Synchronizing Traffic To Go Very High-Tech

COUNTY SIGNALS GO IPHONE: Get ready for traffic signal synchronization to enter the hand-held digital age.

David Mitchell, director of Bernalillo County’s Operations and Maintenance, explains it’s the next step in getting signals to work together to keep traffic moving. And it starts with updating each signal control box.

“Once the controlling software ‘Centracs’ has Internet codes and communication to each signal box, either by fiber or radio, the iPad — a little easier to see, but still possible on a phone in a pinch — will adjust them by just accessing the county network, and therefore the state’s Intelligent Transportation System can see them and be given permission to trigger alternate settings,” he says. “The next key in all playing well together is apparently having the ‘clocks’ in each control cabinet the same. So like for Paseo del Norte, if the city and county signals are set to the ‘Denver clock’ time, we should be able to connect them through our computer networks even though the PdN and El Pueblo signals are only connected by a radio antenna back to our Traffic HQ, and not ‘interconnected’ by a hard wire or fiber optic line like most major corridors are connected within themselves.”

“The first corridors that will talk to the central network will be Isleta and Rio Bravo,” Mitchell says, “needing only two Internet conversion boxes to two master controllers. Tramway and Alameda will need 11 boxes between them. Then, all the rest. We’re about $130,000 and a half year of antenna pointing and programming away from it.”

SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING IN PLAIN SIGHT: Allen Dale Olson asks via email “why aren’t street numbers, especially for commercial properties, made large enough and placed so drivers can see them? Looking for an address while driving a busy street can be as dangerous as texting.”

According to city law on address size and placement, they are supposed to be clearly visible.

Juanita Garcia of the city’s Code Enforcement Division in the Planning Department says nothing has changed since last year, when she explained that “ordinance states that homes and townhomes need to have 3-inch high and wide numbers, and all other buildings need to have 5-inch high and wide numbers placed on their buildings.” If building owners are not in compliance, she said, “there are numerous agencies who enforce this ordinance, including our office, the Building and Safety Division and the fire department. … Please let people know that we will investigate those complaints that just pertain to address posting.” Code Enforcement is 924-3860, or call 311 to file a concern.

TRAILS A SMART INVESTMENT: Robert Olivas has a bone to pick with a recent reader comment “about bike trails being ignored by cyclists and a waste of taxpayer money. If (the writer) ever got out of his vehicle and extensive travel and tried cycling and using our bike trails, he would see that they are widely used. Don’t knock the state for promoting a healthy lifestyle just because you don’t participate in cycling. After all, that’s one of the reasons I moved to New Mexico.”

CAN I GET A SHOUT-OUT FROM PASSING CYCLISTS? And strasser9095 emails “I am tired of the complaints that bicyclists have in Albuquerque about motor vehicles not respecting their space. I walk the South Piño Arroyo trail, which parallels San Antonio NE, twice a day. Heading west from Louisiana NE to I-25 is a downhill grade within which bicyclists regularly approach speeds of 30-40 mph. I can tell this because they match the speed of motorists on San Antonio.

“Even with city signs warning cyclists to announce passing,” strasser9095 continues, “I’m lucky if 10 percent do. Thank you, the 10 percent. To the 90 percent, how would you feel if a bicycle suddenly passed you within a couple of feet at 40 mph with no warning whatsoever? It is very startling. I make a concerted effort to walk to the right, and I look behind myself frequently, but I would have to have eyes in the back of my head to know at all times when a silent cyclist is approaching at 40 mph.

“I’m over 6 feet tall, 250 lbs. If a bike hits me, we will both be hurt. Today was a very close call when my shirtsleeve was brushed by a passing cyclist. Let’s be considerate out there, people! Shout out once `ON YOUR LEFT’ and you’ll get a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ in return.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal