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'Smart' Traffic System Coming

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By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - A $2 million "smart" traffic control system will be operational here before the end of next year, the engineer for the federally funded project told Plant City commissioners Monday night.

The state-of-the-art system monitoring and controlling Plant City's traffic signals will be tied to the state Department of Transportation's Tampa office, allowing the agency to trigger electronic signs on Interstate 4, alerting drivers to detours.

Ali Gord of Gord & Associates, the Tampa engineering firm designing Plant City's automated traffic-management system, said it will provide battery backup to keep traffic signals operational for five or six hours after a power failure.

The technology will allow traffic-signal controllers to act as a system, as opposed to now, where lights are independent, with limited coordination in sequencing.

The system, to be monitored at the city's public works complex, will include cameras on eight of the city's 47 traffic signals. During storms or other times of trouble, city traffic can be monitored and rerouted by electronic signs throughout the city.

Additionally, the new equipment will provide real-time feedback. For example, if there is no cross traffic at a signal-controlled intersection, a red light will switch to green for the approaching vehicle.

The system will cover the city and can be expanded to accommodate growth.

Long delayed by funding issues, the project was put on hold three years ago, then canceled. Another federal grant was later approved, but took time to work its way through state and county channels.

In addition to the $2.13 million federal grant for the system, the state DOT is providing $231,000 for design.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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