SAN DIEGO–The federal government has chosen the Interstate 15 corridor as one of two national demonstration projects to receive funding for smart systems that will integrate traffic management techniques in order to fight traffic congestion.
“I-15 is already one of the smartest freeway corridors in the world, and it’s about to get smarter,” SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos said. “Our partnership will use these funds to deploy technology that will upgrade and integrate our traffic management systems – improving the flow on the freeway and nearby surface streets.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded approximately $8.7 million in funds from its Integrated Corridor Management initiative to a partnership that includes SANDAG, the California Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transit System, the North County Transit District, and the cities of San Diego, Escondido, and Poway.
SANDAG will contribute the remaining $2.1 million to the $10.8 million project. It will deploy Intelligent Transportation Systems along I-15 to enable “smart” traffic management that will combine road sensors, prediction and simulation tools, and traveler information to take steps to reduce congestion. It will deliver information to commuters via the Internet and message signs, enabling managers to adjust traffic signals and ramp meters, as well as directing travelers to HOV lanes, HOT lanes, bus rapid transit, and other options. The project’s “smart brain” technology (multi-modal decision support system) will predict problems on the freeway and nearby arterials and propose recommended strategies to address them.
“These communities are leading the way by using state-of-the-art technologies to create a commute that is safer, less congested, and more convenient,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “America can’t simply build our way to a more modern and efficient transportation infrastructure. These projects will show the rest of the nation that bumper-to-bumper traffic doesn’t have to be the status quo.”
