Appendix B. Survey Responses

Traffic Network Characteristics

Agency	Grid (number of signals)	Arterial (number of signals)	Isolated (number of signals)
Agency A	390	314	76
Agency B	135	415	451
Agency C	85	362	175
Agency D	0	25	90
Agency E	180	80	40
Agency F	200	525	75
Agency G	350 (CBDs)	1050	1400

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
% AADT Growth per year	Varies by roadway; Annual Count report published on website http://www.lee-county.com/ publicworks/Traffic/2007%20Count %20Report2.pdf		1%	Approx 2%-4%	3%-5%	N/A	Not measured statewide.
% signals operating under saturated conditions during peak hour	Approx 30%		3.2%	Approx 15%	200	40	15% est. statewide
% Signals operating at saturated conditions for at least one yhour in excess of peak hour	Approx 30%		0.8%	5%	150	50	2%
Type of jurisdiction	County	Major city	County (responsible for City suburbs, some state signals, and rural signals	Mid-size suburban city	Major city		Statewide – Georgia
% Growth in signals per year	6%		< 1.0%	Approx 4%	1%	5-10 new signals per year	3%

Classification of Signal System Characteristics

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Adaptive (e.g., SCOOT, SCATS, OPAC, RHODES)*	Operate approximately 12% in traffic responsive	0	None	0	None		None deployed within GDOT's jurisdiction (Cobb Cty has a SCATS system)
Closed loop with data developmental tools (e.g., ACS Lite) including isolated signals are controlled by this type of system*	None	0	Arles – 47 signals	0	0		0
Other type of interconnected system	None		Hardwire – 7 signals	0		800	0
Isolated signals with automatic failure reporting	0		0	0	0		150
Isolated signals without automateic failure reporting	76	450	no system – 175	30%	Approx 60		1250
Proximity of Signals to Maintenance Facility
Number of signals within 5 miles of maintenance facility	76		Approx. 481	About 100	Approx. 170	200	175
Number of signals between 5 and 10 miles from maintenance facility	57		Approx. 125	About 15	Approx. 120	500	250
Number of signals greater than 10 miles from maintenance facility	257		Approx. 20	0	Approx. 10	100	1250
Controller Classification
Number of 170 family controllers	0	50	0		0		0
Number of ATC/2080 family controllers	0	150	0	112	Approx. 180		2800
Number of NEMA TS1 controllers	40%	625	222		Approx. 120		0
Number of NEMA TS2 controllers	60%	75	405	3	0	800	0
Age of Field Equipment
Number of controllers less than 5 years old	150	275	Approx. 160	115	80		1000
Number of controllers between 5 and 10 years old	400	125	Approx. 345	0	120	600	1800
Number of controllers greater than 10 years old	50	600	Approx. 222	0	100	200	0
Number of Ancillary Devices Present
Preemptive/priority	20	50	351	Approx. 60	1	25 locations have fire house or rail road	70
CCTV	3	0	75	9	60	180	2
Changeable message signs	0	0	2	0	13	No static VMS, 5 portables	0
UPS	18	4	0	9	0	0 now, but beginning a program to install 250	100
Communications – Number of signals controlled by:
7 wire cable	0	0	10	0	0		0
Twisted wire pair	292	30	20 on Arles	0	170	800	200
Fiber optics	5	193 directly, 319 remotely	100	70	7		300-500
Coaxial cable	0	0	305	0	0		0
Wireless	20	8	10	0	13		50
Non-owned communication service (identify)	Leased-line	0	37	DSL service – 1 (connects to closed loop fiber system); dial up phone connecting to fiber system – 2; dial up phone to isolated system - 1			0
Redundancy Characteristics of System
Redundancy of central controls	Software/server based, can be transferred to backup if necessary	0	2 servers, 1 spare communications server			Backup data hourly, and off-site. New system will be full redundant hot swap.	0
Redundancy in backbone communications	Majority of center to field communications by PSTN	0	Some alternate paths	Starting to implement Ethernet backbone with rerouting		This is beyond our control. there is limited redundancy due to county budgets.	0
Redundance in distribution communications to field	Limited, utilize radio communications for longer duraction & significant failures of twisted pair	0	Some alternate paths				0
*Relate to signals that actually operate under the conditions described.

Traffic Detection

Agency	Local Actuation Detectors				System Detectors
Agency	Inductive Loop	Video Processor Detector	Radar, Microwave	Other	Inductive Loop	Video Processor Detector	Radar, Microwave	Other
Agency A	2200	125	0	0	260	15	0	0
Agency B	98%	1%	1%
Agency C		0	< 20	0		0	0	0
Agency D	Everything else	10
Agency E	60%	40%			100%
Agency F	All other	100	35		1500
Agency G	14000	500			200	500

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Number of Detectors Actually Operating
Local actuation detectors	2300	95%	All but approx. 50	95%		All other	14300
System detectors	275					400	less than 100
Are detectors periodically checked for operability (in the case of video processor detectors, are they checked under poor lighting and weather conditions)?	Through PMs and routine monitoring of central system software features	On yearly PMs and maintenance visits	Yes, annually	Yes for indictive loops	When complaints are made	No due to limited staffing resources	Through PM and trouble calls
Typical Detector Configuration
% of intersections that operate fully actuated: advanced & limit line detection on main street, limit line detection on side street approaches	1%	75%		100%	30%	5%	This is not a standard design for GDOT, maybe 2% of signals have this detector configuration
% of intersections that operate fully actuated: advanced detection on main street & limit line on side street	98%	12%			70%	5%	93%
% of intersections that operate semi-actuated: no detection on main street, limit line detection on side street	1%	0%				75%	5%
% of intersections that operate with no detection	0%	13%				20% CBD areas - 2 large ones	0%
Is detector data analyzed on a regular basis? how is the data used?	Not applicable.	No	To look at on the spot traffic flow, real time volume, peak hours, and yearly trends in ADT	No	No. Detector data is not used.	Not at this time due to old system	No
CCTV
How many cameras are available?	2 CCTV, 8 dial up	0	75	7	60	180	2
Is CCTV used to support online adjustment of timing plans?	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	n/a
Is CCTV used to support planning for signal timing/phasing?			Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	n/a
Is CCTV used to support incident management?	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	some
Timing Plan Characteristics
Number of daily timing plans	4 to 6	3 to 5	7	6 (am, am off-peak, midday, midday off-peak, pm, pm off-peak)	4	Typical 3 dial operations AM, PM, and off peak	Varies; typically 4, am, noon, pm, free
Other periodic timing plans (e.g., weekends, special events)	2 to 4	2 to 3	2	Holiday plans around shopping areas, specieal event plans around amphi-theater, occasional marathon or bike race special plans.	Yes	Weekend peak and off peak as well as special plans	Developed on a case by case basis
Non-periodic timing plans (e.g., diversion, emergency evacuation)	15	0	1		Yes	Emergency evac plans and do detour plans daily	None

Timing Plan Characteristics

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Operations Characteristics
Frequency of timing plan updates, phasing plan checks, warrant reviews?	Major every 2-3 years	5-7 years	As required	Signals retimed every 2 yera, no warrant reviews	Goal is every 3 years	Timings reviewed daily from airplaine and cameras. We do not do warrants; the studies group does	1-3 years, varies
Is a staffed TMC used, if so what is the operating period?	6am-9pm	7:30am-4pm	6am-6pm weekdays	Traffic engineer works out of TMC, but not with specific staffing hours	0700-1900, and during special events	20 hours a day, 7 days a week, 5am-3:30pm
Co-location with other traffic operations or police agencies?	No	No	Yes, state freeway management system; state police	Yes	No	Yes, transit is in same room as traffic; all colocated in PCSCC with 9-1-1 and EOC
Maintenance Practices
Allowable time to repair signal failure during business hours	2	< 60 minutes		ASAP	1 hour	30 minutes	Techs are on 24 hour call, regular shift is 8 hours. Time to repair is 2 hours both on and off shift.
Allowable time to repair signal failure during non-business hours	4	< 2 hours		1 hour	2 hours	30 minutes to 1 hour	2 hours, techs earn comptime outside of working hours
Allowable time to repair ancillary equipment (detectors, preemption equipment, etc.)	48			No policy	2 weeks	Pre-empt is more important try to fix it that day. Det. and stuff can be a year or more depending on funding	1 week
Allowable time to repair communications	48			No policy	2-3 days	30 minutes when possible	Depends on type of media; typically 1 week.
Availability (up-time) for central equipment	24/7			100%		99.9999%	24/7
Identify routine maintenance practices				No policy
Actual time to repair signal failure during business hours	1			Depends on the problem, crews respond immediately upon call	1-2 hours	30 minutes or less	2 hours from onsite time
Actual time to repair signal failure during non-business hours	2			on-call techs will arrive w/in an hour, time to fix depends on problem	1-3 hours	Under 1 1/2 hours	2 hours from onsite time
Actual time to repair ancillary equipment (detectors, preemption equipment, etc.)	24			varies	2 hours - 2-3 days	Depends on equipment	Typically 1 week
Controller failure per year	Estimated avg. 4 per/yr			3 this year	10-20 per year	Routine failures due to storms	10-20%

Resource Issues

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Budgets and Personnel (including consultants)
Management budgets and personnel hours for each of: supervision, planning, system engineering	$230,000				These functions come from inside our general fund budgets and most are not specifically funded. We have to alter people's work assignments and find ways to complete things.	Unable to quantify budget amount. this accounts for all districts, maintenance, consultant, and loop contracts.
Operations budgets and personnel hurs for each of: TOC operations, signal timing including data collection	TOC approx. $190K, signal timing approx. $125K				We do have 1 ATMS engineer but he is paid from several general and CIP funds. The TMC general budget is about $800K and mostly covers salaries, vehicle changes, and benefits	Allocated by district
Maintenance
Maintenance of signals (department budgets, contract bugets, personnel)	$897K				This work is performed by in house staff in TMC and our signal shop. TMC general budget is about $800K and mostly covers salaries, vehicle changes, and benefits
Maintenance of other equipment (detectors, preemption equipment, etc.) (department budgets, contract budgets, personnel)	$100K				This work is performed by in house staff in TMC and our signal shop. The general budget from several accounts for equipment is about $400K to maintain stuff
Training
Does the agency have a formal training plan?	Yes	Yes	Unavailable	No	No	No
Does the agency provide the cost for training?	Yes	Yes	Unavailable	No	Yes, minimal budget less than $5K
What training resources are available locally?	IMSA	Community college & university courses	Unavailable	None	ITE, IMSA	No
Is IMSA certification required for maintenance personnel?	Yes	Yes	No, but most have	Desired, not required	No	No
Is PTOE/PE certification required for engineering personnel?	No			For principal engineers and higher	No
Percentage of operating budget spent for training	1%		Unavailable	0%	Less than 1%	1%
Type of operations training			Unavailable	None	On job training	Vendor training
Percentage of maintenance budget spent for training	1%		Unavailable	None	None	1%
Type of maintenance training			Unavailable	Internal, on as- needed basis	On job training	Vendor training
Growth – Do O&M budgets increase with signal growth on an annual basis?	Generally as funds are available	No	roughly	No	Not by much; it is hard to get maintenance dollars. New construction is easier.	No relationship
Practices and Constraints
Use of owned or leased communication facilities	Discontinuing	Discretionary	Allowed		We use all our own copper and fiber. We have 30 data circuts we lease, but those will go away as we expand our new signal system.	Owned
Use of own staff or contract maintenance	Use of own staff	Discretionary	All in-house	Required	Both	Blended, several maintenace contracts exist.
Use of own staff or consultants for engineering	Ltd. use of consultants	Discretionary	Some of each	Discretionary	Both	Blended, some signal timing is done in house, some is contracted out.
Staffing Issues
Pay as compared with peer agencies in the region (higher, approx. the same, lower)	unavailable	Lower	Approx. the same	Approx. the same	Slightly above peers, but not high enough.	State is lower, staff is typically lost to consultants or other jurisdictions
What is the average tenure of engineering employees?	12 yrs		10-15 yrs	> 10 yrs	10 yrs	10 yrs
What is the average tenure of maintenance employees?	6.5 yrs		5-20 yrs	> 10 yrs	10 yrs	5 yrs
What is the number of vacant engineering and maintenance positions?	1 eng./2 maint.	3	0	0	2	0 vacant due to elimination by gov. to compensate for budget shortfall. 5 vacancies statewide prior to buget cut.

Management

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Is a mission statement available?	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	GDOT overall and TMC overall; nothing specific to traffic signals
Is a concept of operations available?	For operations center, under development	No	No	No	No	No
Are operating procedures available?	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	There are documented processes to collect counts, operate TMCs, and develop signal timing.

Staff Capability Level

Position	Agency A		Agency B		Agency C		Agency D		Agency E		Agency F		Agency G
Position	Number of staff in Position	Quals – Training / Experience Level	Number of staff in Position	Quals – Training / Experience Level	Number of staff in Position	Quals – Training / Experience Level	Number of staff in Position	Quals – Training / Experience Level	Number of staff in Position	Quals – Training / Experience Level	Number of staff in Position	Quals– Training / Experience Level	Number of staff in Position	Quals – Training / Experience Level
Management	1.5		1				1	PE, 10+ yrs	2		1			8 districts, 7 district traffic
Traffic Signal Engineer	1.5		1				1	PE, PTOE, 10+ yrs	2		3			8
Traffic Signal Analyst / Tech	2		0				1	10+ yrs	5		These are the TMC techs			43
ITS Engineer	0.5		0				0		1		1			None assigned to traffic signals
Traffic Signal Maintenance Tech	7 techs, 3 sr techs	3 yrs Electrical exp. min. IMSA II signals, IMOT	12				6	varies	5		14			Same as signal analyst tech
Electronic Specialist	None		4				0							3
TMC Operators	2.5		1				0		4		7			0
PR Coordinator	1		0				0							0

Objectives and Performance Measurement

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Are summary performance reports prepared and reviewed periodically?		Minimally		Annually		No	B&A conducted after retiming, monthly and annual reports are prepared.

Planning Issues

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency D	Agency F	Agency G
What causes the staff size to change?	Growth	Resignations	Pretty constant	People leaving, vacations, hiring freezes	Budget cuts
How far into the future do you plan?	3-5 years	5 years	2-5 years	We try to plan 5 years out, but our budget cycles are only 2 years.	3-5 years
What upgrades or updates do you plan?	Updates to control equipment, major PMs updates to operations center, routine signal timing updates	ITS upgrades	Roadway improvements	New sigan system is what we are working on for the next 6 years.	TS controllers, tactics software with adaptive capability is envisioned.
Do you have planning documentation that is available for review? Examples include business plans, resource models, maintenance checklists, concept of operations			No	Con Ops and Require	Program plan for deploying 2070 controllers

Communication to the Public

	Agency A	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Do you provide information on incidents, construction, special events, and congestion through:
Changeable Message Signs	portable message signs used as necessary	No	Yes		0
Website	Yes	Yes	Not yet		None
Media		Yes	Not yet		None
Other				TARS sites	None

Feedback from the Public

	Agency A	Agency B	Agency C	Agency D	Agency E	Agency F	Agency G
Do you seek feedback from the public on its perception of agency performance through such means as surveys or other proactive techniques?		Mail out surveys		Surveys	City's website is used. Citizens can enter questions, complaints, and comments to staff.	Our feedback comes from everyday calls and letters. We also get feedback from the media that we work with.	No
Do you have a telephone hotline or a website that failitates feedback from the public?	Yes, SOC phone # adnd request for action program	Yes		Yes, both	See above.	No telephone hotline yet due to limited staff in TMC. Division have phone numbers and email where people can contact us.	Trouble calls; each distric tracks its own calls.

previous | next