Traffic Operations Roundtable Meeting in MinotNorth Dakota's Traffic Operations Roundtable is now in its second year. The roundtable was established by ATAC to boost support to traffic engineers across North Dakota and the region. The roundtable allows peers to share ideas, identify critical issues, provide experiences, and guide ATAC's traffic operations activities. The roundtable has been meeting twice each year to discuss issues of interest, share experiences, and learn about new policies and practices.
The BNSF site visit familiarized traffic engineers with a train's major systems, operational characteristics, as well as interaction with rail and roadway control devices around grade crossings. Participants learned about some of the major safety issues related to vehicle-train crashes and observed train crews operating a train and navigating from a rail yard through an urban rail corridor in Minot. Also during the meeting, Steve Busek from the FHWA North Dakota Division, provided an overview of some of the relevant provisions contained in SAFETEA-LU, the new federal transportation bill that became law in August of 2005. Busek shared some of the major highlights that have an impact on traffic operations and safety in North Dakota, including: increased funding for rural road safety issues; flexibility in using transportation enhancement funds for pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and new funding for school traffic safety. He also discussed some specific projects that were approved for North Dakota. Allan Covlin from the NDDOT commented on some of the provisions in the new transportation bill as well as legislative transportation changes approved at the state level. The North Dakota Legislature approved a variable speed limit sign for use in work zones and increased the maximum amount speed limits could be reduced in work zones from 20 mph to 30 mph. Covlin also mentioned that several major retail chains are planning to open in several North Dakota cities, creating a need to look at the traffic impacts of these mega stores. Several local transportation agency representatives echoed Covlin's comments, citing a need for possible trip generation rates, site impact assessment, and arrangements for funding and implementing required transportation improvements.
Jeff Rodacker and Darrell Francis from the City of Minot provided an informative tour of their facilities as well as selected projects within the city. The group toured Minot's Sign Shop, a couple of advanced traffic signal cabinets with wireless communications, and the City of Minot engineering offices. Rodacker demonstrated Minot's traffic signal control software, which allows him to manage traffic signal controllers from the convenience of his office. Meeting participants concluded by discussing activities to be undertaken by the roundtable, including traffic operations training, traffic signal analysis software training, and joint training with South Dakota. Additionally, the roundtable will be looking at operational policies and laws related to traffic operations at dark signals (i.e., due to power failure). |
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The City of Minot hosted the summer roundtable meeting, which was held in late August 2005. The main agenda items for the meeting included an update on members' current activities, new transportation legislation, traffic signal control technologies, and future roundtable activities. The meeting also included two technical tours: a "traffic engineer on a train" site visit organized by the FHWA North Dakota Division and the BNSF Railroad and an elaborate tour of Minot's key transportation facilities and projects.
Matt Allwood of Traffic Control Corporation (TCC) provided the group with information related to the major differences between NEMA TS-1 and TS-2, as well as 2070 traffic signal controllers. In addition, he illustrated some of the main features of selected systems, including the Econolite ASC/3 Series traffic controller, and the Autoscope video detection system.