Frisco, Texas, a fast-growing city in the U.S., has transformed how it manages traffic signal operations.
With a 2025 population estimate of over 240,000 and more than 172 signalized intersections, staying ahead of traffic issues is no easy feat. But thanks to proactive tools like INRIX Signal Analytics, Frisco is leading the way in modern traffic management.
From Reactive to Proactive Traffic Management
Traditionally, traffic signal issues in Frisco were addressed reactively. Complaints came in via citizen phone calls, emails, or the MyFrisco app, which then flowed through the Cityworks platform. While effective, this method relied on public input and often lagged behind real-time problems.
Today, Frisco is currently moving towards a proactive approach versus a reactive one. Using its Traffic Management Center (TMC) and tools like the Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures Watchdog Report, TMC System Checks, and Signal Analytics, city staff can now identify unusual signal behaviors early — often before residents even notice.
The Role of INRIX Signal Analytics
Frisco’s proactive strategy got a major boost when the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) provided a region-wide license for Signal Analytics. This platform uses crowdsourced data and machine learning algorithms to monitor signal performance across the network.
Here’s how it works:
- Setup and Quality Control: Once Frisco received access, city staff completed the quality control process for their entire signal inventory in just a few days.
- Easy Setup: The tool’s setup is simple and user-friendly. It provides a fast, high-level overview of signal performance and flags anomalies.
- Real-World Impact: One standout case involved a broken radar panel at the Legacy and Lakehill intersection. INRIX caught the issue before Frisco’s regular system check and before a citizen email reported the problem a week later.
Smarter Monitoring Through Data
INRIX helps Frisco track a range of performance indicators, such as:
- Intersections with the top 5 control delay issues
- Compares control delay with a four-week average versus the last 24 hours
- Sort rankings for improving or degrading intersections and corridors
This data is summarized in daily reports delivered to staff inboxes each day. Combined with weekly system checks and over 800 traffic cameras, radar detection, and UPS-backed infrastructure, Frisco’s TMC is more informed and agile than ever. Frisco is proactively using Signal Analytics to help tell the story of impacts to project treatments (e.g. new lanes), signal timing changes, new ITS technologies, and to inform citizens and decision-makers.
A Model for Growing Cities
With Signal Analytics now integrated into its traffic strategy, the city continues to enhance safety, reduce delays, and improve the driving experience for thousands of residents each day. As other fast-growing cities look for ways to modernize their traffic operations, Frisco’s example shows that smart tools and smart planning make all the difference. To learn more about Signal Analytics visit inrix.com/products/signal-analytics/.