Daley Solves Our Traffic Woes?

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Mar 15, 2005 9:04PM

Seems Mayor Daley is finally as fed up with the traffic as we are. Yesterday he unveiled a supposed "techie" plan to reduce traffic gridlock by 20% around the city. Maybe it's just us, but we were expecting a little more than sensors on traffic lights and electronic boards that tell you when there's an accident. Eh, maybe we're just tech snobs though. Here's a rundown on all of the proposed improvements.

• Centralized traffic control through the city's 911 center to streamline functions
• Intelligent traffic systems that include smart signal timing sensors that change the synch of traffic lights when there's gridlock
• New tow trucks that will clear crashes and stalls off the road within 10 minutes
• Cameras to photograph vehicles in bus lanes
• Provide real-time info to the press
• Traffic control aides with new equipment and bikes
• Electronic message boards to alert & direct motorists
• 250 city employees reassigned to Traffic Management Authority
• Lanes for high-occupancy vehicles on multilane streets in Chicago during rush hour traffic
• Keep tabs on construction permits so they don't conflict with city events

Some things that are easier to implement .. like the tow trucks.. will be done first. Start looking for those bad boys next month. Other things like the smart sensors will take longer. They're in the final phase of the plan and won't be installed until September. Cost for these improvements? The initial phase is estimated at $18 mil, but a majority of the funding is coming from federal grants, thank goodness!