Cameras to Monitor 3 Intersections in High-Tech Traffic Move

Within a year, the progress of every car that passes through any of three major intersections in the city will be recorded on camera, officials said this week.

The goal is not to catch red-light jumpers, at least not yet, public works officials said. The primary aim is to begin building what eventually could be a countywide, high-tech management system to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

The City Council on Monday approved spending $500,000 in grant money to design a surveillance system for the intersections: Valley View Street and Orangethorpe Avenue, Beach Boulevard and Orangethorpe, and Beach and La Palma Avenue.

“There is a move at all levels of government to implement intelligent traffic management,” R. Paul Grimm, city traffic engineer, told council members.

Caltrans, the state’s highway transportation department, agreed to award funds for the system, which will be linked with the department’s traffic management center.

“It expands their capabilities too,” Grimm said. “Ultimately, the goal is to get a countywide system with cameras at all critical intersections.”

Grimm and other public works officials can now monitor traffic-impairing incidents only by pinpointing them on charts. Workers then go out to inspect the situation and radio in a report so that adjustments can be made to traffic lights.

“I can adjust the timing, but I cannot see what’s actually out there,” Grimm said. “So I’m guessing.”

With the new technology, which will include a highway advisory radio system, engineers will be able to see immediately what is happening on the street.

The cameras at Valley View and Orangethorpe will replace underground detectors that are easily disabled and difficult to adjust for major construction projects.

Grimm said that designs for the three surveillance cameras will likely be approved and the system installed by November.