Several speed limit signs along Central Texas Expressway in Killeen have been fitted with an electronic device to capture information for the Texas Department of Transportation about traffic activity along Interstate 14. A closer look at the apparatus reveals that a device is mounted on a pole, which is then attached to the sign with a cable running from the device to a box at the base of the sign which is locked and marked with the words, “TxDOT Survey.” It appears that the device is pointed toward on-ramps from CTE to I-14 in several locations on both sides of the highway.
The configuration looks a bit like a camera; however, a more substantial mounting system might be required to get a clear photograph or video. According to Jake Smith with TxDOT, “the equipment cited is part of TxDOT’s Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) collection of short-term traffic counts.” He went on to say that TxDOT conducts traffic counts to monitor the use of roadways in Texas.
The statewide traffic monitoring program conducts over 75,000 short-term traffic counts each year on state and national highway system roads, local and county roads, as well as ancillary roads such as ramps and grade separated connectors. Additional information is available at https://www.txdot.
gov/data-maps/traffic-count-maps.html . Another helpful tool from TxDOT is the Project Tracker, which can be found at https://apps3.
txdot.gov/apps-cq/project_tracker/ . This page can provide information about pl.
