Traffic Signal Design
Introduction:
An excellent opportunity to work as a Traffic Signals Engineer in Blackburn on a 12 month fixed term contract
Job Specification:
Job Description
Reporting to the head of traffic the successful candidate will be responsible for the maintenance and improvement of Blackburn with Darwen’s UTC systems.
Requirements
Essential Criteria
Proven experience in traffic signal maintenance
Ability to communicate with people in a friendly and courteous manner
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with clients and team members
Experience in traffic signal design
Good presentation and communication skills
Desirable Criteria
Ideally incorporated engineer status in a relevant technical discipline
Experience of Prefect, SCOOT and MOVA
Responsibilities
Day to day maintenance and management of the existing traffic signal stock
Design works for new signal installations (Loops, controller spec etc)
Continued development of UTC system
Modification and refurbishment works to existing facilities
Site commissioning of new signals
Checking traffic signal designs for third parties
Fault reporting on the Prefect system
BVPI 165 management and initialisation
Survey of the Blackburn with Darwen’s traffic signal Asset
Updating the Asset records to electronic format
BELLEAIR BLUFFS – Preliminary results of a city-backed study to determine whether a traffic signal is warranted on West Bay Drive near the Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge are in.
The light is not needed, based on multiple traffic counts done in the area, Joe Grimail of Grimail Crawford and Associates informed the City Commission at its Feb. 16 meeting. Further, the area studied does not even come close to meeting any of the criteria or “warrants” needed to justify a traffic signal. In addition to vehicle counts, those include crash data, pedestrian coordinated signal systems and roadway network warrants.
Residents from nearby condos have been requesting that a trip light, which activates when vehicles approach, be placed at the condo driveways. They cite difficulties entering and exiting the condos onto West Bay Drive.
“There’s not much more to say,” Grimail commented after presenting the study findings. “You either meet the warrants or you don’t.”
Clearly disappointed with the outcome, Mayor Chris Arbutine criticized the study, saying it was not what he wanted.
“I didn’t want just a traffic warrant study, but an engineering analysis of the whole area,” Arbutine told Grimail.
The analysis he envisioned would have included factors such as slope of the bridge, angles, sight line distances, speed increase and boat trailer traffic.
Arbutine also claimed the city could put up a traffic light in the area, regardless of the study findings.
“I don’t need the MPO’s (Metropolitan Planning Organization) permission to do it,” he said, adding, “Give me a hundred grand and I’ll put up a light.”
Traffic across the bridge will grow in the summer season, and as more people discover the bridge and boat ramp, Arbutine said.
“Any kind of traffic study done now is going to have zero results,” he said.
The study was conducted during the peak winter season, Grimail replied. He said the roadway was designed to meet the latest standards. The sight distances are good, he said.
“You can see and judge traffic coming at you from 300 to 400 yards – that’s about as good as you’re going to get.”
The bridge design has been analyzed by independent consultants and appears to be safe, he said.
The study also took into account the recent unusually cold weather and rainy days, Public Works Director Robert David commented. David said the factors mentioned by Arbutine would not significantly change the outcome, in his view.
“Even with the boat ramp fully open, (the traffic count) wouldn’t even come close,” he said.
After hearing the explanations, Arbutine backed off somewhat from his earlier stance.
“As chairman of the MPO, I would prefer to go through the county process (to get a light),” he said, adding, “I don’t want a signal there if it doesn’t make sense.”
Commissioner and condo resident Jack Nazario said construction of a center turn lane on the roadway has aided residents entering and leaving the condos. However, an anticipated increase in the speed limit from 30 to 35 mph is a major concern, he said.
The commission decided to have Grimail “continue on with the study,” doing further evaluations and possibly conducting another traffic analysis during the summer months.
County Director of Public Works and Transportation Peter Yauch was contacted later, and asked to comment on the issues brought up at the meeting.
Yauch said Florida statutes do allow municipalities to have traffic control jurisdiction over a county road. The city could conceivably put up a signal without county approval, he said. However, such a decision “usually will not improve traffic flow or traffic safety,” Yauch stressed. He cited a recent situation in Safety Harbor where accidents have increased following installation of an unauthorized traffic signal.
The cost of a traffic signal can range up to $400,000, he said. Under the procedure normally followed for traffic signal placement, Yauch said the county conducts a traffic study, followed by an engineering review done by the MPO. If those outcomes are positive, and the city signs off, the light can go up.
Liability issues can result when unwarranted traffic signals are installed, Yauch warned.
“Residents are concerned about safety,” he said. “Traffic signals do not necessarily improve safety.”
No decision has been made on the final speed limit for the bridge, Yauch said. That will be determined after a speed study is done, and discussions held with representatives of Belleair Bluffs and Belleair Beach.
Yauch said the two cities are currently at odds over whether the speed limit should be raised to 35 mph. Should the disagreement persist, Yauch noted that state statutes also allow cities to set speed limits within their boundaries. Separate speed limits on either end of the bridge is a possibility, he acknowledged.
Citywide garage sale
After an absence of several years, a citywide garage sale will be held this spring. The commission approved the event following a long discussion of the pros and cons. The date chosen is Saturday, March 20, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
