Focus Areas

The FHWA is committed to providing the tools necessary to assist agencies in developing and sustaining effective traffic signal management, operations, maintenance and signal timing practices. The Traffic Signal Report Card revealed that agencies typically operate in a reactive "fire-fighting" mode that is the result of insufficient staffing and the lack of documented polices, processes and objectives to support the operation and maintenance of traffic signal systems. To improve traffic signal operations, the Arterial Management Program has strategically developed a toolbox with a blend of Outreach, Guidance, Training and Research to advance each of the focus areas.

Traffic Signal Management

Sustaining improvements in traffic operations over the long periods requires much more than routine retiming projects that collect data and retime traffic signals. A comprehensive plan that encompasses the overriding philosophy, polices and objectives that dictate how traffic signal systems are designed, operated, maintained and funded are an essential component of the business practices of agencies that design, operate and maintain traffic signals. The tools in this focus area are aimed at assisting agencies with documenting management approaches for traffic signal operations that are shared with employees and reported to agency leadership and the public on a regular basis. The goal for traffic signal management is that all agencies involved with the design operation and maintenance of traffic signals have a business plan for transportation operations that describes polices, objectives, performance measures and goals specific to the traffic signal program.

Traffic Signal Operations & Maintenance

The effectiveness of traffic signal timing is the result or outcome of an agencies operations and maintenance practices. The 2007 Traffic Signal Report Card indicates that traffic signal operations historically have been performed on an "ad-hoc" basis resulting in inconsistent operation that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many agencies are doing an outstanding job of operating and maintaining traffic signal systems, the intent of this focus area is to identify "best practices" and transfer this information to the practice at large.

Traffic Signal Timing

Signal Timing is the outcome of the management, operation and maintenance practices; it's what our customers experience and dictates the users perception of how the system performs. There is substantial research and guidance associated with improving signal timing. The intent of this focus area is to improve the practice of developing and maintaining signal timing as well as improving performance.

Search Operations: Arterial Management Home FOCUS AREAS Traffic Signal Management Traffic Signal Operations & Maintenance Signal Timing Access Management PRACTITIONER TOOLBOX Awareness/Outreach Publications Training & Workshops ACS-Lite Traffic Analysis Tools RESOURCES Arterial Management Team FHWA Resource Center Operations Team Links Contact Us	Focus Areas Arterial Management Home The FHWA is committed to providing the tools necessary to assist agencies in developing and sustaining effective traffic signal management, operations, maintenance and signal timing practices. The Traffic Signal Report Card revealed that agencies typically operate in a reactive "fire-fighting" mode that is the result of insufficient staffing and the lack of documented polices, processes and objectives to support the operation and maintenance of traffic signal systems. To improve traffic signal operations, the Arterial Management Program has strategically developed a toolbox with a blend of Outreach, Guidance, Training and Research to advance each of the focus areas. Traffic Signal Management Sustaining improvements in traffic operations over the long periods requires much more than routine retiming projects that collect data and retime traffic signals. A comprehensive plan that encompasses the overriding philosophy, polices and objectives that dictate how traffic signal systems are designed, operated, maintained and funded are an essential component of the business practices of agencies that design, operate and maintain traffic signals. The tools in this focus area are aimed at assisting agencies with documenting management approaches for traffic signal operations that are shared with employees and reported to agency leadership and the public on a regular basis. The goal for traffic signal management is that all agencies involved with the design operation and maintenance of traffic signals have a business plan for transportation operations that describes polices, objectives, performance measures and goals specific to the traffic signal program. Awareness / Outreach Publications Traffic Signal Operations & Maintenance The effectiveness of traffic signal timing is the result or outcome of an agencies operations and maintenance practices. The 2007 Traffic Signal Report Card indicates that traffic signal operations historically have been performed on an "ad-hoc" basis resulting in inconsistent operation that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many agencies are doing an outstanding job of operating and maintaining traffic signal systems, the intent of this focus area is to identify "best practices" and transfer this information to the practice at large. Publications Training Traffic Signal Timing Signal Timing is the outcome of the management, operation and maintenance practices; it's what our customers experience and dictates the users perception of how the system performs. There is substantial research and guidance associated with improving signal timing. The intent of this focus area is to improve the practice of developing and maintaining signal timing as well as improving performance. Research Publications Training ACS-Lite
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