Robert K. Seyfried, Director of the Transportation Safety of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Evanston, IL, USA

Robert is the director of the Transportation Safety Division of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety in Evanston , Illinois . He is responsible for the administration, planning, development and presentation of seminars and workshops in transportation engineering, both on-campus and throughout the United States . A graduate of Northwestern University, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Transportation Research Board and the Regulatory/Warning Signs Technical Committee of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Seyfried has a total of 36 years experience in transportation engineering and has been on the staff of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety for the past 27 years. Seyfried is the primary author of the ITE Professional Traffic Operations Engineers Certification Program Refresher Course manual and the ITE Traffic Operations Practitioner Specialist (TOPS) Certification Program Refresher Course manual.

-Purpose and application of signal control
-Signal installation warrants
-Types of signal controls: insolated and system operation
-Special user needs
-Traffic flow theory
-Performance measures, data needs and collection procedures                                             

At the conclusion of the module participants should be able to:

1) Understand and be able to apply the traffic signal installation warrants
2) Recognize the importance of data collection for warrant analysis and traffic signal design
3) Understand and appreciate the need to accommodate roadway users with many different capabilities and limitations
4) Understand traffic flow theory applications for signal operations

The module includes a review of the following topic areas:

- Design standards
-Signal controller units
-Detector types and installation practices
-Intersection geometrics
-Signing and pavement marking
-Temporary traffic controls
-Equipment switch over and initial turn-on 

At the conclusion of the module participants should be able to:

1) Be familiar with terminology associated with traffic signal design and operation
2) Understand the important characteristics of pre-timed and traffic actuated modes of signal control
3) Be familiar with various types of vehicle and pedestrian detection
4) Understand the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices relative to vehicle and pedestrian signal face placement and visibility
5) Understand the relationship between intersection design and signal operation
6) Appreciate the importance of traffic signs and pavement markings at signalized intersections

-Signal phasing
-Phase change intervals
-Detector design and placement
-Isolated signal timing: pre-times and actuated operation
-Dilemma zone treatments
-Preemption and priority control
-Available software                      

At the conclusion of the module participants should be able to:

1) Understand terminology and concepts of traffic signal phasing
2) Be able to determine appropriate phasing to accommodate left turns
3) Be able to calculate efficient cycle lengths
4) Understand the operation of fully-actuated control
5) Determine appropriate detector placement and controller unit settings for dilemma zone protection on high-speed approaches
6) Understand concepts of railroad and emergency vehicle preemption

-Principles of coordinated signal system operation
-Timing of signal system and system control
-Micro-signal systems (queue backup issues)
-System performance measures, implementation and performance review

The module includes a review of the following topic areas:

-Functional classification of roads
-Vehicle operating characteristics
-Horizontal alignment
-Sight distance
-Cross section elements
-Intersection design, freeway and grade-separation intersection design

At the conclusion of the module participants should be able to:

1) Be able to recite the potential advantages and disadvantages of signal control
2) Be able to interpret crash patterns at signalized intersections, and be able to identify appropriate remedial treatments
3) Understand the impact of signal phasing and timing decisions on intersection safety
4) Be familiar with the problem of “left-turn traps” and understand how to avoid them
5) Understand the application of road safety audits to improving safety at existing signalized intersections
6) Be able to prioritize signal installation decisions and maintenance calls