letter to the editor
Mayor clarifies Town traffic situation
The purpose of this letter is to address concerns that the Town is not being truthful about the status of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). Let me share some facts with you:
• The goal of the ATMS system is to give the Town’s traffic engineers the ability to control our 26 traffic signals from a central location. Once completed, the system can be set up with timing plans that will give us peak efficiency during periods of highest traffic volume (AM and PM rush hour and school pick-up). The system will also allow us to address special circumstances, like a wreck on the Interstate.
• The system is not completed. Our contractor, Progression Electric, is over 100 days behind with the installation. They are being assessed a fine of $1,000/day. The Town has no control over this.
• Once the system is operational (we are currently being told it will happen within the next 30 days), the Town will begin testing timing plans to create peak efficiency, especially for the four traffic signals on Kingston Pike in the center of Town.
We have hired two traffic engineers to help us develop the best possible plans. During this 60-day testing period, drivers may experience additional delays. Please be patient as we determine the best signal timing patterns for efficiently clearing the intersections.
• Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen experience the same traffic frustrations as anyone else who drives in Farragut. We can’t control the number of people who commute through Farragut or drive children to school, but once completed, the ATMS system will make our traffic signals as efficient as they can be.
I’d also like to remind readers that the Town has considered adding additional turn lanes to Campbell Station Road at Kingston Pike, but due to negative feedback from residents, the discussion was closed.
Some residents may remember that before Campbell Station Road was extended to Concord Road, there were two turn left lanes from Campbell Station Road to eastbound Kingston Pike and one lane proceeding straight to Municipal Center Drive. That approach wouldn’t work now because straight-through traffic volume at this intersection far exceeds the volume of traffic turning left.
Farragut is a thriving, growing community, and I look forward to new amenities that are coming on board each day. As we grow, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Town staff will continue to address our community’s changing needs.
Farragut Mayor Ron Williams
