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Oct 18, 2024

New Orleans traffic department understaffed

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. New Orleans is experiencing significant delays in traffic signal repairs due to severe understaffing. According to Joe Threat with

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

New Orleans is experiencing significant delays in traffic signal repairs due to severe understaffing.

According to Joe Threat with the Department of Public Works, New Orleans only has two employees tending to over 400 traffic signals citywide.

"Most of our problems, as you can see, are traffic related, traffic signals," said Joe Threat from the Department of Public Works.

Threat said that the department is understaffed and struggling to keep up with repairs.

"Right now one of our main challenges across my department is our folks are not paid enough. We cannot compete," said Threat.

Most cities with 100 to 450 traffic signals typically employ 21 people for maintenance, while those with 450 to 1,000 signals have 44 employees. In stark contrast, New Orleans has only two employees for its 400 signals.

"We're without a traffic engineer right now. It's just like a revolving door. We will train up, get them certifications, next thing we know they are gone or they go to FEMA," Threat added.

City council members are discussing potential pay increases and exploring new Smart Street Light technology to address the issue.

The Department of Public Works received more than $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for traffic signal improvements but has not yet spent any of that money.

The department attributes the delay to various factors but assures that the funds will be utilized by November for upcoming projects.