Midwest City, Del City teaming up to upgrade traffic signals

By Lea Terry
Midwest City Beacon

A joint project in the works by the City of Midwest City and the City of Del City aims to improve traffic signals at the intersections of NE 10 St. and Sooner Rd. and Reno Ave. and Sooner Rd., both of which are on shared city limit boundaries. The project was initiated by Midwest City, which is seeking funding through a grant program administered by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments. Midwest City already has a similar project under construction along SE 29th Street in front of Town Center.

The improvements are needed to ensure that the traffic signals continue to operate efficiently, said Brandon Bundy, director of Engineering and Construction Services for Midwest City.

“Like any asset; they deteriorate over time,” Bundy said. “These signals operate 24/7 in all of Oklahoma’s weather. Standards change and much of the equipment in the cabinet is digital technology that needs periodic updates.”

In addition, some of the ramps near the traffic signals require upgrading to be ADA compliant. Bundy said that the city periodically updates traffic signals, and this project would upgrade an additional 11 signals.

Midwest City is seeking federal funding for the project through ACOG, which each October accepts proposals from cities around the metro. The process is competitive among cities across the metro such as Moore, Norman, Edmond, Yukon and Oklahoma City, and Bundy said having two cities work together on a project boosts their odds.

“Any time a project benefits multiple communities; it allows for the project to get a few more points,” Bundy said. “With the competitive nature of the application; these points are valuable.”

ACOG calls for submissions in the fall, and in the spring projects are forwarded on to committees made up of cities around the metro. Projects that win funding are placed on the Transportation Improvement Plan administered by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Midwest City is hoping to complete a similar project with Spencer on their shared boundaries, and Bundy said both Del City and Spencer have been supportive of the projects, with their city councils approving a Memorandum of Understanding to support Midwest City’s project proposal.