For the signal design upgrade Volkert prepared plans and specifications for mast arms, lane reconfiguration if necessary, new controllers with intersection and system loops, interconnect routing, and provision of expanded computerized traffic control to the existing system. The city expanded the project to include design of six miles of fiber optic interconnect cable with a minimum of 84 fibers, which will terminate at the city's traffic engineering shop. The cable will also be used for communication between city hall, Science Hill High School, and a new library. The fiber optic cable specification prepared by Volkert is now being used by TDOT as a state standard for traffic signal interconnect cable.

Construction began in 1997 on the $2.5 million project. Volkert is presently handling construction inspection of the fiber optic cable installation and final construction of the communication equipment at the city's traffic engineering shop. Completion is scheduled for Spring 1999.

A new traffic system without new traffic signal timing is only half the solution to providing the most efficient movement of vehicles. TDOT assigned Volkert to develop new signal timing for 50 intersections in the Johnson City system. This includes the collection of morning, noon, and afternoon two-hour traffic counts; development of new signal timing plans for each time period, and a before-and-after time delay study to statistically evaluate the amount of improvement "on the street."

Because of the number of intersections to be counted, Volkert proposed the design of a counting system to allow TDOT staff to make counts anywhere in the state, download the counts onto a spread sheet on laptop computers, and electronically transfer counts to the state's Nashville design office in less than 24 hours. TDOT provided electronic counting machines and staff to make the counts in Johnson City. According to Volkert Project Manager Steve Meyer, P.E., "Thus far the program for counting has been a great success."

Volkert's involvement in the fiber optic communications cable and the signal system upgrade led to programming and designing the traffic engineering for a new Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) in Johnson City. Gannett-Fleming Inc. will be working with us on the project. Volkert's responsibility is to scope requirements for camera surveillance, weather monitoring, and traffic signal system interface with GIS system modules.

When completed, the ITS will communicate with the city's public and para-transit systems, emergency preparedness agencies, city hall, and public information centers throughout the city. At the centers citizens can visit kiosks with screens showing traffic accidents and tie-ups via live camera coverage. The city also plans a web site for individuals to monitor traffic flows. The Phase I demonstration of the system's capabilities should be complete by November, 1999.

For more information on these projects contact Steve Meyer in Chattanooga at 423-842-3335 or in Dalton at 706-278-9288. To discuss Volkert's capabilities in traffic modeling and signal system design contact Steve or call David Webber in Mobile at 334-342-1070 or Bill Carlson in Alexandria at 703-642-8100.