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The Associated Press - NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Norfolk will receive up to $600,000 in state and federal funding to change the timing on dozens of the city's 311 traffic lights.

The Virginian-Pilot reports the city will begin researching traffic patterns and the timing of its traffic lights to determine which ones will be adjusted to allow for better traffic flow. The City Council voted earlier this month to move forward with the project.

The Federal Highway Administration is paying $480,000 toward the project, and the state is contributing $120,000 in matching funds.

Norfolk assistant city transportation engineer Brian Fowler says safety and congestion reduction are the factors for determining which signals to retime.

Norfolk spokeswoman Lori Crouch says the city conducted similar retimings of dozens of traffic lights in 2011 and 2008.

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