Smart cities are on the rise, as funding is going to improve everything from broadband to infrastructure. Case in point: smart traffic signals.
Consider the example of RTC (Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada), which has received $2 million in federal funding to promote transportation efficiency and safety through a smart traffic signal program. This is part of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) grant program.
The funding will be used to create a prototype cloud-based system that optimizes traffic signal timing, and it will additionally use AI (artificial intelligence) analytics at intersections within the City of Las Vegas.
Here is how this can help in cities:
- Improve intersection safety and efficiency.
- Reduce travel times for emergency response and transit vehicles.
- Collect data related to safety concerns, such as near-misses and red-light running to better understand unsafe driving patterns.
The pilot project is expected to take roughly 18 months to complete. Expect more of such programs in the future as well, as RTC will also be rolling this out on a regional level across Southern Nevada. As the SMART grant program ramps up, other states may see similar programs as well.