Arterial Management

The Arterial Management Division of the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department works to manage mobility and safety for all modes of travel on Austin’s arterial roadways. Arterials are roadways that are intended to carry higher amounts of traffic at a higher speed than neighborhood streets.

Tools we use to manage mobility and safety along Austin's arterial roadways:

Mobility Management Center
Traffic and Pedestrian Signals

For more information about Arterial Management operations and performance, visit our Open Data and Performance Hub.

Mobility Management Center

An Austin Transportation employee monitors traffic conditions at the MMC.

The Mobility Management Center (MMC) is the City of Austin's headquarters for monitoring and managing traffic throughout the Austin area. The MMC is staffed seven days a week through peak travel times, and it is often staffed continuously during large events. From the MMC, engineers and technicians monitor traffic patterns and adjust signal timing in response to traffic needs. Signal Technicians may be dispatched from the MMC to respond to downed or malfunctioning traffic signals.

The MMC monitors travel patterns through the use of traffic cameras, travel sensors and real-time information.

View Mobility Management Center Annual Performance Reports:

Traffic Cameras

Real-time video feeds from traffic cameras strategically placed around Austin are monitored by the City's Mobility Management Center staff. Traffic cameras allow engineers to monitor traffic patterns and events to identify and address traffic problems quickly. Video from these cameras is not recorded unless there is a specific traffic issue or pattern that needs to be monitored.

Austin Transportation and Public Works Department also operates video detection cameras. These cameras are mounted at traffic signals to look for vehicles or bicycles approaching or waiting at a signal. Once the bike or vehicle is detected, the camera will send a message to the signal for the light to change.

For real-time traffic updates, follow @austinmobility on X.

Traffic and Pedestrian Signals

Austin Transportation crews service a traffic signal.

An appropriately installed traffic signal provides an equitable balance of safe and efficient movements through an intersection and improves mobility for all roadway users.

Signal Timing

Traffic signal engineers evaluate and establish signal timing on a third of the City's more than 1,000 traffic signals yearly. The goal of signal timing is to optimize safe and efficient traffic flow for all modes of travel through individual intersections as well as the city’s roadway network.

Traffic Signal Re-Timing Program Dashboard

Signal Maintenance

Properly functioning signal equipment is important for safe and efficient mobility. City Signal Technicians perform scheduled signal maintenance as well as responding day and night to repair damaged or malfunctioning signals to ensure public safety.

Traffic and Pedestrian Signal Requests

Arterial Management works closely with other divisions in the department to determine the most appropriate locations for traffic and pedestrian signals.

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB) are pedestrian-activated beacons that flash to alert a driver that a pedestrian is in or about to enter a crosswalk. This gives drivers more advanced warning when a pedestrian is waiting to cross or in a crosswalk. While not typically installed on arterials, Arterial Management installs and maintains RRFBs.

Signal Projects

The Arterial Management Division works with other teams within Transportation and Public Works, as well as other city departments, governmental agencies and area developers to design and construct signals throughout Austin and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The list, linked below, is updated quarterly.