Intelligent traffic signals could speed things up uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In early fall, the city of Charlotte started working on technology to help ease traffic congestion uptown.

The intelligent traffic system is part of a statewide Department of Transportation project. In Charlotte, it will change how traffic lights work.

The City Council approved a $990,000 contract on Monday night to expand the system into uptown.

The new technology would lay 5.8 miles of fiber-optic cable.  Twenty-seven intersections will be hooked up to the system and 20 new cameras will be placed at intersections.

The upgrade will enable real-time monitoring so lights will adapt to changing traffic conditions, hopefully reducing traffic jams, delays, car emissions and driver frustration.

They can also be programmed to move vehicles more quickly through a series of intersections on one street, at one time.

The system can sense when a vehicle approaches an intersection and adjust based on traffic volume there.

The new cameras will allow operators to look for incidents and change traffic patterns if needed.

People who spend a lot of time uptown, such as photographer Chuck Pike, think the new program is a must for the city.

"It's got to be done. I've seen a lot of progress uptown but that is one of the holdups getting through town with a car, is that you hit every light red," he said.

Lanier Hoy said the change is long overdue.

"This is a wonderful idea. It should have happened a long time ago.  It really should have," she said.

Charlotte's Department of Transportation said part of the city is already on the system, which the North Carolina Department of Transportation is putting in place in large cities around the state.

The areas that CDOT is hoping to upgrade, however, have traffic signals that are 20 years old. Many of them are currently not online.

The intelligent transportation system is expected to be in place by the middle of next year.

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