Traffic Signal Maintenance Requirements

The problems associated with traffic signal maintenance have intensified in recent years as more sophisticated equipment has been installed, and the lack of maintenance has resulted in systems operating in an unacceptable manner. Recognizing this situation, a project was undertaken to establish general guidelines for maintenance of traffic signals, including control equipment, signal poles, and other relative hardware. Information was gathered from a number of sources, including a literature search, the use of questionnaires for both maintenance contractors and municipal agencies, and field trips to municipal maintenance departments. A classification for maintenance was developed, which was divided into preventive, response, and design modification. Guidelines were developed to evaluate a municipality's capabilities to perform traffic signal maintenance and to determine present‐day manpower and equipment requirements. Using these procedures, a municipality can also estimate their future maintenance cost.