WALNUT CREEK, CA – This morning, the City of Walnut Creek announced a new cutting-edge technology application that will allow all 100 of the city’s traffic signals to ‘talk’ to smartphones through a free application called EnLighten, available for Android and iPhone users.
A few seconds before a red traffic light changes to green, EnLighten will notify drivers through an audio alert that their attention should be refocused on driving. The functionality requires no driver involvement and conforms to local laws regarding cell phone use while driving. City officials hope this new technology will help smooth traffic and encourage drivers to pay more attention at busy intersections.
“We are pleased to bring this innovative technology to Walnut Creek,” said Mayor Bob Simmons. “It is a great first step in opening our roadways to technology that will make our streets safer in the future.”
The story of bringing EnLighten to Walnut Creek is an example of the power of public/private partnerships between cities, private business and regional and subregional transportation agencies. The application was developed by Connected Signals, a high-tech startup. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), helped facilitate the match between Connected Signals and the City of Walnut Creek, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission provided the grant funding for implementation.
Through a concerted effort by CCTA, Contra Costa is establishing itself as a hub for transportation technology research and testing. The agency recently partnered with Honda to test autonomous vehicles at the newly established GoMentum Station test facility. The launch of EnLighten in the City of Walnut Creek marks the first time the public can actively use one of the new technologies being tested in the county. Walnut Creek is only the second city in California—and the only city in Northern California—to make this technology available to motorists.
“The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is committed to supporting transportation innovation that will enhance safety,” said Jack Hall, Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Manager at CCTA. “The launch of EnLighten in Walnut Creek represents the first step in developing vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication in Contra Costa, and will accelerate the next generation of transportation infrastructure, making the future of driving safer in our community and beyond.”
The Walnut Creek launch of EnLighten for public use could have Bay Area-wide implications, said Andrew B. Fremier, MTC’s Deputy Executive Director for Operations. “We’re eager to see the benefits of this application, since this type of technology could be widely deployed around the Bay Area, if it proves successful in improving the efficiency and safety at intersections in Walnut Creek.”
City officials plan to use the initial deployment of this technology to improve traffic flow in Walnut Creek and evaluate how Intelligent Transportation Systems can be implemented to help better manage traffic for motorists in the City.
Enlighten is available for download from Google Play or the AppStore.
About The Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. As a transportation leader, the CCTA is working to create a stronger economic future for Contra Costa County by building partnerships that make transportation safer, more reliable and increasingly efficient. Rather than exclusively trying to “build our way” out of congestion, CCTA’s vision centers around the use of emerging technologies and public-private partnerships to meet transportation demands and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Contra Costa County. More information about CCTA can be found online at ccta.net.
About City of Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek is a city of 65,000 in central Contra Costa County. Located at the intersection of two major highways, Walnut Creek’s robust downtown is a regional draw with extensive shopping, dining and arts options. At the same time, Walnut Creek has more public open space per capita than any California city, offering a unique balance between manmade and natural amenities. The city has long been at the forefront of implementing traffic technology.
About Connected Signals
Connected Signals is a high-tech startup based in Eugene, Oregon that collects real-time traffic light information and develops applications that increase safety at intersections, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, and reduce driver stress. Connected Signals uses existing infrastructure to communicate with traffic controllers and vehicles, avoiding any need for the expensive municipal and in-vehicle equipment installations required with other approaches to vehicle-signal communication. They provide cities with a number of other advantages, including rapid deployment of low-cost, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) capabilities, data forwarding and analysis, and the opportunity to provide their citizens with state-of-the-art technologies that improve the driving experience. For more information about Connected Signals please contact Matt Ginsberg at 541-654-5801 or [email protected].
1 comment
Hopefully this app will tell people to prepare to stop on yellow and stop on red instead of step on it, it’s yellow and go ahead it’s red and there are still a few cars running the red light behind you, you moron !!!
Comments are closed.