Yesterday, Sunday, we received a number of phone calls, and an E-mail, about the installation of cameras which have been placed on the poles at the intersection of South Broadway and Mill Avenue, SE., the intersection on which the New Philadelphia Buehler’s is located. A couple of phone calls later, and here is the straight dope on what is happening. We called Greg Popham, New Philadelphia’s Safety Director, and Fred Neff, the New Philadelphia Street Department Superintendent, both of whom were most cooperative and informative.
Right off the top, those “cameras” are not really cameras in the true sense of the terminology. They are more sensors than anything else. The city traffic light system is based, in simplest terms, on a sensors which count the number of vehicles passing through intersections which have a high traffic volume. Through the use of computers, these traffic counts determine how often the traffic lights change from red to green, based on the traffic flow at any given time. The busy intersections have sensors imbedded in the asphalt. You can see where they are as they appear as rectangular shaped outlines on the asphalt just before the traffic lights. As cars pass over these sensors, the computers figure the traffic flow and adjust when the lights should change to provide the most efficient traffic flow through that light and preventing long delays at the light. The computer also determines if the left hand turn signal should be used, again depending on the amount of traffic wanting to turn left in comparison to oncoming traffic wanting to go straight ahead. The system works well.
One problem, however. The sensor wires in the pavement have a tendency to break. These breaks come from many causes, street repairs, pavement shifts, water freezing in the winter and breaking the line, to mention a few. The new system takes care of this problem. Called Advanced Detection Cameras, the cameras make the same calculations as the sensors in the asphalt do with the exception that they are not effected by the breakage problems experienced by the buried sensor wires. Being located in the positions they are, and constructed as they are, maintenance costs will be lowered and efficiency will be increased.
Current maintenance costs to repair buried sensor failure averages $1,500 per repair. The Advanced Detection Camera system will not require the frequency of repair of the current system and cost savings should be substantial.
Oh, yes. The “cameras” do not have the ability to take pictures to be used in traffic violations. Maybe I shouldn’t say that. There could be some value to having some New Philadelphia drivers think Big Brother is watching them running the red lights.
The installation of the new sensor system at the intersection of South Broadway and Mill Avenue, SE., is the first of two, the other being at West High Avenue and Bluebell Drive, SW.
Right off the top, those “cameras” are not really cameras in the true sense of the terminology. They are more sensors than anything else. The city traffic light system is based, in simplest terms, on a sensors which count the number of vehicles passing through intersections which have a high traffic volume. Through the use of computers, these traffic counts determine how often the traffic lights change from red to green, based on the traffic flow at any given time. The busy intersections have sensors imbedded in the asphalt. You can see where they are as they appear as rectangular shaped outlines on the asphalt just before the traffic lights. As cars pass over these sensors, the computers figure the traffic flow and adjust when the lights should change to provide the most efficient traffic flow through that light and preventing long delays at the light. The computer also determines if the left hand turn signal should be used, again depending on the amount of traffic wanting to turn left in comparison to oncoming traffic wanting to go straight ahead. The system works well.
One problem, however. The sensor wires in the pavement have a tendency to break. These breaks come from many causes, street repairs, pavement shifts, water freezing in the winter and breaking the line, to mention a few. The new system takes care of this problem. Called Advanced Detection Cameras, the cameras make the same calculations as the sensors in the asphalt do with the exception that they are not effected by the breakage problems experienced by the buried sensor wires. Being located in the positions they are, and constructed as they are, maintenance costs will be lowered and efficiency will be increased.
Current maintenance costs to repair buried sensor failure averages $1,500 per repair. The Advanced Detection Camera system will not require the frequency of repair of the current system and cost savings should be substantial.
Oh, yes. The “cameras” do not have the ability to take pictures to be used in traffic violations. Maybe I shouldn’t say that. There could be some value to having some New Philadelphia drivers think Big Brother is watching them running the red lights.
The installation of the new sensor system at the intersection of South Broadway and Mill Avenue, SE., is the first of two, the other being at West High Avenue and Bluebell Drive, SW.
I am glad to read this report that the cameras do not take shots of people in their cars for the purpose of revenue enhancement.
ReplyDeleteBut, I think it is still a concern that the cameras may be replaced with 'dual use' cameras that will do the traffic counting AND take pictures of violators. I have never seen a government program that has started out with benign intent that didn't turn into a usurpation of power or a boondoggle by that government.
If the city wants to put traffic-cams for revenue generation up to a vote of the people and it gets approved by referendum, then that would be another thing, entirely - as long as the intent is clearly pointed out on the ballot's description of purpose.