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Traffic division highlights painter and engineering gaps; seeks signal and striping funding
Summary
Traffic and Lighting staff told the committee they requested additional painters to maintain crosswalks and micromobility markings and asked for capital funding to replace aging traffic signals and complete a federally required striping/sign inventory.
Traffic and Lighting Division staff told the Budget & Public Employees Committee the division needs more field painters and at least one additional engineer or in-house capacity to reduce reliance on consultants and to keep pavement markings and signage up to standard.
"We switched to a new waterborne based high build that is designed to last longer and build back upon itself with every coat," a traffic staff member said when describing a 2-year-old paint change intended to extend marking life. The staffer said two additional painters requested this year would help the division keep up with faded crosswalks, micromobility markings and other handwork.
Major projects and federal compliance
The division said it requested capital funding to upgrade and replace traffic signals and to complete a federally required striping and signing inventory. Department materials provided to the committee listed a request of roughly $2.75 million for design and replacement work that the division said would allow engineering and construction of roughly 10 to 13 signal projects per year. Staff said the striping and signing inventory is federally required and that the city is currently not compliant.
Revenue and damage recovery questions
Aldermen raised questions about a decline in revenue lines tied to traffic and street damage. One alderman asked why a damages-to-property revenue line shows a zero in the FY26 projection despite repeated reports of damaged light poles; a staff member replied that replacement claims require a police report and that uninsured or stolen vehicles can impede recovery. Traffic staff agreed to follow up with the committee on the damages-account and other revenue variances.
Why it matters: faded markings and missing signal upkeep affect pedestrian and driver safety; inadequate staffing for handwork slows response to rapid pavement wear in intersections and micromobility zones.
Ending
Traffic staff asked the committee to consider funding the two painter positions and the signal/striping capital package; aldermen asked for follow-up documentation on the striping inventory costs and damaged-property revenue lines. No appropriation vote occurred during the hearing.
