Traffic Management

This business center includes transportation development review, traffic modeling and data functions, concurrency reservations (sanitary sewer, solid waste, potable water, schools and traffic), traffic engineering and design, regional Traffic Management Center operations, and maintenance for all traffic control devices in the county. These functions are conducted through the following divisions: Transportation Planning, Traffic Design, Traffic Management Center (TMC), and Traffic Operations.

Traffic Engineering

Traffic Engineering designs and reviews  traffic plans for intersections, signing and marking, signals and traffic calming. The division is also responsible for traffic signal timing, traffic signal controller maintenance and communication. 

Division staffers collect and analyze traffic data (crash histories, traffic volume counts etc.), and conduct traffic studies. This division also represents the County's interest in the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) projects which will incorporate most of the County's traffic signals into the Traffic Management Center (TMC).

Traffic Systems Section

The mission of the Traffic Systems Section is to establish and maintain communications between traffic signals, video monitoring stations, variable message signs and the Traffic Management Center (TMC); and to establish and maintain safe and efficient traffic signal timing plans.

This section is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of traffic flow through coordinated traffic signal systems.  This includes designing traffic timing plans to meet the minimum efficiency requirements established for the roadway, implementing and testing the timing plans, and maintaining the timing plan database.  Furthermore, this section monitors traffic conditions and intersection controllers via the Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) real time video monitoring system and the system network to make adjustments where needed.

In order to maintain successful coordination of the traffic signal systems, this section also installs and maintains various communication network devices.  This includes real time video monitoring, alarm monitoring and remote system programming and updates.

If you have further questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Traffic Engineering Division at 941-749-3502.

Traffic Information Systems Section

The mission of the Traffic Information Systems Section is to provide for the safe and efficient movement of traffic, pedestrians and cyclists within Manatee County.  In order to accomplish this mission, the group is organized to provide accident analysis, conduct traffic engineering studies, coordinate traffic calming activities, collect traffic data, as well as any other traffic/transportation related special projects.  In an effort to describe the functions and responsibilities of the Traffic Information Systems Section, the following is provided:

This section manages and maintains the Accident Reporting System for Manatee County.  The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 83-34, which declared the Traffic Engineering Division as the Central Accident Reporting Agency for Manatee County.  All crash reports in Manatee County are entered into the Accident Reporting System.  This system creates up-to-date reports that are used to analyze crash history at locations throughout Manatee County.  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), independent engineering firms, transportation officials, law enforcement agencies and others use the crash reports compiled by the Traffic Information Systems Section.

In addition, this section is responsible for performing traffic engineering studies and field investigations.  In fact, state law requires traffic engineering studies before the installation of many traffic control devices.  The Traffic Information Systems Section conducts a variety of traffic engineering studies which include: multi-way stop studies, signal warrant studies, left turn signal warrant analysis, turning movement studies, safe curve speed studies, intersection delay studies, vehicle speed studies, vehicle gap size studies, pedestrian volume count studies, no-passing zone studies and vehicular classification studies.  As a result, a wide variety of traffic concerns are analyzed and, when warranted, staff recommends the installation of passive and active traffic control devices which include signs, pavement markings and traffic signals.  To request a traffic study, please contact the Traffic Engineering Division at 941-749-3502.

Also, this section performs traffic calming activities within Manatee County.  Further information can be found at the link Traffic Calming.  In addition, staff utilizes speed awareness devices which are an effective temporary device to warn motorists of their existing speeds.  Speed awareness devices are placed throughout Manatee County on a weekly basis.  To request periodic placement of these devices within your neighborhood, please contact the Traffic Engineering Division at 941-749-3502.

Furthermore, the Traffic Information Systems Section collects traffic counts throughout Manatee County.  Staff collects traffic data at 20 continuous, permanent count stations, and 293 other locations using portable counters.  Additional information can be found at the link Traffic Volume Data.

If you have further questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Traffic Engineering Division at 941-749-3502.

Regional Traffic Management Center

In May 2005, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Manatee County, Sarasota County, the City of Sarasota and the City of Bradenton entered into an Interlocal Agreement for cooperation and coordination in the operation of a unified regional Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). The agreement provides that each party would bear a proportional share of the ongoing operational costs of the Regional Traffic Management Center, with the basis for proportional share being population numbers from the most recent census data available.

As a result, the Sarasota-Manatee Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC), located within Manatee County’s Public Safety Complex, was created in 2011. The RTMC is co-located with Manatee County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 911 dispatch and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams.

In November 2014, FDOT completed the deployment of a freeway management system along Interstate 75 that included center-to-center connectivity between FDOT District 1 TMC and the Sarasota-Manatee RTMC.  Therefore, the RTMC is also serving as FDOT's satellite South West Interagency Facility for Transportation (SWIFT) SunGuide Center.

RTMC staff works side by side with FDOT Freeway Management staff to help mitigate the impacts of increased volumes of traffic on the regional arterials during incidents on the Interstate system, actively managing the multi-modal system and making operational decisions for the benefit of system mobility as a whole.

The RTMC also provides a central point for collecting and disseminating data, planning operational strategies, and operating the ATMS central software, the video monitoring system, the vehicle detection system and the traveler information system.

Functions

Multiple ATMS projects within the region have deployed state-of-the-art technologies to mitigate traffic congestion, improve traffic operations, traffic management, and safety in Manatee County, City of Bradenton, City of Palmetto, Sarasota County, City of Sarasota and the City of Venice.

Thanks to a state-of-the art communication network, provided by several hundreds of miles of single-mode fiber optics cable deployed throughout the Sarasota-Manatee Bi-County geographical area, the RTMC is currently connected to:

  • 514 Traffic Signals
  • 285 Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV)
  • 413 Vehicle Video Detection Cameras (VDS)
  • 66 Microwave Based Vehicle Detection Devices (MVDS)
  • 121 Travel Time Bluetooth Devices
  • 4 Arterial Dynamic Message Signs
  • 17 Servers
  • More than 550 Ethernet Switches
  • 275+ miles of fiber optic network

The RTMC staff uses these tools to successfully conduct Active Arterial Management (AAM), by monitoring the regional arterial roadway system conditions, implementing temporary signal timing changes in response to incident and congestion events, disseminating real-time travel-related information and managing the network-connected devices.

RTMC Operators are always on the look-out and ready to respond to incidents and congestion events that happen along the regional arterial roadway system. Incidents are detected using several sources and verified using the available devices connected to the RTMC. Consequently, pertinent information is promptly provided to the Signal Timing Engineer that has the ability, through the use of ATMS central software, to remotely make temporary signal timing changes reducing traffic congestion and help clear the way for law enforcement, fire and rescue vehicles.

The RTMC also assists the regional residents and visitors during emergency events with DIVERSION and EVACUATION ROUTES timing patterns implementation.

In early August 2014, a new subsystem, a complete functional Backup Traffic Management Center (TMC) was added to the existing RTMC network. Located in the Manatee County Public Works Department building, the Backup TMC provides a complete functional TMC during an emergency event that would require all the essential staff at the RTMC to evacuate the existing facility and operate remotely to provide continued TMC operations. 

In September 2018, the SMART TRAFFIC traveler information website (www.smarttrafficinfo.org) was launched.  The SMART TRAFFIC website is a free public service that offers Sarasota-Manatee Bi-County motorists, commuters, commercial vehicle operators , residents and visitors the latest traffic information and urgent alerts along the regional arterial roadway system.  These include notifications about traffic incidents, congestion events, roadwork and critical signal malfunctions, and live video streams from the regional traffic cameras.

The RTMC also disseminates traveler information through its own Twitter account - @941_traffic.

Mission Statement: The Sarasota Manatee Traffic Management Center will provide an enabling environment for all stakeholders to collaborate and share information resulting in a combined, systematic approach to traffic operations and traffic incident response.

Awards

Manatee County’s continuing leadership and innovation in the advancement of Intelligent Transportation Systems and Advanced Traffic Management Systems have been recognized by prestigious professional institutions with the following Awards:

  • ASCE – Project of the Year – 2012
  • ITS Florida – Outstanding Achievement Award – 2013
  • ITE – TBITE Project of the Year - 2013
  • ITS Florida – Outstanding Achievement Award - 2014
  • ITE – John W. Barr - District 10 Transportation Achievement Award – 2015
  • ITS Florida- Outstanding Achievement Award for the Sarasota-Manatee SMART TRAFFIC website - 2018
  • ITE - John W. Barr - District 10 Transportation Achievement Award - 2019

What's Next?

Technology is a rapidly changing frontier with improved hardware, specifications and standards introduced on a regular basis. Therefore, Manatee County staff is always on the look-out to review and apply the latest technology that has been demonstrated to be beneficial to the improvement of traffic flow and traveler safety.  These improvements can be only be possible when funding becomes available.

Bluetooth travel-time measuring devices are being installed on the Manatee County arterial roadway system to obtain real-time arterial travel time information.

Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPMs) application: ATSPMs consist of a high-resolution data-logging capability added to existing traffic signal infrastructure and data analysis techniques.  This provides traffic engineers with the information needed to proactively identify and correct deficiencies, such as re-time traffic signals for a more efficient and safe operation.

Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT): ASCT adjusts and continuously distributes green light time equability for all traffic movements to accommodate changing traffic patterns and ease traffic congestion.

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: A series of technological and social forces, including the emergence of connected and autonomous vehicles and shifting attitudes toward mobility are likely to profoundly change the way people and goods move about.  As these trends unfold, Manatee County will diligently evaluate the technology available and determine its implementation feasibility.

The application of the Manatee County Emergency Vehicle Signal Priority System, which will enhance emergency response for law enforcement, fire and rescue, is being investigated for implementation.

Furthermore, Manatee County is planning the expansion of the current fiber optics network system and the addition of several traffic monitoring cameras and other data-collection and vehicle detection systems throughout the County to allow for a larger coverage area of the ITS application.

FAQ

Q: Does the RTMC record the video from the CCTV cameras?
A: No. The video feeds are live and used to monitor traffic conditions only.

Q: Does the RTMC oversee the Red-Light-Running cameras?
A: The Red-Light-Running program is managed by the Building and Development Services Department and is not connected to the RTMC.

Q: What are the operational hours of the RTMC?
A: As currently funded, the RTMC is staffed Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, excluding holidays.  The RTMC is also activated during emergency events, such as hurricanes.

Q: Do the operators find the incidents or does the Manatee Sheriff's Office report them?
A: The operators systematically monitor the major corridors in the highest peak traffic times.  Notifications for crashes come from many sources; County and City police, FHP, FDOT's 511 system and communication with FDOT staff.



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