LCDOT Recognized for Outstanding Transportation Achievements

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Lake County Transportation Updates

August 27, 2019

LCDOT Recognized for Outstanding Transportation Achievements

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is proud to accept two awards from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), which recognizes transportation professionals who work to improve safety and mobility for all transportation system users. 

 


Transportation Achievement Award

Lake County was honored with the ITE Transportation Achievement Award for its Advanced Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) program. Often times people think the only way to fix traffic congestion is to make roads bigger, or to construct new roads. But through the ATSPM program, traffic flow can be improved by making roads smarter.

Signal Timing

The ATSPM program works by collecting traffic signal and other roadway data from 201 state, county and locally owned traffic signals that are part of the Lake County PASSAGE network. The data is updated live and is monitored by personnel in the LCDOT Traffic Management Center. LCDOT can review inconsistencies in traffic progression and address traffic signal issues through the program.

Through coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and local municipalities, the ATSPM project has provided the following improvements: 

  • LCDOT can address signal timing issues faster - sometimes in as little as one hour.
  • Signal timings can be adjusted during traffic incidents to help improve traffic flow.
  • Enhancements to data has increased the efficiency of Signal Coordination and Timing Studies.

Shane Schneider, LCDOT Director, said, “LCDOT is thrilled to earn this distinction from ITE. The new program allows us to proactively look for opportunities to improve traffic flow along many of our travel corridors. I'm proud of our innovative team for setting the national standard for signal performance measurements." 


Rising Star Award

LCDOT is also excited to announce that Justin Effinger, LCDOT Principal Engineer, won the ITE Midwest Rising Star Award. The award recognizes members under the age of 35 who have demonstrated the ability to lead the next generation and have implemented innovative techniques to solve transportation problems. 

Effinger began working at LCDOT in 2017 and has already implemented several innovative alternatives to improve traffic operational issues. This includes lagging left turns at an intersection to gain efficiency and utilizing Waze travel data to develop travel times along corridors. Effinger has also been instrumental in leading the implementation of the ATSPM project. 

Effinger continues to look for ways to not only improve operations in Lake County but to also work regionally and nationally to advance the traffic engineering profession.

"Justin’s presence was noticed immediately when he arrived at LCDOT," said Jon Nelson, LCDOT Engineer of Traffic. "His work has been recognized nationally, and he is always looking for alternatives to solve traffic operational issues. We are glad to have him on our team."

Justin

Shane Schneider, LCDOT Director; Justin Effinger, LCDOT Principal Engineer; and Jon Nelson, Engineer of Traffic.

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