A Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Deployment along Salem, Oregon's Lancaster Drive Corridor Reduced Late Bus Arrivals by 20 Percent.
A Cloud-Based TSP System along Lancaster Drive Was Evaluated Using Operational Data from 22 Intersections.
Salem
Salem's Lyt: 20% Drop in Late Buses after TSP Initiative
Summary Information
Transit schedule reliability is a persistent challenge for urban bus operations, where traffic signal delays contribute to late arrivals and reduce rider confidence. Salem, Oregon's regional transit agency deployed a Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system along Lancaster Drive, a high-ridership corridor served by Route 11, in 2023. The TSP system allows buses to communicate with traffic signals to extend green lights when appropriate, reducing trip time and improving on-time performance. Rather than requiring specialized hardware at every bus and intersection, the deployment used a cloud-based, Software as a Service (SaaS) model to minimize infrastructure costs. The system was evaluated at 22 intersections along Lancaster Drive between Hayesville Drive and Kuebler Boulevard, a segment that served approximately 518,000 riders in 2025.
METHODOLOGY
The evaluation compared on-time performance and operational outcomes before and after deployment of a cloud-based TSP system along the Lancaster Drive corridor in Salem, Oregon. The system was activated at 22 intersections along Route 11 in 2023, covering both northbound and southbound directions between Hayesville Drive and Kuebler Boulevard. Measuring metrics included operational records tracking late vehicle occurrences, schedule adherence metrics, and driver experience feedback.
FINDINGS
- Following TSP activation, late bus arrivals decreased by 20 percent along the Lancaster Drive corridor in both northbound and southbound directions.
- More than half of buses (62 percent) were found to be easier to keep on schedule.
- A total of 69 percent of bus drivers reported feeling less rushed to make up time during their shifts, indicating reduced operational stress.
- Approximately 56 percent of bus drivers reported being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the new TSP system.
Note: These findings were reported in a trade/news article describing early deployment results and should be interpreted as preliminary.
