The Traffic Group Inc. (TTG), based in Baltimore, Maryland, has been selected by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to conduct statewide traffic data collection, marking the firm’s first project in New Mexico.
Under the contract, the company, which describes itself as the largest privately owned “just traffic” engineering, transportation planning and data collection firm in the US, will collect short-duration and turning movement traffic counts at locations throughout the state, in line with New Mexico State Traffic Monitoring Standards, Federal Highway Administration guidelines and other applicable industry standards.
Supporting statewide monitoring programme
NMDOT’s Traffic Monitoring Program collects data used to understand the use and performance of New Mexico’s roadway system. The data gathered through the programme supports a range of transportation functions, including federal Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) reporting, pavement design, transportation planning, and studies conducted by NMDOT district offices and other state agencies.
“This project represents an important milestone for The Traffic Group as we expand our work into New Mexico and continue to demonstrate that our data collection capabilities can support transportation agencies anywhere in the country,” says Anthony Guckert, president of The Traffic Group. “Accurate, reliable traffic data is the foundation for sound transportation planning and investment. We’re proud to bring our experience and expertise to NMDOT’s statewide traffic monitoring program.”
As part of the contract, TTG will develop and implement a quality assurance and quality control (QA-QC) process for the project. The process will include evaluating collected data against historical and current traffic information, adjacent roadway data and other relevant factors, including changes in surrounding land use, roadway configurations and traffic patterns.
Counts across major and minor routes
The Traffic Group will conduct 48-hour short-duration counts on routes identified in NMDOT’s annual count schedules. The traffic counting programme includes collection of both major and minor arterials, as well as interstate locations. All data will be collected and submitted in accordance with NMDOT’s State Traffic Monitoring Standards, the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Monitoring Guide, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines and the HPMS Field Manual, including applicable updates to those standards and guidelines.
“We’re looking forward to working with NMDOT and contributing high-quality data that can help inform transportation decisions across New Mexico for years to come,” Guckert adds.
The firm’s data collection expertise covers traffic volume, classification, speed, turning movement and other transportation data used to inform roadway planning, design and safety decisions. The contract expands The Traffic Group’s geographic reach and reflects what the company describes as its continued growth as a national provider of traffic data collection, traffic engineering and transportation planning services.
About The Traffic Group
Established in 1985, The Traffic Group is a “just traffic” engineering and transportation planning firm with what it describes as one of the industry’s largest in-house traffic data collection divisions. Its data division uses more than 6,000 pieces of traffic counting equipment across the US and internationally, conducting more than 100,000 traffic counts annually for clients. Headquartered in Baltimore County, Maryland, the firm employs more than 100 industry professionals, and its services support roadway improvements, traffic signals and signage, lighting plans, land use, public facility capacity and security measures.
