Windsor introduces new traffic signals to speed up traffic flow

With Windsor’s pilot project using TrafficLink technology, Windsor drivers will be zipping through traffic like the Millenium Falcon.

Developed by Kitchener technology company Miovision, the signals have engineered new traffic signals to obtain data about the movement of traffic in the area. These signals give information such as travel time between the signals, through the street corridor, classification of vehicles at each signal and also gives alerts of congestion in the area.

Shawna Boakes, the senior manager of traffic operations in Windsor said while the regular system does the same things, this new technology is a notable improvement.

“The new camera system is a little more accurate, it’s got a little bit clearer of a vision so we can actually look back and see what happened, whereas before, our cameras that we had in the area were just live feeds,” said Boakes. “All we could see was what was going on at that point in time. This gives us more historical information to be able to assess whether or not what we’ve done is working properly.”

Windsor’s traffic operations division launched the project on Huron Church Road with a focus on decreasing truck build up which is expensive to local truck companies. Boakes said one of the intentions of gathering data is to gain information in order to inform quicker routes for these companies.

“We want to be able to notify truck companies and let them know when it is a good time to cross the border,” said Boakes. “That can be done using these systems to say what the travel time is and historical travel times as well.”

Boakes said the project has cost around $100,000 mark and will look to expand to Tecumseh Road. The project is projected to cost around $500,000.