Motorists in the City of Valdosta will begin to notice the placement of traffic counting devices at 44 signalized intersections within the city limits. The work is part of the Signal Timing Optimization and Operational Analysis underway, designed to maximize the efficiency of vehicular travel throughout the city.
 
The City of Valdosta and the Southern Georgia Regional Commission selected Kimley-Horn to perform the Signal Timing Optimization and Operational Analysis, which seeks to improve signal times for weekday peak periods throughout the day, as well as signal timings for weekends and holidays around the Valdosta Mall. The goal of the study is to reduce travel time, vehicle emissions, driver delay, driver stops and fuel consumption.
 
An operational analysis of the existing intersections and corridor operations will provide recommendations for pavement markings, laneage, geometric improvements, signal sequencing, signal head upgrades and access management.
 
“Typically, when motorists see these traffic counting devices going up, we get a lot of calls from citizens wondering what is going on,” said City Engineer Pat Collins. “These devices and the city-wide timing study overall will give us information to continue to make improvements to our signal timings and to improve the overall driving experience within the Valdosta city limits.”
 
The project is federally-funded through a grant with the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization, the federally-designated transportation planning agency for the Valdosta Urbanized Area. The Federal Highway Administration will provide 80 percent of the costs, while the City of Valdosta provides 20 percent.
 
The scope of the project will also verify the location of existing fiber, create a GIS database of fiber locations and will identify the possible benefits of utilizing Ethernet in the future.