Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Program
Administered by the Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) & ITS Section at TranStar and overseen by Supervising Engineer Mike Wahl, CMAQ is a federally funded program stemming from the 1991 federal transportation bill. CMAQ's most recent enactment provides over $8.6 billion from 2005-2009 to state and local governments for investment in projects that reduce vehicle use or improve traffic flow, thereby mitigating transportation related emissions. TTD will program approximately $15 million in CMAQ funding in fiscal year 2008 for multiple projects that improve existing traffic signal operations or establish communications between traffic signals along major corridors throughout the city.
Neighborhood Traffic Projects (NTP)
Administered by the Area Programs and Traffic Counts Sections at 611 Walker and overseen by Senior Project Manager Gary Drabek, NTP began in 1993 as a guideline for solving the issue of cut-through traffic from major thoroughfares into residential neighborhoods. When an NTP application is submitted, the City notifies all neighborhood residents of an impending public meeting, where representatives should be chosen for a Neighborhood Traffic Committee (NTC). If subsequent traffic studies support the request for intervention, the City and NTC will collaborate in designing a solution.
Additional Information (pamphlet)
Petition of Support
Application
Quiet Zones Program
Administered by the Area Programs Section at 611 Walker and overseen by Senior Project Manager Katherine Parker, Quiet Zones is a federal program aimed at mitigating train horn noise in Houston neighborhoods. The program creates guidelines with which to review and consider the implementation of railroad quiet zones. Quiet Zones seeks to enhance/upgrade railroad crossing safety, allowing neighborhood residents to live without the disruption of passing train horns, thus improving the quality of life for those communities adjacent to railroad corridors. So far, the West Loop corridor is the only designated quiet zone in Houston, with 12 additional studies pending.
Quiet Zone Application
Railroad Safety Program
Administered by the Area Programs Section at 611 Walker and overseen by Senior Project Manager Katherine Parker, the upcoming Railroad Safety Program will address the maintenance of signage and pavement markings at more than 740 railroad crossings within the City of Houston. Employees will perform field investigations to determine if maintenance at a particular crossing is necessary. Any issues related to the actual crossing will be reported to the responsible railroad company. The City will recommend a list of crossings annually to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Federal Signal Program for improvements.
School Coordination
Administered by the Area Programs Section at 611 Walker and overseen by Senior Project Manager Katherine Parker, the School Coordination Program manages traffic related issues near school campuses. The Area Programs Section coordinates the maintenance of school zone beacons, signage, and timing. Additionally, they address parking issues and traffic flow during take-up and dismissal times. Council approval is required when adding or removing school zones. To date, Traffic & Transportation services more than 660 schools in 12 different school districts.
Additional Information & Installation/Removal Requests
School Speed Zones List
School Zone Ordinance
Speed Hump Program
Administered by the Area Programs & Traffic Counts Sections at 611 Walker and overseen by Senior Project Manager Gary Drabek, the City’s Speed Hump Program personnel investigate and approve requests for speed humps on streets within Houston’s municipal jurisdiction. Streets must meet a list of requirements and are subject to prioritization (due to budgetary constraints).
Additional Information + Request FormInformación Adicional (español)
Forma de la Petición (español)
Removal Request
Status of City Speed Humps
Policies & Procedures
Street Lighting Program
Administered by the Area Programs Section at 611 Walker and overseen by Senior Project Manager Patrick Nguyen, the City’s Street Lighting Program personnel investigate, review plans, and approve requests for new street lights on public streets within Houston’s municipal jurisdiction. TTD shares street lighting responsibilities with CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint installs and maintains the wood & metal pole lights, while the City pays operating and maintenance expenses.
Additional Information
Survey Request Form
Monthly Streetlight Status Report- June –Sept 2008
Traffic Signal Timing Optimization Program (TSTOP)
Administered by the Signal Operations Section at TranStar & overseen by Supervising Engineer Keti Hristova, TSTOP is a multi-agency effort to minimize travel time & auto emissions through customized signal timing. Under TSTOP, signals along specific corridors are re-programmed in accordance with current traffic patterns, resulting in fewer stops and more efficient mobility.
Additional Information
