VDOT Sets Signal Timing to Improve Holiday Shopping Traffic

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is timing signals to help move motorists through major shopping centers around northern Virginia.

Using traffic data gathered during last year’s holiday season, VDOT developed time- and location-specific signal-timing plans at 207 intersections.

"The plans are designed to accommodate changing traffic patterns from the influx in shoppers," said Ling Li, Operations Engineering Manager at VDOT’s Transportation Operations Center. "The goal is to minimize backups into shopping centers and maximize traffic flow around them."

VDOT has been timing signals for holiday shoppers for more than 10 years. Engineers will also use traffic cameras to monitor conditions around especially congested areas such as Tysons Corner and make adjustments to help keep traffic moving.

Holiday signal timing will be in effect through Jan. 1, 2011, at the following shopping centers:

• Tysons and Galleria Shopping Centers
• Reston Town Center
• Fair Lakes Shopping Center
• Fair Oaks Mall
• Potomac Mills Mall
•  Manassas Mall
• Route 234 shopping centers
• Springfield Mall
• Cascades Town Center
• Potomac Run Center
• Dulles Town Center
• Leesburg Outlets
• Dulles 28 Centre
• Central Park Shopping Center
• Spotsylvania Town Centre/Mall

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