By WMBD TV
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — The Normal Town Council Monday night unanimously approved adding a new technology to their traffic lights that could ultimately save lives.
Called the Emergency Vehicle Preemption Test Project, it will add small transmitters on both traffic signals and emergency vehicles. It allows first responders to send a signal that can change the light to green, making it easier to keep high speeds towards their destination.
Out of the 65 town-wide traffic lights, only a select few along Raab Road will receive the new technology, according to town officials. How many will get it wasn’t made immediately clear.
“I think it’s about six, it’s six intersections, potentially seven. Okay. Don’t quote me on that,” said Director of Engineering and Public Works Ryan Otto.
Response times have been an almost year-long issue in Normal. The town council has received backlash from firefighters for moving a fire station, which the fire department said would reduce response times.
Town manager Pamela Reece said this new technology “can have significant positive impacts on improving response times for all public safety, not just fire, but police and fire.”
Since only a few lights will get this update, both Otto and Reece said there wouldn’t be a noticeable reduction in response times. However, if they believe a program a success after three to six months, they said they would add it town-wide.
“That part would be more difficult,” said Otto, since they share the ownership of some roads with Bloomington and the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Speaking of Bloomington, they also adopted the same technology, according to city officials.
WMBD TV first reported this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
