Helping Traffic Engineers Manage Data to Make Better Decisions: Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures

Improved signal operations with smooth and equitable traffic flow are goals for most traffic engineers; however the limited snapshot-view retiming methods that involve manual data collection, traffic signal modeling, and field fine-tuning are resource intensive and unresponsive to changes in traffic patterns. The National Transportation Operations Coalition’s 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card has led agencies to focus resources on these activities and develop methodologies to examine all the components of traffic signal operations. These data-driven program management plans provide objective methods for identifying shortcomings and encourages coordination with neighboring jurisdictions. In addition, agencies need tools to prioritize activities when resources are constrained.