Sunday, January 14, 2007 US experts to modify city traffic lights
AMERICAN consultants of Abratique and Associates Philippines, Inc. will arrive in Davao city to further fine-tune the P140-million (US$2.9 million) synchronized traffic signalization program after a test run last month, which ended in a disaster.
Celso T. Gempesaw, Traffic Management Center chief, said the City Government plans to turn the lights back on either by the end of January or the first week of February.
He said the adjustments will be more complicated but will respond to the specific requirement of each intersection.
During the dry run last December 18, lights in all 27 intersections were turned on simultaneously, causing traffic congestion. After three days, the dry run was aborted.
This time, Gempesaw said, only three to four intersections will be turned on one at a time.
Gempesaw noted the traffic system was patterned after that of Los Angeles, California and has a one-year warranty.
During that period, the contractor will train members of the center on the procedures of operating the system, especially when the camera devices are installed.
Gempesaw said a control center will be established beside the 911 Emergency Response Center along Ponciano Reyes St.
The center will house the monitor for every intersection where traffic lights are placed.
The system could also be used to monitor accidents and crimes, paving the way for faster response for the police and other emergency response teams.
