Nashville traffic could improve at 560 intersections

Some of Nashville’s busiest corridors are targeted for revamped traffic-signal timing plans as early as next year in an effort to improve traffic flow throughout Davidson County.

The Tennessean reported last week that Metro Public Works is undertaking a new traffic-signal optimization project. Metro has now issued a request for proposals in a search of an architecture and engineering firm to carry out that plan.

It will entail implementing new traffic-signal timing plans at 560 intersections in Nashville that cover 19 major arterial corridors from all parts of the county. The goal is to develop countywide signal timing plans for each of those 19 corridors that account for peak traffic hours throughout the day, as well as weekdays, weekends, holidays and special events. Plans for non-peak hours will also be created.

Public works officials are to monitor the effectiveness of the new traffic-signal timing plans.

“The purpose of this project is to update and refine traffic signal timing plans in order to program them for maximum efficiency,” the request for proposals reads. “Before and after travel times will be collected to demonstrate the improvements to the systems.”

In a related traffic signal project, Metro has already begun the installation of a new software network that will allow public works officials to access a central controller to adjust traffic signals in real time. The city has installed 200 of the 600 overall controllers required for the $2 million project. This separate project is expected to finish by this summer.

The cost of the traffic signal enhancement plan won’t be clear until a contract is awarded to a firm.

The plan calls for updating traffic signal timing plans of corridors that are considered congested in two waves. The first phase, which affects intersections on eight major roads, is to finish by the end of 2016. The second phase, which involves intersections on 10 roads as well as downtown’s street network, is to be completed by the end of 2017.

NASHVILLE CORRIDORS PLANNED FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENHANCEMENTS

Phase 1

Charlotte Pike (55 traffic signals)

Korean Veterans Boulevard/Shelby Avenue (21)

21st Avenue South (17)

West End Avenue/Harding Pike (50)

Nolensville Road (47)

Hermitage Avenue/Lebanon Road (32)

Gallatin Pike (73)

Metro Center/Rosa Parks Boulevard/Jefferson Street (26)

Phase 2

Downtown Nashville (99)

Hillsboro Road (22)

Harding Place (18)

Donelson Pike (7)

Bell Road (19)

Haywood Lane (5)

James Robertson Parkway (6)

Highway 70 South (14)

Franklin Road (15)

Dickerson Road (19)

Clarksville Pike (15)