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INDOT outlines Chime fiber project, traffic management center and smart‑grant work to cut signal delay
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Summary
INDOT opened a new traffic management center and said the Chime fiber and systems project, together with a Smart Grant phase 2, will allow adaptive signalization and reduced signal delay over coming years; staff cautioned results will take time to appear on systemwide metrics.
Diana Alarcon, director of the Department of Transportation Multimodal Infrastructure (INDOT), told the committee INDOT has opened a traffic management center and is preparing to expand signal connectivity and adaptive signal timing using fiber installed through the Chime project.
“We opened up our first traffic center,” Alarcon said, and called it the place INDOT will use “to be able to fix, run the signals better.” She said the center has already supported special‑event signal adjustments in coordination with Metro Nashville Police Department.
Alarcon said a Chime‑funded fiber network will enable adaptive signalization that can reduce delay and increase the number of green lights drivers encounter. She cautioned, however, that network and signal changes require time: “Please don't expect it next year because it takes a while to do all of this. But I would say maybe in 2… maybe in the next 2 years, you're gonna start seeing those improvements.”
The department described work from a phase‑1 smart grant — a “light ladder” system tested on Clarksville that creates anonymized movement boxes for modes of travel — and said phase 2 will extend those analytics along Nolensville to support a Safe Streets for All grant. INDOT also cited a HAWK crosswalk installation and an LED streetlight conversion with NES that it said corresponded with safety improvements on a high‑injury corridor.
Council members asked about timing and phasing. Alarcon and her staff said fiber installation is already under way on Nolensville and that pilot work and phased rollouts are expected; formal schedules and community advisory board review will be part of implementation. No council vote or formal contract award was taken at the hearing.
Alarcon also warned the committee that bridge maintenance will need attention in the capital spending plan after recent inspections flagged deterioration.
