Sunday, October 04, 2009
Ramapo buying traffic light controls for emergency responders
When driving to fires or other emergencies, firefighters and other first responders don't have time for red lights.
Ramapo will spend nearly $1 million on electronic equipment enabling first responders to keep traffic lights green when they are rushing to a fire or other emergencies, officials said Friday.
The town is targeting 92 traffic lights across the town with small receivers that control the light patterns.
Emergency vehicles will have transmitters that can set the lights at green and lights at cross streets red for civilian motorists. The transmitters will be turned on with the emergency lights and sirens.
By law, motorists must yield the road to emergency vehicles with flashing lights and sirens. Officials said not all motorists do so and many continue through green lights.
Each device would cost about $10,000 with installation at two-way lights, and possibly more, if there are multiple four-way lights, Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said.
St. Lawrence, who is seeking re-election, said the town would bond for the cost and would soon seek competitive cost proposals from vendors for the equipment and installation. The town would provide maintenance for the system, he said.
The Opticom System has been installed on 19 traffic lights in the Hillcrest Fire Department's jurisdiction, though only four have been made operational because of lack of funding, said Kim Weppler, the Hillcrest fire chief and president of the Ramapo Fire Chiefs Association.
The Tallman Fire Department also uses the system.
"The system is working well," Weppler said, adding that growing development in town has increased traffic.
The system is designed to speed up the response time of emergency vehicles and improve safety on congested roads by preventing non-emergency vehicles from getting in the way, officials said.
"The Opticom System will protect the lives of first responders, and save the lives of patients. Every minute counts when a critically ill person is being transported to a hospital," St. Lawrence said during a news conference with more than a dozen Ramapo fire chiefs and officials.
St. Lawrence said he does not believe any community has attempted a project with this equipment on such a large scale.
Weppler said Hillcrest installed the system about five years ago and it helps because of the high traffic on the roads. "We're hoping for continued success and expanding throughout the town and eventually the county," he said.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20091003/NEWS03/910030344/-1/SPORTS/Ramapo-buying-traffic-light-controls-for-emergency-responders
Ramapo will spend nearly $1 million on electronic equipment enabling first responders to keep traffic lights green when they are rushing to a fire or other emergencies, officials said Friday.
The town is targeting 92 traffic lights across the town with small receivers that control the light patterns.
Emergency vehicles will have transmitters that can set the lights at green and lights at cross streets red for civilian motorists. The transmitters will be turned on with the emergency lights and sirens.
By law, motorists must yield the road to emergency vehicles with flashing lights and sirens. Officials said not all motorists do so and many continue through green lights.
Each device would cost about $10,000 with installation at two-way lights, and possibly more, if there are multiple four-way lights, Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said.
St. Lawrence, who is seeking re-election, said the town would bond for the cost and would soon seek competitive cost proposals from vendors for the equipment and installation. The town would provide maintenance for the system, he said.
The Opticom System has been installed on 19 traffic lights in the Hillcrest Fire Department's jurisdiction, though only four have been made operational because of lack of funding, said Kim Weppler, the Hillcrest fire chief and president of the Ramapo Fire Chiefs Association.
The Tallman Fire Department also uses the system.
"The system is working well," Weppler said, adding that growing development in town has increased traffic.
The system is designed to speed up the response time of emergency vehicles and improve safety on congested roads by preventing non-emergency vehicles from getting in the way, officials said.
"The Opticom System will protect the lives of first responders, and save the lives of patients. Every minute counts when a critically ill person is being transported to a hospital," St. Lawrence said during a news conference with more than a dozen Ramapo fire chiefs and officials.
St. Lawrence said he does not believe any community has attempted a project with this equipment on such a large scale.
Weppler said Hillcrest installed the system about five years ago and it helps because of the high traffic on the roads. "We're hoping for continued success and expanding throughout the town and eventually the county," he said.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20091003/NEWS03/910030344/-1/SPORTS/Ramapo-buying-traffic-light-controls-for-emergency-responders
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