On September 20, the newly-established Traffic Control Center, intended to regulate movement of public transport with GPS, cameras and traffic lights, was introduced.
On this stage, the development of “green corridor” for tram routes Nos. 2 and 6 is provided for. In the centers they will analyze movement on crossroads that will allow switching green lights for the approaching tram. This system will increase the tram movement speed by 20 percent. Besides, it will allow passengers to know the exact time of tram’s arrival. The movement intensity will be analyzed simultaneously on all crossroads and this will create necessary conditions for tram’s movement along its entire route. In future, they plan to connect other routes to this system as well. In more remote future, there is establishment of the Unified Center for management of entire traffic movement in the city.
We have talked with Roman Kinder, project coordinator: “This is one of the first systems of this sort in Ukraine. For instance, in Vienna such a system works since 1968, they have 2 thousand crossroads equipped, and we will equip only 29. The center of this type is just a beginning, later it will be much easier to connect other routes. Though even now transportation will be improved. It is one thing when a hundred people in tram are awaiting green light, and the other one – when they are moving without delays, as most time is now spent on waiting.”
Main goal of the newly-established center – to make tram movement a priority. For this purpose, they will use video cameras, optical network (18 km laid), as well as GPS terminals. The system’s “know-how”: adaptable network control, performed with traffic intensity detectors (local and on the arterial roads) that allow precise measuring the traffic load. The center is not used so far: the optical fiber is laid and surveillance cameras and controllers are installed. The Center will start work in a test mode in December this year. About 10 people will be working there and servicing it. The cost of project implementation is 2.4 million EUR, it is performed with funding of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
