CMU, Cranberry to team on traffic data, technology
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There are magnetic sensors beneath the asphalt that can count the number of cars passing through a particular intersection. There are cameras that can show pictures of those same cars and whether they're in a streamlined progression or snarled by a disabled vehicle.
You'd think that between the sensors and the cameras, all these "smart" traffic management tools would be smart enough to make the traffic signal turn green at a side street to Route 19 when it becomes suddenly clogged with church traffic on Sunday morning.
Nope, not yet.
"[The traffic signals] don't have enough brains. It seems like they should, but they don't," said Duane McKee, Cranberry assistant township manager.
Change is on the horizon, though, and Cranberry's state-of-the-art traffic data collection systems will play a role.
Cranberry is entering into an agreement with Carnegie Mellon University to further the efforts of the Traffic21 project, a universitywide research initiative aimed at integrating technology into public transportation projects. The first project -- ParkPGH -- provides real-time information on space availability at parking garages in the Cultural District. The information may be accessed by iPhone application, a website for other mobile phones, a regular website, text message and telephone.
Stan Caldwell, associate director of Traffic21, said research now is being conducted into "adaptive signalization" and ways to better use traffic cameras. That's where Cranberry comes in.
The township's traffic data collection systems are among the most advanced in the region. "It's a good place for us to do research," Mr. Caldwell said. "It could be the perfect test bed."
First Published March 31, 2011 5:38 am
