Intelligent Traffic
Lights To Be A Reality
Next Week
Following delay after
delay the new
intelligent traffic
light system that will
combat traffic
congestion in downtown
San José should start
operating on Tuesday,
November 27, accoring to
the Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT).
The new system was to
have been operational
last month, however, the
theft of a computer
server at the control
room delayed the
implementation of the
system as the MOPT and
the Mexican company
contracted to install
the system came to terms
with the loss.
Karla González, minister
of the Ministerio de
Obras Públicas y
Transportes, said that
the first traffic lights
connected to the control
centre are in the
downtown core, the
lights within blocks of
the Catedral
Metropolitana on Avenida
Segunda.
The outlying areas
traffic lights in La
Uruca, San Pedro and
Pavas will be connected
to the control centre
later next month.
The cost of the
intelligent traffic
light system is us$4.6
million dollars.
According to the MOPT,
the intelligent traffic
lights will move traffic
more efficiently by
timing the green lights
based on traffic volume
to relieve bottlenecks.
The computer system,
with the aid of
operators in the control
centre, will monitor
traffic volume by remote
cameras and time the
lights and move traffic
accordingly.
For the most part the
system will run itself
as the central computer
makes the decisions.
González added that
operators can override
the computers decision.
Operators manning the
control centre located
in Plaza Viquez will be
mainly traffic engineers
and students along with
computer experts.
A number of closed
circuit television
cameras installed at
strategic points will
keep an eye on traffic
conditions. To avoid
theft of the cameras,
the MOPT has decided not
to reveal the exact
location of the cameras.
The new system connects
traffic lights at 326
intersections in San
José for now. The MOPT
said it plans to expand
the system to the areas
of downtown Alajuela,
Heredia and Cartago in
the near future.
Mario Chavarría,
sub-director of the
Ingeniería de Tránsito,
said that the system is
not the total solution
to the traffic chaos in
San José.
One of the problems
causing congestion in
the downtown core are
illegally parked
vehicles. Chavarría said
that parked vehicles
cause much of the
problems downtown and is
asking drivers to be
more considerate.
More details on the
system and other
projects to relieve
traffic congestion in
the downtown core are
expected on Tuesday when
the new system goes into
operation. |
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