FAQs - SMART Grant Program

What is the Waco SMART Project?
The Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is leading a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) SMART Grant Project- a federally funded research and technology pilot exploring how smarter traffic-signal systems can make daily travel in Waco safer, smoother, and more reliable. Funded by USDOT and implemented locally by the Waco MPO, the project delivers direct benefits to the Waco region while generating data that can help improve traffic-signal performance and safety practices nationwide. The results will be publicly available for other communities and researchers to use, and the project relies on Waco’s existing signal infrastructure to test technology that automatically adjusts green time for vehicles, buses, bikes, and pedestrians based on real-time traffic flow.

Who is leading this project?
The project is managed and delivered by the Waco MPO in coordination with the City of Waco, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), TNL Mobility USA/Technolution as the technology provider, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which funds and oversees the research. Each partner brings expertise to ensure the work is well coordinated and effective. TNL’s technology is already in use in the cities of Marysville and Dublin, OH.

Why is this being done?
The goal is to test how real-time technology can enhance safety and user experience in an adaptable and measurable way by adjusting green time for vehicles, buses, bikes, and pedestrians based on actual traffic flow. For Waco and McLennan County, this means more efficient signals that respond to changing conditions, safer crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists, smoother travel with fewer unnecessary stops, improved coordination during downtown events or emergencies, and lower emissions from idling vehicles. Waco will be contributing valuable insights to a national effort to modernize traffic management.

When is this happening?
The project timeline spans from 2024 to 2026, encompassing design, installation, and initial testing, followed by performance monitoring and reporting. After 2026, the Waco MPO will publish open data from the project and evaluate opportunities for a potential Phase 2 expansion across McLennan County.

Where is this project located?
Around the downtown Waco Area.

How will this impact me?
This project is designed to make daily travel feel smoother, safer, and more predictable by improving how signals respond to real-time traffic conditions. Travelers may notice more green time and shorter waits at intersections, safer crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, and fewer delays for buses or traffic associated with future events. All work is conducted on existing signal poles, resulting in minimal and temporary installation impacts during setup.

Who is paying for this?
The project is 100% federally funded through the USDOT SMART Grant Program, with no local tax dollars required. If selected for a second phase, that stage would also be fully federally funded. This funding structure enables the Waco MPO to implement and test innovative technologies, advancing local safety and mobility while contributing to the USDOT’s national research initiative.

What technology is being installed?
The project utilizes two interconnected tools —edge sensors and traffic-management software — that work together to detect and respond to real-time conditions. Edge sensors, installed on existing traffic-signal poles, anonymously detect traffic flow for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and buses. This data is processed securely and instantly to help optimize green time and safety. The MobiMaestro traffic-management software links participating intersections into one coordinated network, allowing signal priorities to be adjusted in real-time and extending or shortening green time based on current conditions. Together, these tools enable traffic signals to adapt dynamically, reducing delay, improving safety, and keeping people moving efficiently.

Who can I contact for questions or concerns?
Contact - Daniela Gallegos, Public Engagement Specialist, at (254) 750-5660 or danielag@wacotx.gov.