The goal of traffic signal coordination is to progress the greatest number of vehicles through the system with the fewest stops and shortest amount of delay in a comfortable manner.
Report a Problem
Traffic Signal Timing
Report a Signal Timing issue or call 719-385-5908.
The City is reviewing and revising traffic signal coordination timing on a continual basis. This includes the reviews needed to respond to concerns and requests about stops and delays along corridors. Comprehensive reviews are also performed along individual corridors every one to three years due to changes in traffic volumes, development, and signal operations.
In addition to this review, the City has initiated a strategic plan to be more proactive in improving traffic signal timings. To implement this plan, staff will focus attention to four key areas that include:
- improving signal coordination plans
- enhancing signal equipment
- initiating traffic benchmarking and reporting efforts
- bolstering public information and outreach activities
Traffic Signal Malfunction
For reporting signal malfunctions or to discuss a technical question about the signal's operation, call 719-385-5908.
All signals within the City are maintained by the Traffic Engineering Division. This includes traffic signals along major highways and interstate ramps. Other signals outside the City limits are maintained by El Paso County Public Works, Colorado Department of Transportation, and other jurisdictions in which the signal is located.
Pedestrian Signal Timing or Malfunction
Call 719-385-5908.
For crossing signalized approaches, pedestrians need to push the push buttons to receive adequate crossing times. With the exception of the downtown area, the pedestrian push button is the only means of activating the "Walk" light to obtain the required amount of crossing time. Pedestrians need to know that the push button, in most cases, will not change the light immediately unless this phase is next in the signal operation's sequence.
With this activation, the "Walk" light will allow people to step off the curb and start walking across the street, as this symbol means it is safe to start crossing. The flashing "Don't Walk" is next and provides enough time for pedestrians who have started to cross the street to complete their crossing before opposing traffic is released.
Make a Request
Install Traffic Signal
Contact Signal Timing or call 719-385-5908.
After receiving a request, staff carefully analyzes the accident history, the intersection geometry, and the amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the intersection. In nearly all cases, the City will apply warrants based on the Federal Highway Administration's "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" that establishes minimum criteria, or warrants, for the installation of new traffic signals. If the location is warranted for traffic signals, the next challenge is to find a method of constructing and funding the signal. A new signal costs between $80,000 and $120,000 to design and construct, and an additional $5,000 per year to maintain.
Add Left-Turn Arrow
Contact Signal Timing or call 719-385-5908.
Left-turn arrows benefit turning traffic but they also increase waiting times for other traffic and pedestrians using the intersection. For this reason, certain criteria are used to ensure they are installed at locations where they do not adversely affect other movements. The criteria used when evaluating the need for a left-turn arrow signal are
- how well the movement is operating without a left-turn signal.
- how much the left turn signal will increase waiting times to other traffic movements at the intersection
- the accident history for the movement
Information needed to investigate a requested timing change includes the intersection location, direction of travel, the weekday and time of travel in which the problem occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do traffic lights take so long to change?
A: The length of wait at a traffic signal depends on the signal cycle length and the amount of traffic. On major corridors the cycle lengths are longer to accommodate higher volumes of traffic, to serve the greater number of separate traffic movements during the timing sequence and to accommodate much longer pedestrian crossing times. Overall, these longer cycle lengths provide more efficiency since they can move more vehicles through an intersection in a given amount of time. However, increasing cycle lengths may also cause some secondary movements longer delays.
For more information, contact Signal Timing or call 719-385-5908.
Q: Why does a signal change when no vehicles are present?
A: For most traffic signals in Colorado Springs the signal rests on the green light for the major street in order to serve the greater volume and switches to the side street upon demand. If the signal is sequencing to the side street for no apparent reason, it could be because of one of these situations:
- The video detectors are not operating correctly. Video detectors running 24 hours a day sometimes malfunction. In this case, the traffic signal falls into a fail-safe operation and sequences green light phases to the side street to ensure access. If you suspect that a video detector is not functioning correctly, please call 719-385-5908.
- The traffic signal has detected a vehicle that has subsequently made a right turn at the intersection. The detectors will recognize a right-turning vehicle sitting at an intersection for greater than 10 seconds. If this vehicle turns after this time the call for the green signal is still made. The same is true for pedestrian crossings. If the pedestrian activates the push button and crosses prior to receiving the walk light, the signal will still change its sequence.
With the exception of the downtown area, all traffic signals in the city have vehicle detectors for side street detection. Because of the high pedestrian volumes, the downtown signals operate under a pre-timed plan with the lights changing constantly to serve all approaches and pedestrian traffic.
Call 719-385-5908.
Q: Why aren't signals put on a flash cycle late at night?
A: For your safety, the City does not put signals on flash late at night. Many studies have indicated that collisions increase significantly at locations with this type of operation even during periods when traffic is light. As a safer alternative, the City's signals are equipped with vehicle detectors and remain green for the major street unless crossing traffic is detected. Also, many signals are released from synchronization late at night so they will change almost immediately. If a traffic signal is on flash, it is because there is a problem with the equipment.
Q: When traveling on some streets, red lights are hit on a regular basis? Can't they coordinate them?
A: Yes, all traffic signals along major streets are coordinated in peak hours to minimize stops and delays. Our staff examines each corridor and designs a "best-fit" timing plan to address the circumstances. Our problem, simply stated, is that these streets cannot be perfectly timed due to varying traffic speeds, congestion, the distance between signals and the need to vary the amount of green time at each intersection.
While designing coordination plans for a one-way street is pretty straightforward, doing so for two-way streets is much more complex. Timing must be designed so vehicles traveling in both directions arrive at the intersection simultaneously. Additionally, when one considers traffic from the side streets, heavier bi-directional flows, and that the intersections are not uniformly spaced, it becomes clear that there are no perfect solutions.
Q: Why isn't there enough green time at a signal to get the traffic through at some approaches?
A: The amount of green time programmed for each movement at a signal varies by traffic demand. When there are shorter green lights it is often because there is more traffic than the signal can handle, and the signal is over its capacity. In these situations, the Traffic Engineering Division attempts to time the signals to equalize delays for conflicting movements. In general, increasing green time for one movement requires decreasing the amount of green time for another movement.
About Signal Timing
Timing and Coordination Program
There are several components to the City's traffic signal timing and coordination system: the Traffic Management Center, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), Traffic Signal Timing Team, and public participation.
The City of Colorado Springs Traffic Management Center is the City's facility that houses the ITS equipment and personnel. This is a centralized location that allows us to monitor and maintain the City's traffic signals and congestion management equipment.
The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is an integral part of the State and National effort to provide innovative transportation solutions. This system provides transportation information to motorists, emergency personnel, and transportation specialists. The system is a technological system that includes video cameras, computers, vehicle detection, variable message signs, and alternate routing. This information is also made available to the public through the City's Web site, the City's cable television Channel 18 and by direct communication with the local television and radio stations.
The Traffic Signal Timing Team is made up of the City's Traffic Engineer and technicians who specialize in the timing and coordination of the traffic signals. The Signal Timing Team gathers data, evaluates, and studies the major and minor arterial streets. They drive the arterial before and after the new coordination timing is applied to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the new coordination.
How Traffic Signals are Coordinated
Coordinated signals attempt to provide green lights for the major vehicle flow on a street. This requires that City staff gather data on the volume, speed, distance between signals, and the timing of individual intersections. When the data has been collected a study is done to determine the best timing and coordination of all intersections involved. This may require that the timing of the intersections be adjusted to facilitate the best flow of vehicles.
When the best coordination has been determined the Traffic Signal Timing Team implements the new timing. Studies are conducted to evaluate the efficiency and to make needed adjustments. Coordination throughout the city is continually monitored and is reevaluated as needed.
Each arterial has special coordination needs and may require that various types of special timing be implemented.
For example
- To help the flow of traffic on an arterial it may be necessary to have a long cycle length. This may cause delays on the side streets.
- Some arterials may have a heavier flow in one direction. This movement may be favored, causing more stops in the less traveled direction.
- Some intersections may have lagging left turn movements. This means the left turn arrow comes on at the end of the green through light.
- There may also be planned stops on long arterials to help maintain the flow of vehicles.
Effective coordination greatly improves the flow of vehicles on the arterial by minimizing the interruption of traffic flow and reduces air pollutants.