Grand Rapids staff outline signal system scope, staffing shortfalls and planned asset work

Matt Van Dyke, acting signal and lighting superintendent for the City of Grand Rapids, told the Mobile GR Commission on Aug. 7 that the city's traffic signals program maintains signals across the region and is operating with staffing levels well below recommended ratios.

"We maintain nearly 700 traffic signals," Van Dyke said, and later noted the combined technicians and electricians average about "95 signal devices per one of those employees," compared with Federal Highway Administration recommendations of 75–100 signals per engineer and 30–40 signals per technician.

The presentation explained that about one-third of the devices the city services are owned by the City of Grand Rapids; the remainder are owned by partner agencies, including Kent County, Ottawa County and the Michigan Department of Transportation. City staff said the work the city performs for partners is reimbursed under memoranda of understanding, and that the city bills partners for the actual work performed plus a modest overhead markup.

Why it matters

City staff said the services Grand Rapids provides give the city influence over regional signal operation and the ability to prioritize safety measures, but that constrained staffing and aging communications equipment create risks for ongoing maintenance and for planned upgrades. Van Dyke and staff asked the commission to consider the operational…