Computer controls 110 traffic lights

Computer controls 110 traffic lights

JAKARTA (JP): The capital now has a computerized area traffic
control system regulating the changing of traffic lights at 110
intersections to help the police curb traffic congestion.

Abubakar, a staff member at the Area Traffic Control System
center at City Hall said yesterday that there is no need for the
police to adjust the traffic lights to regulate traffic flow
because the computerized system automatically adjusts and changes
the lights at the right time.

The Spanish-made devices installed at the intersections send
in accurate data on the number of vehicles passing. "In this way
we know if a given intersection is congested," he said.

The city has 468 intersections, but only 110 have the area
traffic control systems.

Cameras

Twenty out of the 110 intersections are also equipped with
cameras which record the traffic flow situation at the locations.

The 20 intersections are Jl. Gunung Sahari-Jayakarta, Gunung
Sahari-Dr. Sutomo, Medan Merdeka Barat-Medan Merdeka Utara,
Gunung Sahari-Martadinata, Pintu Besar Selatan-Jembatan Batu,
Majapahit-Suryopranoto, Hasyim Ashari-Sangaji, Kyai Caringin-
Biak, Medan Merdeka Barat-Medan Merdeka Selatan, Imam Bonjol-
Cokroaminoto, MH Thamrin-Imam Bonjol, Diponegoro-Madiun,
Diponegoro-Proklamasi, Jend. Sudirman-Setiabudi, Kramat Raya-
Kwitang, Letjen Suprapto-Tanah Tinggi Barat, Menteng Raya-Kebon
Sirih, Cikini Raya-Diponegoro, Salemba Raya-Diponegoro Matraman
Raya-Pramuka.

The traffic system center at City Hall has six monitors to
display the pictures sent in by the cameras. Six other monitors
display data on the traffic flow at the various intersections.

Abubakar said the system is more sophisticated than the manual
one. "Traffic policemen cannot change the traffic lights at all
of the intersections at once," he said. "But, of course, the
computerized system is more expensive."

Abubakar said the system cost US$10 million. Most of the money
came from a soft loan from the Spanish government, with Rp 1.9
billion ($844,440) funded by the city budget.

The Spanish loan included the cost of training nine operators
in Spain for one month, he said.

When asked why the new system was installed instead of
upgrading the existing system, Abubakar said that improving the
old system was more expensive than buying a new one. (yns)