General Information

Introduction

The statistical data contained in this document is a summary of traffic information collected by permanent traffic collection devices that are installed at Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) stations located throughout the State of Georgia.

Traffic information is critical in transportation decision-making related to:

• highway funding
• traffic engineering
• highway design
• air-quality analysis
• planning and programming
• winter services
• highway maintenance and construction

Traffic Data Collection

At permanent Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) stations, the Office of Transportation Data (OTD) collects traffic volume, and vehicle classification. This data is collected 365 days per year 24 hours per day.

Currently, there are 270 permanent ATR stations in operation, representing virtually all types of road systems in rural and urban areas.

• There are 117 ATR stations are in rural areas.
• There are 153 ATR stations in urban areas.

OTD is building an extensive permanent automatic traffic recorder network that will eventually grow to over 354 sites.

Throughout Georgia there are 30 sites that collect Weigh-in Motion (WIM) data. According the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines, 10 of these sites must be on interstate highways. Weigh-in Motion (WIM) technology is used to measure vehicle counts, axle and gross weight, vehicle classification, and speed data. Weigh-in Motion (WIM) data is used for pavement and capacity studies, enforcement and inspection purposes, and for analysis of truck transport practices.

GDOT Permanent Traffic Collection Devices

Solar-powered permanent traffic collection devices are installed beside the roadway.

Permanent traffic collection loops are installed under the roadway and are connected to the permanent traffic collection devices.

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year, the permanent traffic collection device records the amount of traffic that crosses the loops. The traffic data is downloaded daily at the Office of Transportation Data (OTD).

GDOT Permanent Traffic Collection Loops

Permanent traffic collection loops are installed under the roadway and are connected to permanent traffic collection devices.

Location of Permanent Traffic Collection Devices

The permanent Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) stations are located throughout Georgia.

ATR Location Map

Why Traffic Counts Are Collected

The state and federal government require traffic counts on various streets and roads in the state so they can determine various other pieces of information, including:

• pollution in the environment
• Annual Vehicle Miles (AVM) traveled, which helps to determine if a certain road might require asphalt resurfacing or replacement
• number of vehicles on the road
• peak travel hours in a given area
• vehicle movement
• assisting with budgeted funding for road repair or replacement
• determining if a road needs to be widened to accommodate more traffic
• determining if a traffic light is required, due to volume increases in area

How Traffic Counts Are Conducted

Traffic counts are collected by permanent Automatic Traffic Recorders (ATR) and portable traffic collection devices.

• The permanent Automatic Traffic Recorders are set up under the roadway. These sites count traffic 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year. The data from these sites is downloaded daily.
• The portable traffic collection devices are set up on top of the roadway. These sites count traffic for a 48-hour period. Every effort is made to collect the traffic counts during typical travel conditions and not on holidays or weekends.