What's Up With the Yellow Reflective Plates on Traffic Signals?

In today's You Ask, Patch Answers – someone wanted to know what was up with the yellow reflective plates being added to traffic signals. Public Works Director Lisa Fauteux has the answer: 

"The reflective backplates are part of the CMAQ Project, which is the Citywide Traffic Signal Management System, and they're being installed for safety reasons," Fauteux said. 

CMAQ stands for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality project, sponsored through a program by the Federal Highway Administration. The state purpose of  CMAQ projects is to improve air quality.

This particular CMAQ project is a traffic signal management system designed to create more efficient movement of traffic within the city limits, which leads to reduced vehicle emissions and improved air quality.

"Lenses are bring changed on all the lights, and we expect to have all equipment exchanged by August, and all signals optimized by the end of November," Fauteux said.

The backplates will be installed on all signals throughout the city with the exception of DW Highway, Spitbrook Road – which were upgraded three years ago and which are not part of the CMAQ project; and Main Street, which has a lower speed limit and increased visibility due to upgraded street lighting.

Click here to link to the minutes of the Jan. 24. 2012 Board of Alderman CMAQ Project Presentation.