Signal Spotlight: Adapt, Abide and Persist

This year has been one for the books! We’ve all been forced to adapt, abide, and persist. Public works employees faced new social distancing guidelines that changed the way they work and responded to several severe storms that brought downed trees and widespread power outages throughout the state. The entire T2 team has been working virtually since March, meeting on Zoom and pushing to disseminate timely COVID-19-related information to municipalities through its listservs and the Connecticut Crossroads newsletter.

The Traffic Signal Circuit Rider program contributed articles on virtual public engagement and the changes being made to traffic signal systems during COVID-19, as well as promoting the  CTDOT-led “Bump the Button” campaign to encourage pedestrians not to press push buttons with their hands.

It’s said that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and this has proven true throughout all industries during the pandemic. For its part, the change in circumstances encouraged the T2 Center to venture into new formats for delivering training.

In April, the Traffic Signal Circuit Rider program hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on Hot Topics for Signal Professionals during COVID-19. Several towns participated in a webinar series via Zoom on Creating a Traffic Signal Management Plan. The program also began developing on-demand recordings. Currently, Basics of Traffic Signal Operations and MUTCD Traffic Signal Warrants are offered in an on-demand format.

Looking to the future, the Traffic Signal Circuit Rider program is partnering with the Safety Circuit Rider program to offer a “Coffee and Conversation” series on timely traffic signal and roadway safety topics. We are also in the process of developing a comprehensive traffic signal technician certificate program and look forward to offering training in the new year.

I want to thank FHWA, CTDOT, the program advisory committee and all those who have participated in the program for continuing to support our efforts throughout this difficult year. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe, and healthy new year.

If you have traffic signal systems questions, please contact: Theresa Schwartz, P.E.,
P.T.O.E. – Traffic Signal Circuit Rider (860) 486-4535 or theresa.schwartz@uconn.edu.