MICHIGAN TRAFFIC SIGNAL SUMMIT: REGIONAL COORDINATION IN ACTION

1. MICHIGAN TRAFFIC SIGNAL SUMMIT: REGIONAL COORDINATION IN ACTION TRB ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 9, 2005 Gary Piotrowicz, PE, PTOE

2. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN • MDOT management was getting pressure about poor signals, labeled as a forgotten priority • Oakland County Traffic Signal Summit • First meeting on August 9, 1999 • Included MDOT, RCOC, Cities, Consultants, Universities, and Traffic Improvement Assoc • Chaired by MDOT senior management • This showed MDOT was serious • Gave the Summit clout • Helped engage many people • Made things happen

3. Development of Subcommittees • Discussions brought three primary issues to the top • Timely installation of signals • Clearance intervals • Signal timing and progression • Subcommittees were formed to address each issue • Chairs were assigned to each, volunteers signed up to participate

4. TIMELY INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS • Main Issue: Average new signal installation or left turn addition was taking 18 months • Causes: • Contracting • Power Company • Funding • Materials • Resolution: • Indefinite Delivery Contract

5. INDEFINITE DELIVERY CONTRACT • Contractors bid line items, locations to be determined • Minimum number of intersections guaranteed • Power company can start work quicker • Funds obtained in advance • Stock pile of materials • Avg. installation time reduced to 5 months • Costs have only increased by 5%

6. CLEARANCE INTERVALS • No statewide consistency • MDOT used a modified ITE formula for the yellow (4-5 sec). All reds used inconsistently (0.1 to 1 sec) • Evaluation looked at several different formulas • Concensus reached to use ITE formula for both yellow (3.5 to 5) and red (1 to 2.5).

7. SIGNAL RETIMING • Nearly 900 non-SCATS signals • Never had a comprehensive re-timing • Cycle lengths, splits, and offsets • Peak periods • Clearance intervals • Dramatic volume changes • Pattern shifts • Many new signals along corridors • Minimal resources to maintain timings

8. PUBLIC PARNTERS • City of Royal Oak • City of Pontiac • City of Ferndale • Wayne County • Road Commission of Macomb County • Michigan Department of Transportation • Road Commission for Oakland County • Traffic Improvement Association

9. FUNDING AND PHASES • CMAQ funds were obtained through SEMCOG, MDOT, and RCOC • Estimated total project cost is $5.4 million • Phases 1 and 2 received money concurrently, completed in spring of 2004 • Phase 3 was funded later, currently about 2/3 complete

10. DATA COLLECTION • Turning movement counts-AM,PM,Mid-day • 24-hour counts • Geometry and operations data • Traffic crashes/diagrams • Digital photos • GPS locations for GIS Mapping

11. SAFETY COMPONENTS • Better signal timings….smoother flow…..safer roads • Clearance Intervals • Vehicle • Pedestrian • Crash analysis • Flash operations analysis

12. PROJECTED BENEFITS • Benefit/Cost ratio of 80 to 1 • Decreased fuel consumption • Improved air quality • Reduction in traffic crashes • Politically friendly • Quicker implementation • Wealth of data

13. STATUS OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL SUMMIT • Initially began in Oakland County, name updated to “Michigan Signal Summit” and others invited • First 3 subcommittees have sun-set and 3 new subcommittees have formed: • Evaluation • Near-term • Long-term

14. Questions?