Twenty-two new video cameras expected to help monitor and manage the
flow of traffic will be installed along Routes 95 and 195 by next
summer, according to state officials.
The state Department of Transportation awarded a $2.2 million contract
to install the cameras along those two major highways to Mass. Electric
Construction Co., which is a national electrical contracting company.
Its headquarters is in Boston, with nine permanent offices around the
country, including one in Providence.
Nestor, Inc., (OTC: NEST), of Providence was selected by MECC to be a
project subcontractor and provide the camera units for the project,
according to Paul Annarummo, a DOT managing engineer. Executives at
Nestor estimate the project will have a price tag of about $750,000.
The cameras will be positioned at areas along both highways and will
allow DOT officials to monitor traffic congestion, vehicle flow,
accidents and other incidents from a Traffic Operations Center that was
opened in February. When DOT officials are alerted to potential problems
or accidents, they can organize emergency response, as well as issue
traffic advisories through electronic signs along the roads and other
media.
“Technology will certainly make the job easier. And the opportunity to
provide information to the motorists will be valuable to the them, from
a time standpoint and a safety standpoint,” Annarummo said.
DOT officials hope the project provides some relief to commuters who
regularly travel Routes 95 and 195, which are the state’s most heavily
traveled roads.
“We’re hoping that is the case, but you have to remember there is so much
traffic on the interstate we’re really just trying to manage traffic,”
he explained. Motorists will benefit from these systems if “we can
detect and respond to accidents quicker.”
The cameras will not be used to enforce traffic laws, he added. “We will
not be doing enforcement surveillance with any of those cameras.”
It is expected that the project will be completed by next August, he
added.
Now DOT only has a few cameras posted at Route 95 overpasses located on
Smith and Orms streets in Providence, according to Annarummo. Those
cameras, however, are mostly used to monitor the speed and number of
cars that travel along that route.
Nestor provides sophisticated technological solutions for the financial
and transportation industries. The DOT has in fact been cooperating with
Nestor to test a device called the CrossingGuard, which uses a
combination of software programs and video cameras to predict whether
cars will stop in time for red lights. If a car cannot stop in time, the
CrossingGuard system will delay the lights affecting cross traffic from
changing to avoid any collisions.
The first installation of that product is scheduled to occur before the
end of this year in Vienna, Virginia.
DOT, however, is not using that particular technology for the Route 95-
195 project, according to Annarummo.
