MAYOR BILL WHITE ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF RE-TIMING FOR 1,540 TRAFFIC SIGNALS Citywide Program On Time; Phase II to include almost 600 more signals
January 6, 2005 -- Mayor Bill White today announced the on-time, on-budget completion of a program to synchronize more than 1,500 traffic lights across the city to improve the flow of traffic.
"This has been one of the most significant and effective things we've been able to do to improve Houstonians' lives," said Mayor White. "We've cut commuting times by as much as 20 percent in some corridors and that is valuable time we're happy to see returned to our citizens. Houston is on the move."
The Public Works and Engineering Department began the challenging task of re-timing 1,540 traffic signal lights one year ago. Starting in Midtown in early 2004 and spreading all across the city, Phase One of the project has now concluded in northwest Houston along the West Tidwell corridor.
Phase One, which was to be completed in one year, consisted of optimizing the 1,540 signals beginning in the four (4) high employment areas of Midtown, Downtown, Uptown and the Medical Center as well as in an additional 88 corridors around the city.
The corridors for which travel times have been measured are already showing a reduction in drive time ranging from 10 percent to 20 percent. The busy Westheimer corridor reflected a 20 percent reduction in travel time. All of the corridors' results will be completed by the end of February. To date, the results of our surveys are consistent with similar projects throughout the United States.
Work on the next phase of the "TSTOP" program will begin February 1st and will end in December 2005. TSTOP-2 will optimize 582 signals in nine (9) designated areas.
The cost of the program, which includes timing of signals and some replacement of hardware, has been estimated at approximately $3.5 million and the City expects to recoup a portion of that cost from the federal government, through the Federal Transportation Equity Act.
The Public Works and Engineering Department asks citizens who feel that some of the intersections are not timed correctly to call 311 and report the concern. If there is difficulty reaching the call center using the three digit number, please call 713-837-0311 or go to the city web site at www.cityofhouston.gov (3-1-1 Online Form) to report your observation online.
