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Law Enforcement
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Traffic troubles in paradise
Transportation authorities address Hawaii congestion with video
Jul 26, 2004
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by Lisa Horan
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Ahh, Hawaii. Warm breezes, gentle ocean waves, and ... traffic jams?
Believe it or not, the island of Oahu isn’t always a tropical paradise, at least not to commuters. Oahu’s main city, Honolulu, is home to some significant traffic issues. To ensure that commuters can “hang loose” as much as possible, both state and city transportation services departments have turned to high-tech solutions.
Center Of Attention
“You have to remember that Honolulu is a city, and just like any other city, we have our fair share of traffic problems,” explained Scott Ishikawa, public information officer for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Division, Traffic Branch. With more than 650,000 registered vehicles on the 610-square-mile island, it’s not hard to understand why the issue has become one of major concern for both residents and transportation officials.
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| The Honolulu Traffic Management Center was launched to help alleviate the city’s heavy traffic problems. |
In fact, vehicular traffic on the island has been on the rise for the last several decades. In the fall of 1985, one of the first attempts to address the problem was initiated when the Computerized Traffic Control System — now called the Honolulu Traffic Management Center — was launched. Enjoying full support from the Federal Highways Administration and the State Department of Transportation, the TMC is run by the city of Honolulu’s Traffic Signal and Technology Division, which is responsible for developing, implementing, operating, and maintaining operations of more than 350 state and city traffic signals on Oahu.
Manned by two traffic engineers, a design engineer, and two traffic repair technicians, the center operates a traffic management system that incorporates CCTV surveillance, dynamic message signs, electronic incident detection, and highway advisory radio and ramp metering. At the core of this system is the Intelligent Transportation Systems program. According to Ty Fukumitso, acting chief, Traffic Signals and Technology Division, ITS was designed with the goal of “improving traffic mobility and increasing the efficiency of existing highways through the use of technology.”
The ITS coordinates traffic signals to improve progression for commuters and transit services, programs safe and reasonable crossing times for pedestrians, and operates emergency pre-emption systems that expedite fire and ambulance vehicles, saving valuable minutes in travel times and minimizing conflicts by holding the green signal at signalized intersections.
From a commuter standpoint, Hawaii’s TMC is invaluable. Though it was originally designed solely to control traffic signal lights, soon after its commencement, the TMC began providing additional services.
In 1991, the facility took on the management and operation of 60 traffic cameras, positioned in various locations around the island. Today, in addition to a switching system (which the Department of Transportation Services plans to upgrade to a Pelco System in the near future), there are 135 traffic-monitoring cameras located at critical traffic intersections and freeway locations throughout the island to improve traffic signal progression and monitor conditions on alternative streets.
“The system has served as vital tool in analyzing, selecting, and mitigating traffic congestion across Oahu,” said Fukumitso. “If a traffic incident occurs, for instance, the TMC will intervene and compensate by implementing special timing plans to ease the related congestion.”
Commuters benefit from up-to-the-minute traffic reports that are provided by radio traffic reporters stationed at the center during the morning and afternoon rush hours. These reporters monitor traffic conditions by viewing the center’s numerous monitors, which are hooked up to more than 100 traffic cameras.
“The system enables us to get the word out fast about traffic incidents, which helps drivers plan for alternate routes,” said Ishikawo. “Drivers tend to get most frustrated when they don’t know what’s going on. Simply letting them know what’s happening on the roads they will be traveling helps a great deal and better prepares our commuters to make decisions that will alleviate waiting and wondering.”
Moving Forward
In addition to listening to drive time reports on the radio, commuters can tune in to their local television stations, which have access to a video feed of camera footage. They can also visit the Honolulu traffic camera Web site to access actual footage from traffic cameras, or the Honolulu Police Department traffic information site for a detailed list of traffic incidents, including location, time, and activity.
Initiated as a partnership with the Department of Information Technology in 2000, the traffic camera Web page displays real-time pictures of current traffic conditions. Fukumitso said the Web site has become one of Hawaii’s most popular addresses. The live traffic video featured on the site is made possible through an extensive communication network designed by TST, which links Hawaii Kai, on the east side of the island, to Waipahu, on the west side of the island, via a fiber optic system. The communication channels and bandwidth of this system not only serve the Traffic Center but will also be able to support the future digital data needs of other city departments.
Footage from traffic cameras also assists law enforcement and local transit authorities. The Honolulu Police Department monitors the traffic video for incident management and coordinates with the TMC for congestion management, plus a video feed is supplied to the transit dispatch center (TheBus) so that they can provide travelers with current information.
With no slow down in sight for Hawaii’s traffic situation, the state will be installing more cameras. Once these additional traffic cameras have been installed, control will be transferred over to the TMC.
MORE INFO
Hawaii DOT Highways Division, Traffic Branch (808) 692-7671
Honolulu Traffic Management Center (808) 523-4125 www.co.honolulu.hi.us/cameras
Pelco (405) 340-3434 www.pelcoinc.com
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