Key Takeaways

  • Quarterhill has signed a $2.5 million contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to install and maintain traffic data collection sites in northeastern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, according to a June 22 press release.
  • Under the agreement, Quarterhill will deploy "Continuous Count Sites" (CCS) to collect traffic volume and vehicle classification data on Illinois roadways year-round, supporting freight and passenger analysis, enhancing safety, and planning future infrastructure investments.
  • The agreement has an initial term of three years and includes a renewal option that could extend the contract services for up to ten years.

Diving Deeper

According to the press release, data collected by the CCS can support IDOT's planning, engineering, and policy decisions, including analyzing freight and passenger movements, improving road safety, and determining future investment priorities.

Unlike short-term traffic counts that provide only a snapshot of traffic activity, CCS can generate data continuously, helping to identify long-term changes in commercial vehicle patterns and congestion.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than a dozen CCS are already operating in the Chicago area. Quarterhill did not disclose the number of additional sites to be installed under the new agreement or which highways they will be located on.

"Future road planning will be driven by reliable, data-driven transportation systems," said Chuck Myers, CEO of Quarterhill, in the press release. "Our collaboration with IDOT will ensure Illinois has effective traffic data to better support decisions on safety, infrastructure, and overall system performance, building a more connected and responsive transportation network for drivers and communities across the state."

This IDOT contract is the latest in a series of transportation technology contracts Quarterhill has secured in recent months. In April, the company was awarded three new weigh-in-motion and electronic screening projects in California, totaling $2.4 million.

Earlier this year, Quarterhill announced it would install 15 weigh-in-motion stations through a $6.4 million investment from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The company also extended a $10.7 million contract with the Illinois Tollway to support and enhance roadside transaction systems.