They won't realize it's there, but motorists soon may benefit from the latest in traffic management software.

Cranberry supervisors learned last week the township is in line for a $562,000 grant to buy software to equip the township's entire traffic signal system with an even smarter brand of communication capabilities.

Digital communication between traffic signals is not new in Cranberry; the township was an early user of "smart" traffic management in 1996 when it installed the first segments of coordinated signalization on Route 19 near Rochester Road.

Since then, the entire traffic signal system has been linked with fiber optic line and digital communication, beginning with signals that coordinated traffic release times based on a computer program to the current system that allows software to "think for itself," so to speak, said Duane McKee, assistant township manager.

The new software will allow the township's computer traffic programs to make adjustments on an as-needed, real-time basis at one signal without causing a chain reaction sequence at the other signals in that area.

"We can localize issues and fix problems quicker because the effects won't be felt throughout the entire zone. Basically, it comes down to moving traffic better," Mr. McKee said.

Cranberry has four traffic zones: Route 19 from the Marshall line to North Boundary Road; Route 228 from Route 19 to Franklin Road; Route 19 from Franklin Road to the Adams line; and Freedom Road from Route 19 to Commonwealth Drive.

The money is from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. It is left from a $1.2 million grant for public sewer lines on the Westinghouse campus on Route 228.

The township will spend the next few months drawing up bid specifications. It expects to implement the new software early next year.

"No one will be able to tell it's there, but it'll make a difference," he said.

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