Macomb County Department of Roads recognized for innovative traffic management and operations

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) was recently presented with a Transportation Achievement Award for Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Great Lakes District. The annual ITE awards program honors outstanding achievements and excellence in the advancement of transportation.

“Macomb County is committed to improving public safety and enhancing our transportation network to support the long-term needs of Macomb County's residents, businesses and communities,” said Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel. “The Department of Roads has and will continue to make significant investments in transportation infrastructure and traffic technology to deliver a state-of-the-art communication network and a high-performance county road system.”

The ITE Great Lakes District includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. MCDR was recognized for innovative concepts in traffic signal operations for the agency’s use of data and innovative solutions to identify traffic patterns, improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety on Macomb County’s corridors. Reducing delays on the roadways reduces the potential for motorists to increase their speed or make aggressive and unsafe maneuvers.

Through planning, monitoring and maintenance as part of year-round traffic operations, MCDR performs corridor and intersection rankings, analyzes data and implements the latest traffic and safety technologies to ensure safe and efficient travel for residents, motorists and visitors traveling on Macomb County roadways.

“Being recognized by our colleagues and fellow road agencies within the Great Lakes region and beyond is a tremendous honor and a testament to the work of our traffic department and personnel,” said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. “The Department of Roads has taken a strategic approach to develop a comprehensive and reliable real-time traffic operations system to deliver a safe, efficient, and informative traveling experience for the motoring public.”

Macomb County’s advanced communications network is the core of the Communications and Technology Center (COMTEC), a 25,000-square-foot state of the art facility at the Department of Roads that monitors road conditions for the department, residents, motorists and first responders, and houses the Traffic Operations Center (TOC). Under the direction of MCDR, the TOC at COMTEC serves as the hub of activity for the operation, maintenance, and monitoring of Macomb County’s deployments of advanced traffic signal systems, cameras, and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) communications network.

To learn more about the Department of Roads use of transportation technology, visit roads.macombgov.org. Photos of the ITE award and COMTEC can be found here.