About The Traffic Unit
The Traffic Unit maintains all Village-owned streetlights, street and traffic control signs, traffic signals, and building electrical systems. The unit performs the following general duties:
- Traffic signal maintenance
- Street light maintenance
- Warning siren maintenance
- Sign maintenance
- Pavement striping
- Holiday lighting
Traffic Signals & Street Lighting
The Village provides lighting on all streets and in the commuter parking lots around the Downtown Business Association. The Village owns and maintains the concrete and the aluminum light poles and contracts with Commonwealth Edison to provide street lighting on the many wooden utility poles on intersections throughout the Village. Lighting in the many parks in the Village is maintained by the Park District. Lighting in the many business parking lots are owned and maintained by those businesses.
International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA)
The International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) is one of the two main professional organizations contributing input to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in revising and developing highway standards concerning traffic signals and control devices. These standards are represented by the most current edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
Through its members, the IMSA participates on national committees such as the Standards Committee of the IEEE-SA's National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), National Electrical Code (NEC), and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). It is also designated as the FCC designated frequency coordinator for all public safety agencies.
Another function of the IMSA is to develop certification standards and training in areas such as municipal fire alarm system technician, public safety dispatcher, roadway signs and markings, roadway lighting, traffic signal technician, and work zone traffic safety.
Traffic Unit IMSA Certifications:
All eight Traffic Unit employees are certified as Work Zone Specialists. In addition, two of the Sign Shop employees are certified as Signs & Markings Specialists Level 2. Six of the Unit's Electricians are certified as Traffic Signal Field Electrician Level 2. Two of the unit's Electricians are also certified as Bench Technician Level 1.
All Traffic Unit employees attend annual training to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) in order to maintain their certifications which are a employment requirement.