Quote:
Originally Posted by getbak
During the campaign, I remember Nenshi talking about reducing traffic problems in the city by using new technologies to improve the flow of traffic. There were a number of things related to that, but the big one was light synchronization.
IIRC, he mentioned that the software used to control traffic lights was at least 30 years-old, and only a small percentage of the lights city wide were even synced at all.
Has any progress been made on improving this? There are some streets where it seems like the lights are timed to force you to stop at every intersection rather than to allow a decent flow of traffic...32nd Ave NE westbound between 36th St and Barlow, for example (and there's nothing more annoying than sitting at a red light for an entire cycle and having zero cars go through on the cross street).
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Some, although not as much as he'd like. In the budget last month the Mayor decided to push for the allocation of $2 million annually specifically to implement "targeted congestion solutions". Things that don't cost a lot of money (we don't a lot of money for big-ticket projects since provincial and federal grant moneys are already spoken for) but have big impact. This specifically includes things like smarter light synchronization, intelligent transportation systems (ITS techology), incremental intersection improvements, lane reversals and other projects. The Mayor called them small "surgical strikes" at key congestion points to ease traffic. For instance, the City implmented the change at Lake Fraser Gate at very little cost, and it has massively improved traffic flow on Macleod Trail there. Could we do similar things along Crowchild Trail? The City is also meant to put together a new ITS strategy.