This document summarizes the operations of a city traffic engineering division. It outlines various responsibilities including maintenance of traffic signals, signs, pavement markings, and parking meters. It describes traffic studies conducted to monitor accidents and vehicle counts. It also discusses efforts to improve neighborhood traffic safety through coordinated signal timing and a neighborhood traffic management program using measures like traffic circles and speed tables.

1. Traffic Administration -
Intersection upgrades
Traffic cabinet upgrade:
New controllers are more reliable and
versatile.
•Old •New

2. Traffic Operations - Signals
Electrical
Shop:
Maintenance of
270 signalized
intersections
and school
flashers and
flashing

3. Traffic Operations - Signals
Electronic
Shop:
Construction
and
maintenance
of signal
cabinets and
controllers.

4. Traffic Engineering Division
• Traffic Operations
Signals
Signs
Banners and Flags
Pavement
Markings
Parking Meters

5. Traffic Engineering Division
• Traffic Operations • Traffic
Administration
Construction
and
maintenance of
traffic control
devices.
•Engineering design
•Signal
Coordination
•Traffic Studies
•Neighborhood
Traffic Management

6. Traffic Administration -
Intersection upgrades
Traffic signal upgrade:
LED fixtures last longer, are brighter, & use less
energy.
•Old •New

7. Traffic Operations - Signs
Sign Shop:
Signs are
Fabricated by
screen printing
and computer
cut graphics.

8. Traffic Operations - Signs
Sign crews:
Installing all
signs in the
city except
Interstate and
US Route
markers.

9. Traffic Operations - Signs
Sign Crews:
Maintain
signs with top
priority given
to keep
critical signs
in place.

10. Traffic Operations - Banners
Banners:
Hang and
maintain
banners in the
Downtown
District.

11. Traffic Operations - Flags
Flags:
Hang and
maintain flags
on the
Veteran’s
Bridge.

12. Traffic Operations -
Pavement Markings
Paint Shop:
Painting 550
miles of lane
lines per
year.

13. Traffic Operations -
Pavement Markings
Paint Shop:
Mark lane lines
in
thermoplastic.
New truck
began in 2000.

14. Traffic Operations -
Pavement Markings
Paint Shop:
Crosswalks,
stop bars, and
arrows are in
thermoplastic.

15. Traffic Operations -
Pavement Markings
Paint Shop:
Small
thermoplastic
jobs are done
with the hand
liner.

16. Traffic Administration -
Railroad crossing upgrades
Railroad crossing upgrade:
Resigning and using thermoplastic warning
markings.

17. Traffic Operations -
Parking Meters
Meter Shop:
Metered spaces
provide parking
space turnover
which benefits
businesses.
Approximately
$450,000 per yr.

18. Traffic Operations -
Parking Meters
Meter Shop:
Electronic
meters are
replacing less
reliable & higher
maintenance
mechanical
meters.

19. Traffic Engineering Division
• Traffic Operations
• Signals
• Signs
• Banners and
Flags
• Pavement
Markings
• Parking Meters
• Traffic
Administration
• Engineering design
• Signal Coordination
• Traffic Studies
• Street Lights
• Neighborhood
Traffic Management

20. Traffic Administration -
Engineering Design
Creating signal,
sign, and work
zone traffic
control plans.
Design review
and approval of
site plans and
subdivisions.

21. Traffic Administration -
Signal Coordination
Actuated Signal Control:
Loop detectors are embedded in the
pavement.

22. Traffic Administration -
Signal Coordination
Automated
Signal
Control:
Microwave
detector is
triggered like
a motion
detector.

23. Traffic Administration -
Signal Coordination
Coordinated
Signal Control:
Computer
systems used
for closely
spaced signals
to keep traffic
moving.

24. Traffic Administration -
Signal Coordination
Coordinated
Signal Control:
Downtown
computer
system
consists of 76
signals.

25. Traffic Administration -
Signal Coordination
Coordinated
Signal Control:
Signals can be
set to move
traffic at the
speed limit.

26. Traffic Administration -
Traffic Studies
Traffic
Counts:
TMC board
used in
signal timing
studies.

27. Traffic Administration -
Traffic Studies
Traffic Counts:
Road tubes
used to
determine
volumes on a
roadway.
Volumes used
in determining
if a signal is

28. Traffic Administration -
Traffic Studies
Speed
Studies:
Radar gun
used to
determine
85th
percentile
speeds.

29. Traffic Administration -
Traffic Studies
12,107
12,498
11,984
11,071
11,016
11,368
11,668
11,787
12,449
13,285
13,129
14,108
12,664
11,941
11,908
11,948
12,656
12,889
13,502
15,018
15,884
15,859
15,831
10,500
11,500
12,500
13,500
14,500
15,500
16,500
1
9
7
8
1
9
8
0
1
9
8
2
1
9
8
4
1
9
8
6
1
9
8
8
1
9
9
0
1
9
9
2
1
9
9
4
1
9
9
6
1
9
9
8
2
0
0
0
Year
Accident
Studies:
Total
number of
Accidents
per year.

30. Traffic Administration -
Traffic Studies
TOP 10 HIGHEST ACCIDENT RATE LOCATIONS OF 2000
LOCATION NO. OF ACC. ACC.RATE*
1 M.L. King Blvd at Hwy 27 exit ramp and Pine St 26 4.70
2 Hwy 153 north exit ramp to Hixson Pike north 28 4.33
3 4th Ave at E 37th St 11 3.74
4 Access Rd entrance Ramp to Hwy 153 south 40 3.48
5 E. Brainerd Rd at Hickory Valley Rd & I-75 ramp 38 3.23
6 McCallie Av at Holtzclaw Av 34 3.19
7 E 4th St at Walnut St 14 3.00
8 E 4th St at Lookout St 13 2.93
9 8th St at Georgia Av 12 2.90
10 Moore Rd at Old Mission Rd 18 2.80
*number of accidents per million vehicles entering intersection

31. Traffic Administration -
Traffic Studies
 Upgrade
intersections to
reduce accidents.
 Adjust timing.
 Add left turn
phases.
 Change signing or
pavement
marking.

32. Red Light
Camera:
Catch red light
runners by
taking a picture
of their car and
license plate.
Traffic Administration

33. Traffic Administration -
Guardrail
Guardrail
system:
Speed zones of
less than 40
MPH.

34. Traffic Administration -
Guardrail
Guardrail
system:
Speed zones of
40 MPH or
more.

35. Traffic Administration -
Sight Distance
Sight
Distance
Triangle:
Trim hedges
for safety’s
sake.

36. Traffic Administration -
Sight Distance
Before After
Sight Distance:

37. Traffic Administration -
Street Lights
Street
Lights:
Field check
street light
requests for
new
installations.

38. Traffic Administration -
Street Lights
Standard
Street Lights:
Shoe box type,
full cutoff.
Used in Central
Business
District.

39. Traffic Administration -
Street Lights
Pedestrian
Lights:
Modified Ball and
Basket with full
cutoff.
Used in Central
Business District.

40. Traffic Administration -
Street Lights
Pedestrian
Lights:
Acorn fixture
with cutoff
optics.
Used in
residential

41. • Neighborhood Traffic Management
– Misconceptions
Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management
More stop signs
Lower Speed Limits
Children at Play signs

42. Too Many
Stops:
Reduces
effectivenes
s of justified
stops.
Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management

43. Lower
Speed
Limits:
Most drive
at speed
that feels
right.
Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management

44. Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management
“Children at
Play” signs:
Give a false
sense of
security.

45. Neighborhood
Traffic
Management
Program
(NTMP):
Petition the
city for a study.
Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management

46. Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management
NTMP
Projects:
Old Mission
Traffic
Circles
-Have
reduced
speeds and

47. Traffic Administration -
Neighborhood Traffic Management
•Traffic diverters
•Traffic islands
•Speed tables
•Textured pavement

48. Traffic Engineering Division
• Traffic Operations -
757-5355
• Report signs down or
signal malfunctions
• Traffic Engineering -
757-5005
• Request new
installation or
upgrade
• Request NTMP