Daley Studies Up On Network That Will Manage Traffic

By Sam Bakken in News on Jan 28, 2005 4:31AM

Mayor Daley is in Los Angeles this week studying the city's Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control system, a network of computers, surveillance cameras and other traffic sensors that automatically adjust the timings on traffic signals to alleviate congestion. If the automatic adjustments don't work, workers can access any of the surveillance cameras to observe the problem and send police or traffic officers if necessary. The system also includes street sensors that will extend a green light for buses that arrive late at their stop.

Daley plans to implement the system here in an effort to decrease congestion. According to the terrifically tubular Texas Transportation Institute, Chi-Town touted the nation's sixth-longest average-time-in-traffic per person in 2002 at a terrible total of 56 hours.

Don't worry, the ATSAC system will takes years to install. You'll have at least a couple more years of your rush hour Kegel sessions. If your sphincter is already in fine shape, go here or here for real-time congestion maps and other traffic data.