District Six TSM&O Office Adjusts Signal Timing to Support Special Event Traffic in Monroe County
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) Office actively manages the Monroe County Traffic Signal System (MCTSS) along U.S. 1. The Office conducts a comprehensive traffic signal retiming assessment along the corridor every three years. However, when daily conditions reveal significant changes in traffic patterns, traffic signal timing can be temporarily adjusted to relieve congestion and promote safe, reliable travel in the region. These temporary actions are typically performed to accommodate increased traffic demand during major holidays, special events, construction, or traffic incidents.
District Six has conducted several temporary timing adjustments this year to mitigate congestion around several events, including the Fourth of July festivities, Labor Day weekend, and the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority water pipe replacement project in the City of Marathon. The District’s arterial management team works with local stakeholders to proactively identify special events. They also monitor daily traffic patterns using the MCTSS advanced traffic management software, analytic tools, and closed-circuit television cameras. The goal is to identify potential issues in advance by aggregating data, assessing conditions, and implementing the corresponding traffic signal timing adjustment that will minimize traffic impacts for roadway users near the area.
The District’s arterial management team follows protocols and thresholds before making any traffic signal timing changes. These protocols include a preliminary observation period, an assessment phase to determine congestion levels, and the implementation of the traffic signal timing adjustment designed to meet the specific traffic needs of the noted area. The adjustment remain in place depending on congestion levels and the duration of the event. The team continuously monitors the area and restores the normal traffic signal timing when conditions improve.