The City of Bridgeport has made major improvements to its traffic signal maintenance program over the past few years. Historically, four electricians in the City’s Public Facilities Department were responsible for maintaining not only the City’s 118 traffic signals but all City-owned facilities and decorative lighting as well. The Engineering Department handled Capital Improvement projects and signal timings. In 2019, traffic signal maintenance was brought under the umbrella of the Engineering Department to improve communication and facilitate better management of the City’s traffic signal assets. The department secured funding to increase staffing by hiring two new technicians.

The Engineering Department created a written traffic signal maintenance plan to guide future operations. The plan includes expected emergency service response times, schedules for preventive and operational maintenance, a list of tasks to be performed during preventative maintenance inspections, and documentation requirements.

A traffic signal inventory is included in the plan, with maintenance levels assigned to each intersection to help prioritize repairs and make the most of a limited maintenance budget. The MUTCD permits traffic signals operating in flash mode during periods of failure, allowing safe operation while repairs are prioritized and completed. Technicians are on call 24 hours a day to repair signals at critical locations, while less critical repairs are made during normal business hours. The documentation requirements include an inventory of all spare traffic equipment and parts.

The City is also taking steps to improve its traffic signal control infrastructure, including a complete overhaul of the Central Traffic Control Command center under a 100% federally-funded project, and replacement of seven traffic signals on Park Avenue. Construction of the Park Avenue signals is expected to begin in 2020.

Related Resources:

Developing a Traffic Signal Management Plan https://www.t2center.uconn.edu/pdfs/Traffic%20Signal%20Tech%20Brief_Developing%20Traffic%20Signal%20Management%20Plan__2018-3.pdf

Preventative Maintenance of Traffic Signals

https://www.t2center.uconn.edu/pdfs/Traffic%20Signal%20Brief_Preventative%20Maintenance_2019_2.pdf