TRAFFIC ENGINEERING OFFICE

The office staff is responsible for handling service requests, dealing with the public, other City departments and consultants and contractors, record keeping, traffic studies, engineering support for the Traffic Engineering field operations and design and layout of various traffic control devices.

The expertise of this group is wide ranging from engineering backgrounds, design, drafting, public relations and administration.

SIGNAL SECTION

The Signal Section is responsible for maintaining the traffic signal system in the City of Akron. It consists of a Line Crew and a Signal Technician section. They maintain over 400 traffic signals, over 110 intersection/warning flashers and over 60 school flashers throughout the city. Their duties include installing new signalized intersections, upgrading deficient and outdated signal systems, maintain the current system through troubleshooting and repairs and improve the operation of the signals through signal timing changes.

The Line Crew’s expertise consists of an extensive knowledge of wiring, electrical connections, installing and removing wood and metal poles and assembling various signal related hardware to construct a signalized intersection.

The Signal Technician’s expertise consists of an electronics background requiring them to re-wire control boxes, program the new solid state traffic controllers, assemble the dials and motors for the older electro-mechanical controllers, changing the burned out bulbs in the signals and general troubleshooting of the entire installation.

This Section is very proactive in ensuring that the traffic control system is working safely and efficiently. They inspect both the signal hardware and traffic controllers at each intersection at least twice per year. These maintenance programs save the city time and money by keeping emergency repairs to a minimum.

PAINT SHOP

The Paint shop is responsible for maintaining the traffic control signage and paint markings throughout the City. Their duties include fabricating and installing stop signs, yield signs, No Parking signs, street name signs and any special signs, among others. This section also is responsible for the pavement markings on the city streets. This includes yellow centerlines, white edge lines, crosswalks and stop bars. These crews also stripe the freeway system within the City. They stripe over 310 miles of city streets and over 27 miles of freeway every year.

The Paint Shop employee’s expertise consists of a considerable knowledge of how and when paint can be applied to the road surface, driving and maintaining the paint trucks and walk-behind paint sprayers, and sign assembly and installation.

All members of this section have an excellent knowledge of the codes and laws that must be followed regarding when and how paint is applied to the street or signs are made and installed. The Akron City Code of Ordinances, the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Ohio Department of Transportation provide the general guidance for these activities.

This section has the on-going task of maintaining/replacing the many Street Name Signs throughout the City. This section has developed a systematic method to upgrade the Street Name Signs by forming a crew to help manufacture and replace the old signs that have 3" lettering with signs that have 6" lettering. The new signs are highly visible at night and provide important information to the motorists.