County Urges Drivers to Use Caution During Traffic Signal Retiming

MANATEE COUNTY -- Manatee County officials are asking local drivers to use extra caution on major thoroughfares in coming months as traffic signals at large intersections are adjusted and retimed as the first major implementation of the Advanced Traffic Management System.

Traffic Engineering Division Manager Sage Kamiya said the Florida Department of Transportation-funded project will allow more than 230 traffic signals in Manatee County to be better “coordinated” with each other, but it will not mean a continuous chain of green lights around town during rush hours.

“Basically, the idea is, this project is going to decrease travel times by increasing the efficiency of the signals,” Kamiya said. “You’ll be able to travel from Point A to Point B more efficiently along major routes.”

Most drivers probably will not notice new timing periods at traffic signals but Kamiya cautioned that during the signal retiming period, drivers may see different signals than they’re accustomed to.

Drivers who are familiar with certain left turn signals on their routes may notice that the lights don’t turn green when they expect them to. That’s why Kamiya and Manatee safety officials urge drivers to use extra caution, especially on major thoroughfares in coming months. The first retiming project should be complete by the end of March. A second retiming project is scheduled to begin in 2013.

The retiming project is the third of four major projects which include upgrading traffic signals and adding vehicle detection devices in order to increase traffic efficiency and reduce delays on major roads throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties.