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Funds limit growth of traffic cameras
Apr 27, 2009 (The News Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
traffic q&a Question: Stan Skomski of Puyallup would like to know why there are not more traffic flow cameras on State Route 512. The state Department of Transportation Web site (wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/tacoma/) shows only three: at the Interstate 5 interchange, Steele Street and Highway 7.
"With all of the accidents and problems on that highway daily you would think there would be more," Skomski writes. "I don't know how many times there is a mess on 512 but the radio can't see what is going on to let the commuters know."
Answer: WSDOT spokeswoman Alice Fiman said the agency agrees with the need for more cameras. "Traffic cameras are part of WSDOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems program and we have a long-range plan to install more ITS devices across the state," she said. "As a matter of fact, SR 512 is one of the highest priorities for future cameras in WSDOT's Olympic Region (which includes Pierce County.)"
Plans call for cameras and other devices in the SR 512 area east of SR 7 as far out as highways 167 and 410. But setting up such a system would cost money. "Installation isn't only the camera itself, but software and accompanying infrastructure, which includes in-ground fiber optic cables," Fiman wrote.
The $16.6 million project would involve 35 miles of fiber, 13 cameras, data stations, highway advisory radio and variable message signs. But there's no funding available right now and the project lost out in a request for federal stimulus money, according to Fiman.
She points out that while WSDOT continues to look for funding for the system, the agency's Incident Response Team "continually roves SR 512 throughout the day specifically because there are limited cameras on this stretch of roadway. They are our eyes when no cameras are available and report traffic conditions back to the traffic management center."
Got a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to traffic@thenewstribune.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number. We'll answer as many as we can. Find an archive of previous answers at www.thenewstribune.com/news/traffic/qa.
To see more of The News Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.TheNewsTribune.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The News Tribune, Tacoma,
Wash. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
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