Traffic Engineer Barb Jones Signals: Timing is Right for Retirement

It’s official, Barb Jones, PE, PTOE has chosen to hang up her controller key and give retirement another try. After 13 years of mentoring new and experienced traffic engineers, Barb has left her mark at DGL Consulting Engineers and the next generation is better for having the opportunity to work alongside her.

Barb grew up on a farm outside of Helena, Ohio with four brothers. Her dad, Herb Sneider, was a lifelong farmer who loved to tinker with electronics. Her mom, Patricia Sneider, was a teacher and member of many community boards. During her time in college, Barb gained experience working for a small consulting firm and for the City of Toledo, where she claims to have been the youngest student ever hired by the engineering office as an intern, an incoming sophomore at the time. Barb received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1982. After earning a near perfect score on the PE exam, Barb earned her Professional Engineers license in 1987.

She spent 28-years of her career in public service at the City of Toledo, Ohio, where she was responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of more than 500 signalized intersections. Barb also directed the design, operations and maintenance functions related to all traffic control devices until her public service retirement in 2012. She continued to hone her craft and earned certifications as a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) and an IMSA Signs & Pavement Markings Technician, certifications which she reinstated upon joining DGL.

She credits her hands-on knowledge to working with signal technicians so often, “They helped me feel comfortable in a cabinet. I will never claim to know what they know and have always appreciated them passing along some of their knowledge….Often, I’d rather work with them than the engineers!”

DGL was lucky enough to have Barb join our team in 2012 to provide mentorship to our young and growing staff. With the example set by her parents and her maternal grandmothers who were also both teachers, it is no wonder that Barb excelled in teaching engineers and technicians about what she loves – traffic signals and their operations.

Over the years, Barb has served as the Lead Engineer on more than 170 traffic signal design and construction projects, and has led five of DGL’s Statewide Signal Analyses task order contracts with ODOT. Her work took place in nearly every part of Ohio and included performing arterial flow analysis, field-evaluating traffic flow characteristics; implementing resultant modifications and maintaining traffic during peak hours and/or during construction. Barb has established working relationships with contractors, signal suppliers, and local communities that have led to very successful projects that serve the community. The standing joke during DGL’s workload meetings that “Barb has retimed the entire state” is a very true statement.

In reflection, Barb gave credit to her past mentors saying, “I owe a lot to my COT Mentors – Dave, Ray, Steve, Steve, Gary and probably a few more. They all treated me like an Engineer – not a “woman engineer”. They also taught me that everyone has a different perspective and each perspective is important to consider.”

Barb’s experience in prioritizing, directing and managing municipal projects and internal staff, her established working relationships with local contractors and vendors, and her knowledge of public policy and procedures have been valuable assets. You could find Barb in the field monitoring real-time traffic operations, digging into a traffic signal controller, or analyzing data from traffic counts, all with a younger staff member at her side. All DGL employees have benefited from her dedication to the community, commitment to hard work, vast experience in the industry and her ability to observe and then solve a problem. Although it was impossible to gather all of Barb’s knowledge before she retired, we cherished the time spent soaking up all we could.

Barb will continue as a consultant to DGL and ensure several select projects that she has been involved with over the years will continue through to a smooth completion. She even retains a spot in the office for those times when we need her expertise. In retirement, Barb plans to spend time with family and travel.

Laurie Adams, PE, PTOE, PTP, RSP1 | Managing Principal and Director of Traffic & Safety, and Corrinne Lochtefeld, PE, PTOE, PTP, RSP1, Principal | Project Manager are two DGL employees who are grateful for Barb’s wealth of experience, friendship and mentorship. They have both benefitted greatly in having had the opportunity to work alongside a true master of her craft.

Laurie: I was very fortunate to know Barb both as a consultant on City projects and as a colleague. She has a no-nonsense way of getting to the root of an issue and finding the best solution. There is no one with more signal knowledge in the State of Ohio or maybe even farther. I am grateful for the time she has worked at DGL and mentored me as well as our staff. Her retirement is a sad time for me, DGL and all of the communities she has helped over the years, but I know she will enjoy being able to do all the things she deserves – watch the Guardians, find the best hamburger and enjoy a good cup of coffee. Thank you Barb for your friendship and being the best traffic signal engineer I know.

Corrinne: Barb has been a wonderful mentor, and I have enjoyed my time at DGL learning from her.  She has a wealth of knowledge on all things signal related and her commitment to her craft is inspiring.  I know Barb will enjoy her retirement and continue to travel all around the state, and beyond, searching for the perfect French onion soup and maybe retiming a signal corridor or two for fun.  Thank you, Barb, for your contribution to DGL and I am eagerly waiting for you to write a manual on traffic signals.