Staffing Recommendations

Past approaches to the development of staffing criteria for operation and maintenance of traffic signals and ITS devices have often provided guidelines in terms of the number of traffic signals that can be maintained and operated per number of personnel performing these tasks. These approaches should also consider other operations objectives and desired level or needs for traffic signal management operations and maintenance. Some of key criteria to determine staff needs are:

Required response time. Number of signals and changes in number of signals, and other field devices. Variations in knowledge, skills and abilities of maintenance and engineering personnel. Differences in functions that the systems and agencies must perform. Organizational structure of the responsible agency (sharing of resources with other functions) and budgeting structures. Geographic configuration of traffic flow network (i.e., grid, arterial) and the overall number and size of other facilities in the transportation network (freeways, interstate, transit, freight, land use etc.). Density of traffic signal network relative to population density. Congestion levels. Type of signal system (e.g., distributed or centrally controlled); distribution of signals on the network and need for interconnection. Development of signal timing plans (City personnel vs. consultants). Frequency of equipment maintenance Complexity of signal operation at the intersection

Various examples provide rules of thumb for Traffic Operations staffing, such as one technician per 30 to 40 traffic signals. However, caution should be exercised in using general guidelines because such “rule of thumb” criteria do not specifically address complicating factors such as age of the system or approach to preventative maintenance. In Tyler’s case, the age and reliability of the system may not provide the efficiencies that might otherwise help keep staff levels to a minimum.

Using a conservative estimate on the low-end of examples provided, and based on the City of Tyler’s current needs, information from other agencies, and general guidelines, the following positions are needed:

One (1) Traffic Engineer; One (1) Engineer-in-Training (EIT); One (1) Signal Supervisor; One (1) Advanced Traffic Signal Technician; and

Two (2) Traffic Signal Technicians.

The EIT position would report to the City Traffic Engineer, while the Advanced Traffic Signal Technician would report to the Signal System Supervisor. The EIT position should support the City Traffic Engineer on engineering and management duties, while learning and becoming a licensed professional engineer.

External resources such as contractors, technicians for hire, and consultants will still be needed to fill gaps in workload capacity and expertise.

To successfully fill these positions, competitive salaries should be offered. To be competitive with TxDOT, the City of Tyler should at least match the salaries listed for TxDOT’s open Traffic Systems Technician I or II positions in Tyler. The standard Traffic Signal Technician salary range should be $15.00 – $26.50 hourly ($31,200 – $55,130 annually). The Advanced Traffic Signal Technician salary range should be $26.50 – $32.50 hourly ($55,130 – $67,600 annually). Salary expectations for the Traffic Operations Supervisor would be around $60,000 – $75,000 annually. Again, to be competitive in the Tyler region, the City of Tyler should at least match the salary range for a Traffic EIT position ($37,000 – $65,000 annually).