Each year, the City receives many inquiries concerning the operation of traffic signals. The public's understanding of the function of traffic signals can improve driving habits by reducing speeding, traffic accidents, fuel consumption and air pollution. The more drivers know about the operation of traffic signals, the less they will be frustrated when waiting for a signal to change.
Traffic signals are more costly than is commonly realized.
Heavier movements receive more green time. Traffic actuated signals use detectors located in the pavement on the approaches to traffic signals to monitor and assign the right of way based on changing traffic demand. These signals attempt to assign most of the available green time to the heaviest traffic movements. City staff uses this computer to coordinate the traffic signals on major streets throughout the day. Most of the traffic signals are coordinated during the peak periods of traffic flow.