2007 TRAFFIC SIGNAL SELF- ASSESSMENT Webcast December 13 th, 2006 Woody Hood Maryland State Highway Administration

Purpose of the Revisions Revise and update based on comments received on the initial version Results that provide for comparison with results from the previous version Continue to be released every two years Respondents can share results with regional FHWA office

What’s different in the 2007 Assessment? 2 nd version focuses on processes and outcomes Questions and benchmarks have been refined Layout of the topic areas revised Some questions eliminated, and new questions added Ability to “opt out” of questions that may not apply to your jurisdiction

2004 Self Assessment Management Signal Operation in Coordinated Systems Signal Operation at Individual Intersections Specialized Operation for Traffic Signals Detection Systems Maintenance

2007 Self Assessment Management Signal Operation at Individual Intersections Signal Operation in Coordinated Systems Signal Timing Practices Traffic Monitoring and Data Collection Maintenance

Principal Changes Process and outcome oriented New/revised Sections New questions – eliminated questions Redefined benchmarks Eliminated any perceived comparison between central based and closed-loop systems Ability to opt-out of questions that may not apply Examples

Process/Outcome Oriented 2004 Assessment Question 41 Does your agency commit resources in alignment with industry guidelines for signalized intersection maintenance? Benchmarks were based on the ratio of traffic signals to traffic signal technicians

2007 Assessment Question Does your agency have established policies and processes and commit resources to provide timely response after a critical malfunction is identified? Benchmarks are based on response times of technicians to the intersection Actual response time more important

Redefined Benchmarks For a 5 score, your agency…….. Benchmarks were redefined on a 1 to 5 scale, with more clearly defined expectations and outcomes for each score Ability to opt-out Example: inter-jurisdictional signal coordination

2004 Assessment Question 18 Do you coordinate signal timings across jurisdictional boundaries in support of freeway and corridor operations? Benchmarks are not process or outcome oriented

2007 Assessment Question 10 Does your agency have a cross-jurisdictional and/or regional agreement regarding signal coordination and operations? Benchmarks on 1 to 5 scale, and are based on processes, and the level at which you do certain things N/A

Signal Timing Practices Signal coordination, is comparative analysis of various cycle-offset-split combinations, and phase sequences evaluated? Time-Space Diagrams, alternate phase sequences evaluated? Operation during periods of light traffic flow, what operational modes are considered? Queue spillback, mitigating measures?

Central Based vs Closed Loop Real-time, many interpreted this to mean central based 2007 Assessment specifically mentions central based and/or closed loop operation No distinction is made between the two Focus more on whether or not capabilities are being used

Summary Process/outcome oriented Maintain comparison with initial version Clarify questions and benchmarks