Traffic Management Branch
Khang M. Nguyen, P.E., PTOE, Assistant Director
The Traffic Management Branch is responsible for performing engineering studies, plan reviews, & field investigations related to traffic safety, traffic counts, street lighting, school zones, speed humps, railroad safety & quiet zones, view obstructions, neighborhood cut-through traffic, and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects. This branch also manages street and lane closure permits, develops general speed & school zone ordinances, and coordinates with HPD to help alleviate traffic congestion hot spots under the Mobility Response Team (MRT). Additionally, the Traffic Management Branch performs various functions relating to system operations, including signal design, modifications & timing, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) development. The branch is governed by Chapter 15 of the Department of Public Works & Engineering's Infrastructure Design Manual.
ITS Operations | Mobility Permitting | Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
Plan Review | Safety | Signal Timing & Operations | Traffic Studies
Michael Wahl, P.E., PTOE - Supervising Engineer
Responsible for the operations and maintenance of all Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) devices as well as the traffic communication network that links the ITS devices with the operations center at Houston TranStar. Current ITS devices include Bluetooth Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) system, midblock count stations, and communication network of fiber optic cables and WiMAX antennas. The system will be expanded in 2016 to include 91 arterial dynamic message signs, 113 CCTV cameras, and 144 mid-block traffic count stations. The complete system will provide corridor travel times and suggest alternative travel routes in real-time.
Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
Gary Drabek – Senior Staff Analyst
Oversees applications/ investigations/ approvals for the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP), which utilizes traffic calming measures along residential streets with excessive vehicular speeds and cut-through traffic.
Additional information and applications for NTMP can be found on our Program and Document index page.
T. Rebagay, P.E. - Supervising Engineer
Reviews all construction plans from a traffic engineering perspective, such as the need for traffic signs, pavements markings, and traffic control. This section also provides plan review for relevant Capital Improvement Projects.
Street Lighting Section
Martin M. Herrera – Senior Project Manager
Responsible for the operations of street lights on thoroughfares as well as local streets. Essential functions of the section include:
- Review and approve street light design by CIP projects, private developments, and other agency partners •
- Process and investigate citizen’s requests for street lights, and coordinate with CenterPoint for installation
- Establish guidelines and standards for street light design and analysis
To request street light(s) on a local residential street, complete and submit the application which can be found here.
School Zone/Railroad Safety Section
Katherine Parker – Senior Project Manager
Responsible for the establishment and maintenance of quiet zones and school zones as well as coordinating with agency partners to improve the safety of railroad crossings. Essential functions of the section include:
- Process and investigate requests to add/remove school zones, operate and maintain existing 1500 school zones
- Collaborate with schools to improve traffic circulation and safety in school vicinity
- Administer requests for quiet zones (a.k.a. ‘no train horns’ zones)
Application for school zone installation can be found here, and for quiet zone establishment can be found here.
Ian Hlavacek, P.E. – Supervising Engineer
Responsible for various traffic safety initiatives, including the safety prioritation of signalized intersections, non-signalized intersections, and midblock locations, as well as proposing countermeasures for prioritized locations. Countermeasures include upgrades to signing, pavement markings, signal operation, intersection design, etc.
This section also examines improvements to pedestrian safety, conducts speed surveys and traffic count studies (including Turning Movement Counts and Average Daily Traffic, or ADT), and coordinates with various entities on relevant Capital Improvement Projects. Administers various complex engineering studies, including Access Management and review of Signal Warrant Analyses and Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) reports.