Târgu Mureș builds one of Romania's most comprehensive traffic management systems

Cities rarely struggle with just one mobility challenge. Congestion, public transport reliability, pedestrian safety and incident management are all interconnected. Solving them individually often leads to isolated systems that generate data but offer little coordinated action. So how can cities manage all of these challenges in a coordinated way?

The answer lies in integration rather than individual technologies.

Working together with SWARCO, the municipality of Târgu Mureș has deployed one of the country's most comprehensive integrated traffic management systems, bringing traffic control, public transport management, road safety and enforcement together within a single operational platform.

At the heart of the deployment is SWARCO's MyCity On-Prem traffic management ecosystem, operating from a newly established Command-and-Control Center.

Instead of monitoring individual intersections independently, traffic operators now have a citywide overview of traffic conditions and can respond quickly to changing situations.

The system currently manages 41 signalized intersections using fully adaptive traffic control, continuously adjusting signal timings based on real-time traffic demand. This helps improve traffic flow, reduce unnecessary delays, and make more efficient use of the existing road infrastructure.

Reliable public transport is one of the key ingredients of sustainable urban mobility.

To create a common operational picture where different mobility services work together rather than independently, SWARCO NEXT was installed, providing centralized public transport management alongside the other traffic operations.

To support this objective, 20 city buses have been equipped with onboard units that communicate directly with the traffic management system.

Whenever appropriate, buses can now receive priority at signalized intersections, helping them maintain schedules while minimizing disruption to surrounding traffic.

Rather than relying on fixed priority rules, the adaptive traffic management system balances the needs of public transport with overall network performance.

Effective traffic management depends on significant factor: getting timely information.

To improve situational awareness, the project includes an extensive CCTV monitoring system with 46 cameras distributed across the city.

Operators can quickly assess incidents, verify traffic conditions, and respond more efficiently whenever disruptions occur.

Three Variable Message Signs (VMS) complement the system by providing real-time information to road users, helping drivers react to changing traffic conditions before they reach affected areas.

Beyond optimizing traffic flow, the deployment also emphasizes road safety.

Dedicated enforcement technologies help improve compliance with traffic regulations through:

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) on 10 dedicated-lane cameras
• Six red-light enforcement systems
• Two speed enforcement sites
• Two Weigh-in-Motion installations for monitoring overloaded vehicles

Together, these technologies support safer roads while providing authorities with valuable operational data for long-term mobility planning.

Pedestrian safety is another important element of the project.

Twelve pedestrian crossings have been equipped with intelligent pedestrian detection and lighting systems that improve crossing visibility and increase driver awareness, particularly during poor visibility or nighttime conditions.

These measures help create a safer environment for all road users while supporting the city's broader Vision Zero ambitions.

The success of the initial deployment has laid the foundation for further expansion.

Building on the strong performance of the first implementation, the city has commissioned an extension project that will connect an additional 27 intersections to the central traffic management ecosystem MyCity On-Prem.

Once completed, the expanded network will further strengthen Târgu Mureș's ability to monitor, coordinate, and optimize traffic across the city from a single integrated control center.

Modern cities such as Târgu Mureș require more than isolated traffic technologies. They need integrated ecosystems that transform data into coordinated action.

The continued investment demonstrates the municipality's confidence in the solution and reflects a long-term commitment to smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban mobility. SWARCO ITS is proud to support this development with experience and sophisticated technology.

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