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City Council votes to support "smart" traffic lights

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The Apopka City Council voted unanimously to support a pilot program for Innovative Traffic Signal Technologies spearheaded by Congressman John Mica.

“Technology that may improve the flow of traffic in Apopka would be beneficial,” said Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer. “Especially when so many people in Apopka drive to and from work outside of this area.”

This “smart” technology would change stop lights according to traffic flow, not by pre-timed intervals now in place at almost all intersections.

Back in November, Mica held a workshop in conjunction with MetroPlan Orlando, where he spoke about conducting one or more pilot projects using adaptive traffic signal technology on major roads to improve traffic conditions. A federal transportation bill was approved by Congress and signed into law on December 4, 2015.

Congressman Mica requested the MetroPlan Orlando Board to approve a Resolution in support of the concept of using adaptive traffic signal technology, and further requested the region’s local governments to express their support of the program with similar resolutions. Apopka is now on board.

This technology returns $40 to the public in time and fuel savings for every $1 invested, reducing travel delays by 25 percent and harmful emissions by up to 22 percent according to Mica. Another example is the use of real-time traffic information. The General Accounting Office found the benefit-cost ratio of a nationwide real-time transportation information system to be 25 to 1, with a $1.2 billion investment returning more than $30 billion in safety, mobility and environmental benefits.

Mica is proposing the new technologies be implemented on U.S. Highways 17-92 and 441, and State Roads 50, 436, 434 and 426.

 

 

city council, Innovative Traffic Lights, John Mica

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