SAN ANTONIO – A $2.8 million contract approved by the city as part of Thursday’s consent agenda will upgrade the city’s existing traffic camera systems, an effort officials say is aimed at improving traffic flow at intersections.
The cameras have already been implemented in parts of the city. The city’s goal is to ease backup at traffic lights so drivers spend less time waiting and more time moving on the roads. Public Works officials say reducing the amount of time vehicles sit idling can also cut emissions and help reduce congestion.
Nick Olivier said in a statement to News 4 that the city receives “hundreds of 311 requests from residents each year reporting issues with the timing of our traffic signals.” He added that “Improved detection will allow the signals to cycle based more on the presence of cars rather than relying solely on preset schedules.”
Olivier also emphasized that the traffic cameras are not connected to other surveillance systems, such as Flock cameras.
City officials have not provided a timeline for when the upgrades will be completed.