What does a traffic engineer do?
Traffic engineers work with traffic volumes, speeds, turning movements, queues, intersections, signals, corridors and roadway operations. Depending on the role, they may prepare traffic studies, analyse intersection performance, review signal timing, evaluate access or support transportation planning and design.
Traffic engineering and management
Traffic engineering and management can include operational analysis, signal coordination, access management, congestion analysis, safety-related studies and evaluation of measures intended to improve network performance.
Traffic engineering services
Common services include traffic counts and surveys, intersection analysis, traffic impact studies, signal analysis, queue and capacity assessments, corridor studies, traffic simulation, parking and access studies, and technical reporting.
How to build traffic engineering skills
Start with traffic flow fundamentals and survey methods, then develop spreadsheet and data-analysis skills, GIS, intersection analysis and simulation. Practical exposure to SIDRA, Synchro, PTV VISSIM, SUMO or Python can complement engineering fundamentals.