1. Traffic Signal Maintenance – Best Practices
Presented to:
ITE Western District Annual Meeting
Santa Barbara
June 25, 2012
With:
Mike Kato
Beza Kedida
Cedric Novenario
Presented by:
Steve Fitzsimons

2. Outline Introduction Summary of new ITE/IMSA handbook
Typical current practice
“New tech” recommendations

3. Why Maintain Traffic Signals?
To preserve the benefits that the original installation provided
To give motorists a consistent driving environment
To avoid liability claims
Extend life of installation and reduce life cycle costs
Source ITE/IMSA

4. Types of Maintenance
Based on Traffic Signal Maintenance Handbook (ITE/IMSA, 2010)
Preventative Maintenance
Response Maintenance
Design Feedback/Updates
Asset Management
Source ITE/IMSA

5. Preventative Maintenance
Predictable, Scheduled Work
Clean, Inspect, Adjust
Signal Heads
Ped Push Buttons
Signal Poles
Pull Boxes and Conduit
Conductors
Detection – Loops, VIDS, or other
Signs
Battery Backup/BBS
Controller and Service Cabinets
Inventory
Source ITE/IMSA

6. Response Maintenance Unpredictable, As-Needed Work Diagnose and Repair
Unexpected flashing operation
Communications failures
Pole knockdowns
Burned out lamps
Wire theft
Source ITE/IMSA

7. Asset Management Relatively New National Guideline
Input and Response Tracking
Good general concept
What types of calls are consuming staff time
Feedback to design standards
Inventory Tracking
Build a database
Keep track of parts or suppliers that are most reliable
Feedback to technical specifications
Source ITE/IMSA

8. Typical Current Practice
Basis for statements:
Republic ITS/Siemens provides contract maintenance to over 200 public agencies in CA and 300 nationally
Most of our clients have under 100,000 population
Many of our clients do not have dedicated traffic engineering staff

9. Typical Exclusions Preventative Maintenance
Keep inventory of part installation dates or manufacturing source
Signal timing in office
Trim vegetation
Check conductor condition
‘Meg’ or reseal loops wires
Annual load test of BBS batteries
Compare timing settings to current recommendations
Any kind of Asset Management

10. Why are there exclusions?
Cost
No traffic engineering staff so what would they do with the asset data anyway?
Reliance on judgment of maintenance crews

11. “New Tech” Equipment
Traffic signal equipment has evolved considerably in the last years
LED signal heads
Video detection systems
Fiber optic or wireless interconnect
Battery backup systems
Components with Ethernet connections

12. “New Tech” Recommendations
LED Signal Heads
Re-lamp every 5-10 years
Video Detection Systems (VIDS)
Annually test aiming and accuracy of detection zone shapes
Fiber Optic Interconnect
Monthly vacuum dust off components

13. “New Tech” Recommendations
Wireless Interconnect
Annually check comm error reports
Battery Backup Systems
Annually perform battery load tests
Modern equipment with Ethernet ports
Buy diagnosis software and connection cables

14. Thanks for your attention Time for your questions