Function of Traffic Branch

Plans and designs roadway pavement markings and signs, traffic signals, highway lighting, and operational and safety improvements to promote the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of traffic on the State Highway System; administers consultant contracts for traffic projects; manages the Traffic Systems Management, Traffic Accident Surveillance, and Traffic Safety Improvement Programs; analyzes and monitors operating characteristics, accident records, and statistical reports; provides new and innovative alternatives for problem resolution; develops and implements highways demand projects as a means of reducing traffic congestion throughout the State.

Reviews Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), development plans, applications for permits, pending legislation and other matters for their impact on traffic operations and safety. Conducts litigation investigations.

Manages the Title II Safety Improvement Project Program and Minor Improvement Project Program; maintains and publishes traffic and accident statistics; provides technical assistance on safety techniques, state-of-the-art safety equipment, devices, and material to the Branches/District Offices; acts as State Highways Traffic liaison to Federal, County, and other governmental and private agencies.

Plans, develops, implements and promotes highways demand projects as a means of reducing traffic congestion throughout the State; develops goals and objectives for the programs; monitors program activities and coordinates with government agencies and/or private sector; analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of the programs; promotes highways programs to public agencies and the private sector by providing training and/or promotional materials; prepares budgetary and expenditure plans; drafts legislation and provides testimony.

Provides the Traffic Branch with typing, filing and other clerical services.

Develops traffic design plans, specifications and cost estimates for roadway pavement markings and signs, traffic signals, highway lighting, and operation and safety improvements; conducts feasibility studies; prepares drawings for traffic-related construction and maintenance design projects of highways and facilities.

Develops design plans, specifications, and cost estimates for roadway pavement markings and signs, traffic signals, highway lighting, and operation and safety improvements; reviews geometric designs and construction traffic control plans; reviews changes in construction traffic detours and makes recommendations to District Offices; administers consultant contracts for traffic projects; plans and designs emergency telephones for the State Highway Emergency Telephone System; conducts feasibility studies on Federal/ AASHTO recommendations regarding safety features; recommends adoption of safety features to be incorporated in the designing of new highway construction and/or improvement projects; revises standards and details relative to glare shields, guard rails, end treatment designs, wheelchair ramps, and bikeways; revises traffic design features of State Design Manual; evaluates and recommends policies and procedures regarding traffic related features for State facilities.

Prepares computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) and mechanical drawings for traffic-related construction and maintenance design projects of highways and facilities; performs computations required for drafting purposes; drafts and processes post traffic design plans; drafts traffic plans from field data for design purposes; prepares drawings of construction traffic control and/or traffic detours for newspaper publication notifying motorists of the alternative routes; prepares drawings for budget requests and programming information.

Manages the Traffic Systems Management, Title II Safety Improvement Project and the Minor Improvement Project, State High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and the State sign programs; manages the traffic operation management system; conducts in-depth studies on traffic operations problems, speed, and traffic signal timing and/or signal warrants; manages the statewide bikeway master plan; prepares traffic budgetary and expenditure plans; handles public concerns and complaints; drafts legislation and Administrative Rules.

Manages the Traffic Systems Management Program; identifies congested segments of the highway system; conducts in-depth studies to determine the cause(s); provides alternatives for problem resolution; formulates action plan; prepares preliminary design plans for traffic operation; implements and monitors action plan; provides follow-up studies to ascertain the efficacy of action taken and to ensure resolution of identified problem areas. Manages the traffic operation management system; monitors traffic and implements measures for the immediate alleviation of traffic congestion; manages and updates the statewide bikeway master plan.

Conducts traffic signal timing and/of signal warrant studies to establish the need for changes in the regulatory controls; conducts speed studies and determines speed limits on the highway system; performs special studies as requested.

Handles public concerns and complaints related to traffic matters. Reviews EISs, development plans, applications for permits, pending legislation, and other matters for their impact on traffic operations and safety. Drafts legislation and/or Administrative Rules concerning traffic related matters.

Manages the Title II Safety Improvement Project Program and the Minor Improvement Project Program; prepares traffic budgetary and expenditure requirements for the Capital Improvement Program and the Special Maintenance Program; manages the State High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) program and State sign program; analyzes, evaluates and implements program improvements; coordinates traffic training and continuing education programs to meet the educational needs of the Branch and/or the Divisional requirements.

Manages the Traffic Accident Surveillance Program and the Traffic Safety Improvement Program; conducts in-depth studies of highway facilities and provides recommendations to improve traffic safety; prepares preliminary design plans for safety improvements; manages the ISTEA Safety Management System; conducts litigation investigations; maintains computerized inventory of the State's accident data.

Manages the Traffic Accident Surveillance Program and the Traffic Safety Improvement Program; analyzes traffic accident records; conducts in-depth studies of highway facilities and provides recommendations to improve traffic safety; implements and monitors improvements; conducts follow-up studies to ascertain efficacy of improvements. Prepares preliminary design plans for safety improvements; provides technical assistance on safety techniques, state-of-the-art safety equipment, devices, and material. Manages the ISTEA Safety Management System. Conducts litigation investigations.

Maintains computerized inventory of the State's accident data; analyzes accident statistics, location and rates; conducts research related to traffic control and safety devices; compiles vehicular speed data; publishes traffic and accident statistics.