Patent ID: 8823548

Claim:
A method for controlling a traffic signal phase at one or more intersections, respectively, comprising: configuring a control system at an intersection to operate in one of a first mode or a second mode; wherein the configuring of the control system to operate in the second mode includes storing data indicative of an evacuation direction; while operating the control system in the first mode, in response to a transit priority signal received by the control system from a vehicle assigned transit priority, extending a green phase of the traffic signal in favor of the vehicle assigned transit priority; and while operating the control system in the second mode, in response to a transit priority signal received by the control system from the vehicle assigned transit priority, preempting a current non-green phase of the traffic signal to a green phase in favor of the vehicle assigned transit priority; wherein the preempting of the current non-green phase of the traffic signal is denied to the vehicle assigned transit priority unless the vehicle assigned transit priority is traveling in the evacuation direction.