Commuters in Mobile have likely noticed a decrease in time for driving from point A to point B. That’s an intentional and well-planned improvement.
The City of Mobile, Mobile County and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) partnered in an ambitious project to update traffic signal operations across the region.
With federal, state, and local funding, nearly $11 million has been invested in upgrading and synchronizing 682 traffic signals across the region. A team of experienced engineers now has the ability to monitor and adjust traffic signals in real-time. Through observation and traffic data, they can also implement custom plans for specific events and times of day.
School gets out. A football game starts and finishes. A large funeral. A large church service.
Mobile traffic has entered the 21st century.
Several areas prone to congestion in the City of Mobile, such as Airport Blvd. and Dauphin Street, have received special attention, and the data is already indicating faster travel times. Plans are also underway to invest an additional $6 million into more detection devices and traffic cameras over the next year, further enhancing traffic flow and improving the driving experience across Mobile County.\
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson made this comment Wednesday:
I want to thank our traffic engineering department for playing a key role in this major undertaking, as well as our great partners at ALDOT and Mobile County. A program of this scale and level of collaboration is unprecedented in Alabama, and this ongoing partnership will continue to improve local traffic conditions.
Since ALDOT was a partner in the project and state and federal funds were included, it is likely that other metropolitan areas in Alabama could model the Mobile program.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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