Tony,

You asked if anyone knew the names of iconic signal engineers.

Here are a few;

1.       Garrett Morgan – Credited with the first modern traffic signal in Cleveland, OH, in 1914.

2.       Dennis Robertson from the U.K.’s TRL – Developed TRANSYT-7 (Urban Signal Network Timing Optimization Software) and from that; SCOOT (Split-Cycle-Offset-Optimization Timing; a real-time adaptive signal control algorithm). SCOOT has wide spread use in the U.K. and is also used in several cities in North America including Toronto and Minneapolis.

3.       Seymour Barnes – Traffic Engineer in Denver, CO – Developed the pedestrian scramble phase; aka “Barnes Dance” – During the pedestrian scramble phase, all vehicular traffic is stopped and pedestrians may cross all roadways including a diagonal crossing.

4.       Ed Rowe and Sean Skehan – City of Los Angeles – Lead the development of their ATSAC system (Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control) originally for the 1984 Olympics and since expanded throughout most of the city.  ATSAC was featured in the movie the “Italian Job” starring Mark Wallberg.

5.       Dr. Dan Gerlough – Developed the Volume-Density timing algorithms for modern traffic actuated signals in the early 1950’s.  He was one of my professors at the University of Minnesota in the 1960’s.

Dennis Eyler; PE, PTOE; Principal

SRF Consulting Group, Inc.

1 Carlson Parkway

Plymouth, MN 55447

deyler@srfconsulting.com<mailto:deyler@srfconsulting.com>

763-744-7414