Initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to transportation planning, blending advanced technology with deep expertise to deliver tangible improvements for commuters. As Iteris continues to expand its role in shaping the future of mobility, this project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in building smarter, more connected communities.
About Iteris, Inc.
Iteris, Inc. is a leading provider of smart mobility infrastructure management solutions and part of the Almaviva Group of businesses serving the transportation and logistics industry. Iteris’ cloud-enabled solutions help public transportation agencies, municipalities, commercial entities and other transportation infrastructure providers monitor, visualize, and optimize mobility infrastructure to make mobility safe, efficient, and sustainable. As a pioneer in intelligent transportation systems technology, Iteris’ advanced detection sensors, mobility and traffic data, software-as-a-service offerings, and consulting services represent a comprehensive range of mobility infrastructure management solutions that serve customers in North America and around the world.