Seen those black traffic strips on Tri-Cities roads? Here’s what they’re recording

Drivers have spotted black strips lying across roadways all over the Tri-Cities in recent weeks and are wondering what they’re for.

They are part of a regional traffic count program by the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments that takes the measurements every two years, Kennewick city officials told the Herald.

The council with the help of the cities has placed automatic traffic recorders on roadways eligible for federal aid. The counts will take place March through October at 700 sites around the region.

“The traffic data collected through this program will help monitor changing traffic conditions on a regular basis and assist with identifying future transportation investments,” Kennewick public works staff said in a statement.

The devices are placed for a 72-hour period — on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays — to count traffic in both directions on a street.

They count the number of vehicles, the type of vehicles and the speed by 15-minute intervals to collect a total for each location.

Counts in the region’s urban core are ongoing and are expected to finish up July 31.

Then, from Aug. 5 through Oct. 31, municipalities will count traffic in more rural areas of Benton and Franklin counties.

The devices are not associated with police speed traps, said the city.