national traffic signal report card talking operations seminar traffic signal report card overview
TRANSCRIPT
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
0102030405060708090
100
Man
agem
ent
Coor
dina
ted
Syst
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Indi
vidu
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ectio
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Spec
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Dete
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Mai
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Ove
rall
Indicators
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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Score
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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Score
1 2 3 4 5 6 Overall
Indicator
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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MediaAttention
NoAttentionPrint
TV
Radio
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 ?