The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is doubling down on their annual traffic monitoring program, and if you're driving through certain parts of the state, you might slowly begin to notice some hi-tech guests on the side of the road. According to an official announcement from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, traffic count devices are currently being planted across various local routes in a push to gather data to more accurately plan for future infrastructure endeavors. These surveys are updating traffic estimates on roads some of which, haven't been studied in over two decades.
It's a bit of a meticulous operation to install these devices, which will capture information on traffic volume, vehicle types, and driving patterns. This data will serve to inform not just the state's transportation planning but also guide decisions on which roads need some TLC and where to allocate resources next. While they've been keeping an eye on the roads for a while now, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development pointed out that "some of the current locations have not been surveyed in more than 20 years." That's a long time to wait to just start to know how many tires are treading on the tarmac.
The gear being used is described as "non-invasive" — meaning it shouldn't interfere with your day-to-day drive. Motorists are likely to spot the devices in parishes such as Caddo, Sabine, St. John, St. Martin and Red River, where they'll likely be hugging the pavement close to street signs or nestled discreetly along the roadside. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is asking anyone who comes across them to hands-off please — any tampering could skew the stats they're so keen to collect.
The grand goal of this strategy, apart from updating figures, is to feed the beast that is the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). "The collected data is used to calculate vehicle miles traveled, determine highway classifications, establish project design standards and evaluate levels of service across Louisiana’s road network," Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development elucidated in their statement, reminding us all of the endless amount of number-crunching behind keeping our roads safe and smooth.
