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The mission for Cary’s Traffic Engineering group comes directly from the Move chapter of the Imagine Cary Community Plan, to ensure safety and efficiency for all modes of travel, maintaining Cary as a walk- and bike-friendly community that is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the country for mobility. Cary’s complementary commitment to Vision Zero compels the entire community to aspire for a safer transportation network and specifically drives Cary’s Traffic Engineers to Plan, Build, and Operate the devices that keep people moving in alignment with the Safe System Approach.
Zero is our goal and a Safe System is how we get there.
From a more technical perspective, the Traffic Engineering group helps ensure that Cary’s transportation network complies with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets, highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and site roadways open to public travel.
Traffic engineering helps safeguard Cary’s future by reviewing how people move and forecasting how that could change as development progresses. Traffic Data, including traffic counts and crash history reports, is used to help ensure that improvements like traffic signals and pedestrian crosswalks are implemented as Cary continues to evolve. Traffic Engineers collaborate with Cary’s Development Review Committee on new developments and regularly perform Traffic Signal Warrant Analyses (SWA) and other assessments to effectively plan new infrastructure.
Traffic engineering supports the design and construction of Cary’s transportation network with an eye to the safe and efficient movement of people. Building Safe Roads requires partnerships within the organization and with the N.C. Department of Transportation to incorporate concepts that separate road users and reduce kinetic energy. Features like Roundabouts and Road Diets with proven safety benefits are visible throughout Cary and Traffic Engineers strive to integrate even the smallest of safety improvements into all capital projects.
Active Cary Transportation Projects
Cary Standard Specifications and Details
The mission for Cary’s Traffic Engineering group comes directly from the Move chapter of the Imagine Cary Community Plan, to ensure safety and efficiency for all modes of travel, maintaining Cary as a walk- and bike-friendly community that is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the country for mobility. Cary’s complementary commitment to Vision Zero compels the entire community to aspire for a safer transportation network and specifically drives Cary’s Traffic Engineers to Plan, Build, and Operate the devices that keep people moving in alignment with the Safe System Approach.
Zero is our goal and a Safe System is how we get there.
Traffic engineering staff work hand-in-hand with operational staff to maintain Cary's traffic devices and intelligent transportation systems. This includes over 200 signalized intersections, miles of fiber optic cable, pavement markings, traffic signs, and many other tools from the traffic safety toolbox, tools such as Pedestrian Safety Devices, radar receivers, solar panels, and more.
Moving people safely and efficiently not only requires this equipment to function consistently, but also necessitates continuous monitoring and optimization, which is made possible by Cary’s Traffic Signal System.
Operating and maintaining also means improving, which challenges Cary’s Traffic Engineers to adapt to the ever-changing ways that people move from place to place. Progressing toward the vision of zero deaths and serious injuries means promoting a more positive traffic safety culture. This includes programs that are geared towards learning from Cary’s citizens and updating the transportation network to accommodate their behaviors.
Contact Us
Have a question or concern about traffic in Cary? Both the Traffic Engineering group and the Police Department’s Traffic Safety Team can be contacted directly through Cary311.