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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION
PROGRAM MISSION: To plan, design, and operate traffic engineering aspects of
roads, and their networks and relationships with other transportation modes, to
achieve a safe, efficient, and convenient movement of people and goods through
the collection and analysis of traffic and accident data.
The Traffic Engineering Division
of the Department of Public Works consists of Data Collection and Analysis,
Traffic System Management and Design, and Traffic Infrastructure.
-
Data Collection
and Analysis Program includes the evaluation of requests for traffic
control devices including signs, pavement markings, and parking meters. The program requires close coordination with
Public Works Planning and others in evaluating and implementing neighborhood
traffic calming measures. Assistance in
neighborhood traffic calming is also provided by deployment of a mobile speed
indicator and video surveillance. Other program responsibilities include
evaluation of the need for traffic and parking regulations, issuance of permits
for use of the public rights-of-way, preparation of traffic and parking
ordinances, and recommendation of work zone safety controls. Additional program responsibilities include:
management of the Ballston Public Parking Garage enterprise fund, administration
and implementation of the Residential Permit Parking Program by working
directly with residents to solve parking problems, administration of the
Reserved Handicapped Parking Meter Program, optimization of the on-street
parking supply, and liaison with external organizations such as Metro,
universities and civic associations.
The Treasurer's Office assists the permit parking program by issuing
parking decals and temporary parking permits.
-
Traffic System Management and Design
Program designs traffic
signal systems and pavement marking improvements. This team operates the computerized signal system. Major work currently underway is the
development of "as built" signal plans for all intersections and the inventory
of all streetlights in the system. The
inventory will also include locating each street light on the GIS System. Staff will continue this effort as time
permits. The Street Lighting
design element of this unit supports street light additions through
Neighborhood Conservation, developer improvements and Public Works capital
projects. This program serves as
liaison between the residents and Virginia Power to provide adequate lighting
in Arlington residential neighborhoods.
The program coordinates the maintenance and design of 15,000 street and
trail lights owned and maintained by Virginia Power.
-
Traffic Infrastructure Program
combines the operations of the
pavement markings, streetlights, parking meters, traffic signs, and traffic
signals programs.
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The Street Light
Program is responsible for street light operations and maintenance. Although the vast majority of streetlights
in the County are owned by Dominion Virginia Power (about 15,000), the program
is also responsible for ensuring the installation, maintenance and repairs of
approximately 1,700 County maintained streetlights. These streetlights are located in commercial areas, tunnels, on
pedestrian bridges, and at signalized intersections.
-
The Parking
Meter Program is responsible for
the installation, operation, maintenance and collection of funds from parking
meters throughout the County. All parking meters in the County are now
electronic. Electronic meters provide
more dependability for users and more information for improved parking
analysis.
- The
Signs Program is responsible for fabrication, installation, maintenance,
and removal of all signs necessary to provide safe and orderly use of streets,
walkways, biking/hiking trails, and parking areas. This section provides
signing expertise and fabrication and installation of signs for street
operations, street construction and maintenance projects, residential permit
parking, neighborhood watch, parking for the disabled, drug free zones, and
many other special requests. Temporary
signs for various special private and public activities are also supplied and
installed.
The Signs effort is currently
upgrading outdated signs throughout Arlington County. Sign condition, location, and material type are being reviewed to
maximize the reflectivity of the signs.
We are continuing to install yellow-green fluorescent signs for
pedestrian-school activities to assist in highlighting the potential hazard for
drivers. The development of the field
database for inventorying all signs and markings in Arlington County is
expected to come on-line at the end of FY 2003.
- The Signals Program
improves pedestrian and vehicular mobility in Arlington to create a safe and
healthy living environment, and to help meet the traffic control demands of a
growing economy. The Signals Program is
responsible for the operation, maintenance and installation of all electrical
and electronic traffic control equipment.
This program is also responsible for the operation
and management of the computerized traffic signal control system. This system provides centralized control for
243 signalized intersections in the County. The completed and fully functional
computerized traffic system is currently under expansion. There are 65
signalized intersections operating under SCOOT (Split, Cycle and Offset
Optimization Technique), a demand responsive system that has received good
responses from the public since it has been fully operational. There will be 30
intersections added in the current expansion project.
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The Pavement Markings effort is responsible for the layout, installation, and
maintenance of pavement markings to provide delineation and alignment for safer
pedestrian and vehicular movements.
Beginning in FY 2002, ladder crosswalks were upgraded to zebra
crosswalks in high pedestrian areas.
Newer pavements must be repainted every three to five years with bright
thermoplastic coatings. Older pavement
must continue to use paint, most of which must be redone annually. The Markings effort will continue to
coordinate the remarking schedule with the County's slurry/new pavement schedule
in order to maximize use of the thermoplastic contract. In order to achieve maximum savings, it will
be essential to identify projects that are taking place in close proximity to
each other. An environmentally
sensitive water based paint walk behind paint machine was purchased to do small
marking jobs. This machine will be
operated by Traffic Engineering staff and gives us the ability to respond to
emergency marking situations.
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Traffic
Engineering
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FY 2002
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FY 2003
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FY 2004
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% Change:
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Actual
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Adopted
|
Proposed
|
'03 to '04
|
|
Personnel
|
$2,389,023
|
$2,880,706
|
$2,945,955
|
2%
|
|
Non-Personnel
|
3,240,967
|
3,156,691
|
3,247,471
|
3%
|
|
Intra-County
Charges
|
-
|
(56,947)
|
(58,650)
|
3%
|
|
Total Expenditures
|
5,629,990
|
5,980,450
|
6,134,776
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3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
3,919,641
|
4,033,750
|
4,699,230
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16%
|
|
Net Tax Support
|
$1,710,349
|
$1,946,700
|
$1,435,546
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-26%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authorized FTEs
|
48.1
|
48.1
|
48.1
|
|
|
Funded FTEs
|
48.1
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48.1
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48.1
|
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SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:
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The increased expense in the non-personnel budget
reflects the increased cost of energy ($76,049) for street lights, traffic
signals, and the energy to operate new facilities placed as a result of capital
construction through FY 2004.
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Revenue has increased $575,100 as a result of revenue
generated from additional parking meters being installed in FY 2004. The number of meters will increase to an
average of 4,200 meters in service.
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Revenue will also increase by $89,100 as a result of
the state share reimbursed to the County for operating the state signals in the
County. Reimbursement is based on the
percent of signals that the County operates which are state responsibilities. That percentage is currently 49%.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
Objective: The Data Collection and Analysis effort is responsible
for the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic through
the collection and analysis of traffic and accident data (Data Collection
Program).
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FY
2001
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FY
2002
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FY
2003
|
FY
2004
|
FY
2004
|
|
Actual
|
Actual
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Estimate
|
Estimate
|
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Number of reports completed by the Collection Team
|
271
|
456
|
550
|
625
|
625
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Number of locations speed radar deployed
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25
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48
|
40
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75
|
75
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Number of accident reports received
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2,523
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3,557
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3,700
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3,850
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3,850
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Workload Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Right-of-way
permits issued
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888
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1,045
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1,200
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1,400
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1,400
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Traffic
counts
|
580
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860
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1,000
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1,200
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1,200
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Parking
ordinances prepared
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1,168
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1,367
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1,500
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1,500
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1,500
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Objective: Seek to identify traffic safety and capacity
problems and address these problems with improved design plans (Traffic System
Management & Design).
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FY
2001
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FY
2002
|
FY
2003
|
FY
2004
|
FY
2004
|
|
Actual
|
Actual
|
Estimate
|
Estimate
|
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signal plans designed
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
6
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6
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|
New signals installed
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3
|
5
|
3
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6
|
6
|
|
Existing signal modifications
|
12
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19
|
25
|
30
|
30
|
|
New school flashers
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5
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8
|
8
|
8
|
8
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Workload Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As-built signal drawings completed
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4
|
15
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20
|
20
|
20
|
|
Deficient intersections redesigned
|
-
|
42
|
25
|
30
|
30
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|
|
Plans
and plats reviewed
|
485
|
515
|
400
|
500
|
500
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|
Effectiveness measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Number of intersections
evaluated for LOS
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41
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38
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50
|
50
|
50
|
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Percent of
LOS evaluations better than level "C"
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N/A
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70%
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75%
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75%
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75%
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Signalized intersections are routinely evaluated for
safety and level of service (LOS) they provide. Intersections with a LOS of worse than "C" are studied for
capacity efficiency. Problem
intersections are evaluated for possible solutions including marking, signal
timing, or the geometry of the intersection.
Objective: To provide a safe and good quality of life in
Arlington through the illumination of public rights-of-way by providing
illumination with aesthetically pleasing lamps and lampposts. Continue to change light fixtures to the
"dark sky cutouts" for arterial cobra lighting and decorative lighting in
residential areas (Street Light).
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FY
2001
|
FY
2002
|
FY
2003
|
FY
2004
|
FY
2004
|
|
Actual
|
Actual
|
Estimate
|
Estimate
|
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New decorative lights in residential areas
(installed)
|
153
|
172
|
180
|
190
|
195
|
|
New decorative lights in arterial streets
(installed)
|
NA
|
80
|
95
|
100
|
110
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|
New "Dark Sky" compliance Cobra lights
(installed)
|
NA
|
NA
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40
|
50
|
55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Workload
Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arlington County street light
repairs
|
415
|
455
|
450
|
450
|
450
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Virginia Power maintained
street and trail lights
|
14,057
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14,057
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15,000
|
15,000
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15,000
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Trouble calls: all street and trail lights
|
501
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1,894
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1,600
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1,800
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1,750
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Objective: To ensure all
meters are properly functioning and all reported malfunctioning meters are
restored within 24 hours (Parking Meters).
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FY
2001
|
FY
2002
|
FY
2003
|
FY
2004
|
FY
2004
|
|
Actual
|
Actual
|
Estimate
|
Estimate
|
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preventative maintenance
|
12,584
|
10,612
|
10,000
|
11,000
|
11,000
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Number of
reported malfunctions
|
459
|
709
|
500
|
600
|
600
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Percent of meters put back in service within 24
hrs
|
90%
|
90%
|
90%
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90%
|
100%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Workload Measures
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|
|
|
|
|
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Parking
meters in service
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3,751
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3,696
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3,950
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4,200
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4,200
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Meter
revenue
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$3,164,430
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$3,271,402
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$3,172,900
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$3,700,000
|
$3,700,000
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Average
$/meter
|
$843
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$885
|
$803
|
$880
|
$880
|
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Meter revenue only includes coin collection from the
meters.
Objective:
To annually maintain 10 percent of all signs in on-street
inventory to maintain adequate reflectivity.
This improvement is possible due to using longer lasting more highly
reflective materials (Signs Program)
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FY
2001
|
FY
2002
|
FY
2003
|
FY
2004
|
FY
2004
|
|
Actual
|
Actual
|
Estimate
|
Estimate
|
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Number
of signs in inventory
|
78,241
|
79,650
|
80,850
|
80,850
|
80,850
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Regulatory signs repaired within 24 hrs
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Workload Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of signs repaired/replaced
|
4,755
|
3,527
|
6,375
|
5,000
|
5,000
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|
Number of temporary signs installed
|
8,655
|
7,905
|
10,900
|
10,900
|
10,900
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|
Number
of signs fabricated
|
1,721
|
1,554
|
2,800
|
2,800
|
2,800
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Effectiveness Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Percent
of signs maintained
|
6.6%
|
4.81%
|
10%
|
10%
|
10%
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Objective: To ensure the safe, efficient and effective mobility of people and
vehicles on the roadways and pedestrian systems in Arlington, incorporating
technology enhancements to keep Arlington County progressively in tune with a
highly technological community (Signals Program).
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FY
2001
|
FY
2002
|
FY
2003
|
FY
2004
|
FY
2004
|
|
Actual
|
Actual
|
Estimate
|
Estimate
|
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Countdown pedestrian heads installed
(locations)
|
2
|
14
|
50
|
15
|
15
|
|
Back-up power installed (locations)
|
N/A
|
3
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
|
Lighted crosswalks installed (locations)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Workload Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Traffic
signals in service
|
238
|
240
|
250
|
255
|
255
|
|
Trouble
calls
|
882
|
968
|
990
|
1,000
|
1,000
|
|
Number
of overhead PMs
|
97
|
57
|
80
|
80
|
80
|
|
Number
of cabinet PMs
|
220
|
233
|
240
|
250
|
250
|
|
Efficiency Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Person hours per overhead PM
|
3.39
|
2.7
|
3.5
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
|
Person
hours per cabinet PM
|
0.73
|
1.27
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
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We have currently installed countdown pedestrian heads at 50
intersections in FY 2003. Our target is
to complete 15 intersections per year over the next 5 years.
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Lighted crosswalks is a new requirement and no historical information is
available. Since this is new technology,
the data collection for this performance measure for FY 2003 and FY 2004 will
be used on an experimental basis.
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PM =
Preventative Maintenance
Objective:
To remark thermoplastic pavement markings on a three-year
schedule, remark paint markings on an annual schedule, convert paint to
thermoplastic as roadways are repaved, and mark new pavement as quickly as
possible (Pavement Marking Program).
|
FY
2001
Actual
|
FY
2002
Actual
|
FY
2003
Estimate
|
FY
2004
Estimate
|
FY
2004
Target
|
|
Mission Outcome Measures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Centerline and lane lines painted
(linear feet)
|
44,340
|
430,000
|
300,000
|
320,000
|
320,000
|
|
Crosswalks and stopbars painted (linear
feet)
|
22,112
|
36,000
|
40,000
|
45,000
|
45,000
|
|
Bike
lane markings
|
N/A
|
10 miles
|
10 miles
|
4 miles
|
4 miles
|
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Workload measures were based on timing and availability
of contractor. A more aggressive
approach to meeting the markings demands has been achieved by providing
secondary measures to maintain continuity.
Actual FY 2001 linear feet of centerline and lane line painted is lower
than normal due to contract coordination problems that have been corrected.
FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:
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There still exists an increasing demand by
neighborhoods to assist in advising motorists of their speed. This will likely result in requests for greater
use of the mobile speed indicator trailer.
Additional units may still be required to meet these growing demands.
-
Requests for traffic analysis continue to grow. Staff reallocations were made to respond to
demand, but ongoing growth may require further staffing or contract expense.
-
As funding is available, the Design Management program
has been upgrading and placing each as-built intersection and accident diagram
into AutoCAD. There is a growing demand
to share this data electronically across departments to enable broader analysis
of data. As the program expands to
include all incident management, increased funding will need to be considered.
-
Electronic data needs continue to grow as information
becomes more valuable across divisions and departments. The data is essential in developing a sound
asset management plan. Funds may be
needed for a contractor to create a geo-based information system, and
additional staff may be needed to maintain it.
-
With the increase of traffic calming devices requiring
pavement markings, small application equipment and materials may be needed to
achieve a faster response time to requests for installation of new devices.
-
Additional markings for on-street bike trails,
pedestrian upgraded crosswalks, and traffic calming devices will continue to
add to the inventory of markings that require maintenance.
-
As additional street lights and
signal devices are installed throughout the County as part of redevelopment,
neighborhood conservation, and streetscape projects, additional operating funds
will be required to pay for the increased energy consumption.
-
The
Division is proceeding as rapidly as possible to provide an infrastructure
inventory and condition analysis of all its infrastructure elements. However, the need to complete this work will
increase as we attempt to put together an asset management plan for each major
element.
-
With
an increasing and overwhelming need for traffic and parking control devices in
Arlington to ensure safe travel for all methods of mobility, a steadily growing
inventory of signs with considerable variety and application is expected.
-
Traffic
Signal Communication Infrastructure review is currently being conducted to
estimate the life expectancy of the existing communication system. Based on the result of this study,
additional funding may be required to upgrade/update existing communication
links.
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