HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10268
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10268
May 7, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 1 of 1
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING
The purpose of this informal report is to provide information on the process for the timing of traffic signals. The
Transportation and Public Works Department operate and maintain traffic signals at over 880 signalized
intersections.
The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) defines a traffic control signal as any
highway traffic signal by which traffic is alternatively directed to stop and permitted to proceed. Traffic is
defined as pedestrians, bicyclists, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either
singularly or together while using for purposes of travel any highway or private road open to public travel.
Traffic signal timing is an important part of arterial management because it directly affects the quality of
transportation network, which has direct impact to quality of life and citizens within our community. Signal
of up-to-date traffic signal timings are:
Improve traffic signal operation and safety for all road users including pedestrians and bicyclists
Reduction in stops & delay
Reduction in travel time
Reduction in fuel consumption
Reduction in harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide
Staff realizes the importance of up-to-date traffic signal timings as it relates to safety, and efficiency of
transportation network within the city, and therefore has put in place a proactive traffic signal timing program as
follows:
Annual Traffic Signal Retiming Program: A proactive program where all traffic signals are scheduled for
major retiming evaluation and adjustment on a three (3) year cycle. The estimated annual number of traffic
signals being evaluated retimed every year is about 300. Retiming of traffic signals on a three year cycle is a
national standard and recommended by national agencies such as FHWA (Federal HighWay Administration)
and ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers).
Routine Traffic Signal Timing Program: In addition to the above annual retiming program, staff routinely
monitors traffic flow along arterials and at individual intersections to ensure effective and efficient operation.
Traffic signal timings or operational adjustments are frequently made based on routine monitoring and
construction in the vicinity of the intersections. The traffic signal retiming program along with other
complementary programs has proven to be effective based on the fact that the average number of trouble calls
per traffic signal per year has constantly been decreasing for the last few years. The recorded number at the end
of fiscal year 2016 was 6.4 and it had declined to 1.6 at the end of fiscal year 2018.
For more information, please contact Transportation and Public Works Interim Director Steve Cooke at (817)
392-5134.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS