As a Department, we are dedicated to maximizing the efficiency of our current transportation network. To that end, we regularly evaluate and improve signal operations with new timing plans. Those plans provide corridor coordination, focused on minimizing stops for the major direction flows during the morning and evening rush hours. At the same time, we do the best we can to balance the delay to minor side-street traffic. These plans are designed using the posted speed limit, which means excessive speeding and weaving through traffic will not get drivers very far ahead of the other commuters on the road. Of course, accidents, inattentive drivers, and severe weather effect the timings of signal lights – so please remember to drive patiently and arrive alive.
The City is responsible for every signal within the current City boundaries including signals on TxDOT roads such as the I-35 frontage roads, US 79, and RM 620. We continually monitor and evaluate the ever-changing needs of our growing community; future traffic signals are evaluated individually.
Flashing Yellow Arrow Traffic Signals are a State requirement and will be installed as upgrades are made to existing signals and as new signals are installed. Flashing Yellow Arrow Traffic Signals improve traffic flow and the safety of left turns.
Advanced Traffic Management System
The Traffic Management Center is a manned communications nexus for monitoring, servicing, and controlling all the traffic signals under the City’s responsibility. Other features, possible in future system improvement, include a City-wide Gigabit Radio network that would have extra bandwidth for use by other City Departments, a web-based interface for public consumption of real-time video feeds at major intersections, continuous hourly/annual traffic counts at major intersections.
In 2013, the Transportation Department completed work on an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) master plan study. The resulting plan document outlines communication, operations and data collection improvements that the City has worked to implement in recent years.
Important Note: Video data is used in real-time only. No recording is possible today and we have no plans to add that capability in the future.
Annual Traffic Counts
The Transportation Department takes counts annually that represent the average daily traffic volume on most of our major collectors, arterials, and frontage roads. These counts are taken using tubes that are stretched across the roadway and register vehicles that drive over them. The counters are typically placed for three consecutive days during the school year when traffic volumes are highest. The city uses this information to assist in planning future projects and is available to the public here.
