Walnut Creek Traffic Operation

Traffic engineering is a civil engineering branch that uses engineering techniques to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods by road. It focuses mainly on research into safe and efficient traffic flow, such as road geometry, sidewalks and crosswalks, bicycle infrastructure, road signs, road surface markings and traffic lights. Traffic engineering is concerned with the functional part of the transport system, except for the infrastructures provided. Typical traffic engineering projects involve the design and modification of traffic control equipment installations, including traffic signals, signs and pavement markings. Examples of engineering plans include pole engineering analysis and stormwater prevention (SWPP) programs. 

Traffic engineers, however, also consider traffic safety by investigating locations with high crash rates and developing counter-measures to reduce accidents. Traffic flow management may be short-term (preparation of construction traffic control plans, including pedestrian and vehicle detour plans) or long-term (estimation of the impact of proposed commercial / residential developments on traffic patterns). Traffic problems are increasingly addressed by the development of intelligent transport systems, often in conjunction with other engineering disciplines, such as computer engineering and electrical engineering.

Walnut Creek’s Traffic Engineering

 Traffic Engineering improves safety and mobility on the Walnut Creek Street Network. The Traffic Engineering Division works closely and in collaboration with Engineering Services, Transportation Planning, Planning and the Walnut Creek Police Department.

Responsibility includes: 

• Managing 100 traffic signals.
• Collaborating on the improvement of walking and cycling facilities.
• The review of street designs.
• Traffic control devices (such as traffic signals and signals).
• It’s street lights.
• Managing services for residential and valet parking.
• Evaluation of the curb, including parameters, restrictions and designations for on-street parking.
• Load oversize permits.
• The traffic calming down.
• Review of transport impacts related to new development projects.

Traffic Engineering shall support the Transportation Commission in its multimodal and long-term planning activities.

Traffic Engineering maintains and operates more than 100 traffic signals within city limits. The latest computer simulation and optimization models are used to develop and implement signal timings at all city intersections. Data inputs to the models include traffic volumes, lane configuration, speed limits, crosswalk length and other physical characteristics of the road that impact the flow of traffic.

Traffic Engineers identify the need for coordinated (synchronized) traffic signals based on traffic volumes, traffic patterns and other road characteristics. The timing of the signal varies throughout the day, depending on the intersection. The direction with heavy traffic volumes will improve if the traffic signals are coordinated. 

For example, in the morning journey, westbound (towards San Francisco) or outbound progression is preferred over the eastbound or inbound progression. In the Core Area, the timing of the signal is more challenging and the system balances the flow of traffic between the main left and right turns and the traffic flow.