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Week of Nov. 5, 2007
County’s traffic camera system is getting smarter One of the most popular places on the King County Road Services Division’s website is the “My Commute” traffic camera page. Here, people can check out the real-time traffic situation via more than 40 cameras perched above busy roads in unincorporated King County.
When the first county traffic camera was installed in 2001, it was considered a state-of-the-art tool to help motorists better plan their commutes. But technology changes quickly, and Road Services Division information technology staff have been busy both updating and expanding the system. Some key behind-the-scene changes in technology are saving the county time and money, which can be invested in new cameras in more locations. “This was a year of many changes,” says Dan Plute, the IT specialist who oversees the operation of the county’s traffic camera system. “A convergence of technologies has taken place over the past few years. This has allowed us to replace the custom Linux system, which was a very advanced and powerful solution for its time, with a Windows-based system running on off-the-shelf applications.” Plute says these days no custom programming is needed for the cameras, and staff doesn’t need scripting or coding experience to expand or reconfigure the video system. This helps speed up the delivery of raw data to the county’s Traffic Control Center, where it is used in many ways. King County currently operates 40 traffic cameras. Several of these cameras are owned and maintained by other agencies, but operated by the county. The cameras are mostly co-located with traffic signals at busy intersections, but there are also a few at traffic roundabouts. The traffic cameras serve two main functions. Streaming (moving) video is brought back to the Roads Division’s Traffic Control Center for the traffic engineers to observe. The engineers have control of the pan, tilt, and zoom functions of the cameras. With its 22X zoom function, a properly located camera allows the engineer to see traffic miles away from the camera. It is of great value to the engineers to be able to confirm or analyze malfunction reports, incident reports, and to perform traffic studies from the Traffic Control Center where the engineers have remote access to many traffic signal control devices. This system also allows the engineers to verify the data and operational status provided by signals and other sensors.
Each of the county's traffic cameras is controlled in the field by a small encoder. | The second function of the cameras is to provide near real time information to the motoring public. People can view still images on the My Commute web page prior to travel in order to determine the best route and to make their own estimates of travel time. Still images are captured from each camera every 30 seconds. The image is overlaid in the camera with text labels identifying the camera locations and the direction that the camera is pointed.One of the biggest advances in recent years has been the downsizing of the equipment in the field. When the first cameras were installed, the Road Services Division also had to locate a complete PC in the signal-control cabinet at each intersection with a traffic camera. Now, the cameras are controlled on site with a device that is only 4 inches by 3 inches. Plute says the future of the camera’s video system includes many more connections and continued conversion to a full IP digital system. He says the county expects to add 10 to 12 cameras per year for the next several years. The county is also working with its partners at the state and local level to expand information sharing. Because traffic flows from one jurisdiction to another, it’s helpful to see what might be coming down the road from another agency via an expanding and shared camera network.
The transit and roads divisions of the King County Department of Transportation (KCDOT) are hosting several key meetings on transportation topics this month. Here’s a rundown: Pacific Highway South RapidRide – Metro is hosting three open house meetings to solicit community ideas as the agency plans for new RapidRide bus service on Pacific Highway South. The meetings will be held: Nov. 7 at Highline Community College and Sea-Tac City Hall; and Nov. 13 at Federal Way City Hall. More details are available on Metro Online. Novelty Hill Road – The King County Road Services Division will host a drop-in open house meeting on Nov. 8 to discuss plans and designs to improve Novelty Hill Road and connecting streets east of Redmond. 244th Avenue Southeast – The Roads Division will hold a public hearing Nov. 13 in Maple Valley to gather public comment on a proposal to raise the speed limit from 25 to 30 miles per hour on a 1.25-mile stretch of 244th Avenue Southeast near Lake Francis. Klahanie Boulevard – There is another speed limit hearing on Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. for comments on a plan to raise the speed limit on Klahanie Boulevard from 25 to 30 miles per hour. It will be held at Challenger Elementary School, 25200 SE Klahanie Boulevard, Issaquah.
King County will observe Veteran’s Day on Monday, Nov. 12. Most Metro bus routes will be in service, but there are some exceptions. The following routes will be cancelled (all have alternative service): 45, 46, 76, 77, 79, 133, 167, 197, 202, 205, 272, 277, 304, 308 and 373. Plus, there
will be selected trips cancelled on routes: 31, 65, 67, 68, 75, 372 and ST 540. All other Metro routes will operate on regular weekday schedules. Most county and Metro offices will be closed, including Metro’s Rider Information Office. See Metro Online for details. |
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The Seattle Seahawks will be featured on “Monday Night Football” next week on Nov. 12, as they host the San Francisco 49ers in a 5:30 p.m. game at Qwest Field. Because it is a weekday game, those traveling to the stadium by bus should remember there will be no special shuttles from park-and-rides before the game – only after the action is over. It’s also the observance of the Veteran’s Day holiday for many, so traffic in the downtown area should be lighter than a normal workday. If you’re going to the game by bus, you should know that most Metro service will operate with normal weekday routes and schedules – but there are some exceptions. Check Metro Online for those details. The Rider Information Office will be closed Monday, but you can call (206) 553-3000 on Sunday to get help in planning a trip to the game. From most areas, you can ride regular bus service to Qwest Field, and then after the game use either regular Metro service or special shuttles to five outlying park-and-ride lots to get home for $3. Despite the holiday, expect some traffic congestion on Monday afternoon. Commuters may want to plan their trip home to avoid the south end of downtown, if possible; or use a tunnel bus route or adjust their work schedule to leave a little earlier on Monday. Bus passengers should expect traffic delays in the downtown and SODO areas. | Subscribe to DOT DashSign-up to receive an e-mail text version of "Transportation Today," along with other significant DOT news by sending an e-mail to us with subscribe King County DOT Dash in the subject line.
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