Overview
This report begins with a background discussion and a review of the literature, particularly past assessments and focus on the Traffic Signal Report Card.
Following the literature review, the report develops case studies based on archetype agencies. These archetypes illustrate the different levels of resources and how those resources are used, whether the agency looks good in assessments and whether it gets results in terms of motorist and policy-maker expectations. From these archetypes emerges the concept of good basic service. Targeted interviews with two agency managers provide examples of how well-regarded agencies define and achieve their goals (or not).
The interviews and the archetypes then form the basis for developing a basic service concept, including the outline for a Traffic Signal Management Plan for traffic signal operating agencies consistent with that basic service concept.
The Appendix includes a discussion of signal timing versatility and how the objective of versatility contrasts with the more common objective of optimality.