1.9 million in funding to ensure buses and traffic lights understand each other
On a trip on bus line 3, Dr. Bernd Schober, technical project manager at LSBG, explains his current project "ITS-CUBE". While the bus rolls quickly through the heavy traffic, Dr. Schober describes how Hamburg's buses will move even more smoothly in the future. The key role is played by communication between buses and traffic lights, which is made possible by a new, highly innovative technology based on WLAN or mobile communications.
Boarding bus line 3 at Hammerbrook, Lippeltstrasse
The streets are full, and so is the bus: Dr. Bernd Schober still finds a seat and looks out of the window at the multi-lane road. Despite the traffic, the bus gets through well. "Buses and traffic lights already communicate with each other - both via analogue and digital radio. However, this will change by 2030," he explains.
Currently, around 20 percent of Hamburg's traffic lights are equipped with radio technology for bus prioritization. However, the analogue system will expire at the end of 2028, as the Federal Network Agency will change the frequency spectrum. The digital radio used to date is also reaching its limits. A change in technology is therefore necessary to ensure that buses can continue to be prioritized at traffic lights in the future.
Stopover at HBF/Mönckebergstraße
The bus rolls along quickly - even in the densely packed city center. No stop & go at traffic lights. How does it work? "The bus passes a so-called reporting point and announces: Hello traffic light, I'm coming soon," says Dr. Bernd Schober, simplifying the principle. At another reporting point, the bus sends another signal: "I'm almost there!" After passing the traffic light, the bus logs off again.
Exit at Rödingsmarkt
Three inconspicuous elements at the traffic lights at Rödingsmarkt/Neuer Wall demonstrate the future and the past: next to the antennas for digital and analogue radio, a so-called roadside unit for communication via WLAN is installed. The ITS-CUBE project started in June 2023. Dr. Bernd Schober is currently working on studies and concepts to enable a smooth migration of the systems. They are based on proven systems from Germany and around the world.
"In addition to free travel at traffic lights, the new technology offers other functions for data exchange, such as door locking and departure recommendations for drivers. They can then optimally adapt their driving style to the traffic," explains the project manager.
The European Investment Bank's (EIB) EU program "ELENA" has made 1.92 million euros available for the development of the sytem architecture, which accounts for 90 percent of the total project volume. The project will run for a total of four years. The technology change will take place in Hamburg from 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
Around 2,000 buses and up to 600 of the 1,750 traffic lights in Hamburg will then be equipped with the innovative TSP (Traffic Signal Priority Request) technology to make public transport more efficient and environmentally friendly.