VIRGINIA BEACH – The city is applying for a $4 million federal transportation grant to improve traffic and safety with technology.
The city would match the grant, which is being offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and use it to upgrade signals to monitor traffic in real-time and change accordingly. For example, a green light would stay on for oncoming vehicles when no cross-directional cars are approaching the intersection.
The city would also use the grant to develop an app to show users where parking spaces are available.
“A lot of the apps, like Google, do some of the same things, but this will include open parking spaces in the city and be more tailored to Virginia Beach,” Transportation Planner Mark Shea said.
Elderly and disabled pedestrians could find particular benefit from a planned feature in the app. It would allow the user to enter a special code and increase their crosswalk signal at an intersection. That capability would be scattered throughout the city, and likely be installed around hospitals, Shea said.
The smart signals for traffic would go in the city’s most dangerous and crowded areas.
“The Oceanfront is top priority – number one,” Shea said.
The resort area has a high concentration of pedestrians and the most accidents, he said.
The next priority is the Virginia Beach Boulevard corridor, which has the busiest bus route, Shea said.
“And if you take the bus, you’ve got to cross the road to get home, and there’s a lot of unsafe areas to cross between the bus stops, so we’re focusing on that area as well,” he said.
Shore Drive would also likely benefit from the grant, Shea said. The money could also be used to add electronic message boards to alert drivers of accidents.
The city is seeking letters of support from groups such as the Mayor’s Commission on Aging, the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities and the Resort Advisory Commission. The application must be submitted by the end of the month.
If the money is awarded, the project could be accomplished within three years, Shea said.
