New traffic signal at Porter, Smith Enke Roads

Last week a new traffic signal went into operation at Porter and Smith Enke Roads. This traffic signal should greatly improve operations at the three-way stop intersection.

The city performs traffic counts throughout the community on an annual basis. They are used to determine the need for capital improvement projects and, potentially, a time frame for them. The city performs turning movement counts on approximately five intersections a year as part of the annual traffic count program.

There are eight traffic signal warrants outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The majority of the cities throughout the country use these guidelines. The warrants examine vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic and school children crossings.

The signal at Smith Enke Road and Porter Road met signal warrants last year, which prompted the city to start the design.

Traffic signal warrant analysis is performed on the turning movement counts to determine if a traffic signal is warranted. Then the city begins its process to bring the signal online, which can take six months or longer.

For more information on the traffic signal process, email [email protected].

Photo courtesy of city of Maricopa