David Smith started his 26 year TXDOT
career in Dec 1987 with the San Antonio district Signal Shop as a traffic
signal technician, and retired from Traffic Engineering in July 2013.
As a technician David had extensive
knowledge of traffic signal cabinets, controllers, software, conflict monitors,
MMU's, BIU's, vehicle detection, spread spectrum radios, modem
communications, AC, DC, and Solar power applications.
As the lead worker over the San Antonio district Traffic
Signal Operations, David was responsible for all new traffic signal
turn-ons. Setting up and programing the video detection, stop bar radar detection, advanced radar detection and programing the traffic signal controller timings.
As the lead he insured that the 400+
signalized intersections in the San Antonio district were phased and timed
efficiently. This included synchronizing TXDOT corridors with the City of San Antonio (COSA) corridors and using GPS clocks to keep the corridors timed together, to minimize vehicle delays. David collected turning movement counts using the vehicle
detection camera systems at all necessary intersections and then used Trafficware Synchro software to
develop the coordination timing plans. These timing plans were then put
into a central software database and download to the signal controllers. "The most rewarding part was the tweaking and adjusting in the field."
Here at Signal Tech Services, LLC, we are pleased that David continues his Traffic Signal career with us.