National Traffic Signal Report Card

Talking Operations Seminar

Traffic Signal Report Card Overview

National Traffic Signal Report Card:Purpose

Determine how well the nation supports signals

Build a case for more attention and investment

Provide a benchmarking tool for agencies

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card:Self Assessment

Self Assessment Emphasis Areas1. Management

2. Signal Operation at Individual Intersections

3. Signal Operation in Coordinated Systems

4. Signal Timing Practices

5. Traffic Monitoring and Data Collection

6. Maintenance

All responses were anonymous

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card Participants

378 Responses49 states represented242 cities62 counties

Good distribution betweenPopulationSignal system size

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Figure 1 National Report Card

58 6172

58 5367 62

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Score

• Overall score was D-

• Management & detectionscored lowest

• Individual Intersectionsscored highest

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card:

Why such a low score? Signals turn green, yellow and red

BUT……

They are not generally operating as an efficient, well-integrated system

Proactive management is limited Resources are mostly spent providing minimum levels

of maintenance and fighting fires

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

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1 2 3 4 5 6 Overall

Indicators

Table 2 Results by Signal System Size

National

< 50

50 - 150

150-450

450-1000

1000+

• Large systems scored higher than national

• Small systems noticeably lower

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

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Table 3 Results by Agency Type

National

State

County

City

Township

• Fairly equal scoring

• States slightly higher in some categories

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card:Other Findings

Management: F68% have no documented management

plan or manage “ad hoc”

Coordinated Operations: D-50%+ do not conduct timing reviews every

3-5 years

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card:Other Findings

Individual Intersections: C-75% have no documented process to

trigger timing reviews

Monitoring & Detection: F1/3 have no regular process for collecting

data for timing

Maintenance: D+Agencies operate with minimum staffing

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card:What We Learned

Nation doesn’t support signal operations wellAgencies manage signals by fighting firesResource limitations result in inefficient operationsSmall investments will have big benefits (40:1 B/C)We can do better!

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card:More Resources Needed

Signal Hardware - $265m/yearTiming Updates - $200m/yearMaintenance - $500m/yearTotal - $965m/year

$104B/year currently spent on highway transportation

99%

1%

Total Highway $ Traffic Signals

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

If the nation had the resources for a high score:

Delay would decrease by 15-20%Travel time would reduce up to 25%Emissions would reduce up to 22%Fuel consumption would reduce up to 10%

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Media Relations PrepPress packages sent to participantsPublicize to all practitionersReport released to participantsNational press conference (April 05)

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Media Relations - AdvanceAP storyRadio interviewsDaybook, email, faxes, calls

Media Relations – day of conferencePress conference (cameras from 8 outlets) Interviews (TV, radio, print)Follow up interviews throughout the week

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Media Relations ResultsAP story used throughout USUSA Today (p. 3)National TV & Radio (ABC, FOX, Good

Morning America, CNN, Osgood File)400+ local TV stories300+ local print stories

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Participant Evaluation – 193 Responses50% found assessment tool useful84% said assessment tool was “reasonably” or

“very” accurate67% recommend 3-5 year repeat

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Media attention received 56% no attention 30% print 24% TV 17% Radio

Local Media outreach 77% no outreach 13% press release 3% press conference

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2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

28% said media attention provided chance to make the case

Will the report card assist in getting more resources? 5% yes 35% maybe 39% unlikely 22% no

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TalkedWith:

Mgt

Appointed

Elected

MPO

Civic

2005 National Traffic Signal Report Card

Evaluation 57% said report card was good for their

agency 67% recommend 3-5 year repeat78% said assessment tool was good for

transportation community84% said assessment tool was “reasonably”

or “very” accurate95% would participate again

NTOC Traffic Signal Action Team

Next TaskTraffic Signal Audit Guide

Field OrientedOutcome OrientedDone by an independent teamUsable to identify ways to improve

Scope – Evaluate operations and safety at the intersection, corridor, and/or system levels

Questions ?