Session No. 7B

Signal Design: What Emerging Professionals Should Consider

This technical session will focus on signal design and some of the common issues and mistakes with signal plans. Mark Szewcow of Gibson-Thomas will present on topics from the designer’s perspective including common challenges / mistakes and observations / feedback by PennDOT. Rich Montanez, with the City of Philadelphia, will present on topics from the maintenance and construction perspective and challenges faced by the City. While this session is geared towards younger or lesser experienced signal professionals, all are welcome. 

Moderator: Andrew Robison, PE, Dewberry Engineers            

Signal Design Challenges

• Mark Szewcow, PE, Project Manager, Gibson-Thomas Engineering

Maintenance and Construction Concerns

• Richard Montanez, Deputy Commissioner — Transportation, City of Philadelphia 

Bios

Mark Szewcow's primary traffic engineering experience includes the design of traffic signals, traffic signal systems, ITS and traffic analysis. He has more than 31 years of traffic engineering experience with various public and private projects. Szewcow managed the design of the unique crash avoidance system along SR 0038 in Butler County, Pennsylvania, which won the Pennsylvania Partnership for Higher Quality Award and an FHWA Excellence in Design Award for ITS. Szewcow has also instructed a graduate level course at the University of Pittsburgh in traffic signal design and optimization. Szewcow currently works for Gibson-Thomas Engineering in their headquarters located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Szewcow acts as the Municipal Traffic Engineer for numerous Municipalities in Western Pennsylvania. 

Richard Montanez, PE, is Deputy Streets Commissioner for Transportation for the City of Philadelphia. Montanez is responsible for the maintaining, operating, and improving approximately 2,500 miles of local roads, 3,000 traffic signals, 280 bridges, over 100,000 street lights and 18,000 alley lights in the City of Philadelphia. He leads the Streets Department in a variety of efforts, such as Transportation Management, Operations, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Vision Zero, Energy efficiency, Green Infrastructure and Smart Cities and is responsible for the development and implementation of the transportation division’s strategic plan. Montanez is a 1993 graduate from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Professional Engineer License from the State of Pennsylvania.