Print this page Basic Signal Timing Concepts
Jeffrey W. Buckholz, PhD, P.E., PTOE
Course Outline
This two hour online course presents information regarding the timing of traffic signals:
- TYPES OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL
- VEHICLE TIMING INTERVALS
- PHASE TERMINATION
- CHANGE INTERVALS
- PEDESTRIAN TIMING INTERVALS
- VOLUME-DENSITY OPERATION
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Recognize the various types on traffic signal control (fixed time, semi-actuated and fully actuated);
- Know the factors involved in choosing basic signal timing intervals;
- Know how to properly calculate the yellow change interval;
- Understand the ways in which a signal phase can terminate;
- Be familiar with the latest procedures for determining timings for signalized pedestrian crossings; and
- Understand the various signal timing intervals associated with volume-density operation.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for civil engineers, electrical engineers, highway engineers and traffic engineers.
Benefit to Attendees
Attendee of this course will obtain a solid foundation in the basic principles of traffic signal timing.
Course Introduction
This Traffic Signal Operations Course presents information regarding the timing of traffic signals. The material is intended to illustrate the concepts involved in traffic signal timing for modern fully actuated traffic signal controllers. Only basic signal timing concepts at isolated (non-coordinated) intersections are covered; advanced concepts such as coordinated signal timing and traffic signal preemption timing are not addressed. However, this is not an introductory course and knowledge of basic traffic signal operation is assumed.
Course Content
The course content is in a PDF file:
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.Course Summary
This course presents information regarding the timing of traffic signals.
Related Links
For additional technical information:
2023 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Traffic Signal Timing Portal
Buckholz Traffic Website Articles
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
