City modernizing traffic controls

About 35 Downtown intersections will be getting modern LED traffic lights and other improvements in a three-year, $3.8 million project, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced Wednesday.

The project also portends a cultural shift. Because the project will increase the city's capacity to control traffic lights remotely, fewer police officers will be needed to operate lights manually during rush hour and big events.

The work will begin next spring with improvements to four intersections -- the Boulevard of the Allies' intersections with Cherry Way, Commonwealth Place and Market and Stanwix streets.

Besides new traffic signals, the work will include enhanced lighting, new crosswalks and new pedestrian crossing signals with audible and digital countdown features.

"By investing in twenty-first century technology, we will make it easier and safer to live in and visit Downtown Pittsburgh," Mr. Ravenstahl said in a statement. Similar work will be done at 30 other intersections "all over the Downtown area," mayoral spokeswoman Joanna Doven said.

Legislation authorizing the project will be introduced in city council today.

Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, a business group, said the project is a "great opportunity to use technology" to improve the experiences of commuters and occasional visitors.

"I think it is a great plus for Downtown," he said.

The city's goals are not only to increase public safety, but to improve traffic flow and ease congestion. Workers will be able to operate traffic lights remotely, so timing can be changed in advance of sporting events or adjusted on the fly if accidents, construction, snow storms or other factors warrant.

"Modernizing our traffic lights will make employees more efficient," Mr. Ravenstahl said, noting fewer officers will be needed to operate lights manually, freeing them up for other duties.

The city and state Department of Transportation will share costs. A breakdown was not available Tuesday.

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