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A new traffic signal system and other road safety improvements, including the use of artificial intelligence to detect issues at the intersection, have been installed at Rengstorff Avenue and Latham Street in Mountain View, which has seen frequent collisions.
In December, the City Council authorized final construction payments for the roadway improvements, which cost $874,468. The total cost of the project, including for things like design work and inspections, is estimated to be approximately $1.16 million, according to a Dec. 9 council report.
The new traffic signal provides for protected left-turns in all four directions. Previously, there wasn’t a separate left-turn phase for cars turning from Latham onto Rengstorff, presenting a conflict with pedestrians crossing Rengstorff at the same time as left-turning vehicles, according to a city memo.
“The new signal has removed these conflicts, and pedestrians and left-turning vehicles each have their separate phases,” the memo said.
Along with the new traffic signal, the city added dedicated left-turn lanes on Latham, with a shared lane for cars going straight and turning right.
The city also installed “an advanced technology video detection system” that uses artificial intelligence to support and manage traffic operations in real time, according to the council report.
The technology, which is already in use at six other intersections in Mountain View, provides lane-closure and signal-outage alerts, as well as other communications to city staff, according to the council memo.
Other road improvements included adding green bicycle lane markings on southbound Rengstorff to guide bicyclists on a direct path through the intersection. In addition, the city installed high-visibility crosswalks and reconstructed two curb ramps to comply with accessibility standards.
The project was financed by several sources, including city funding and funding from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. A developer for a nearby project at 570 S. Rengstorff Ave. pitched in $348,500, as part of a condition of approval for a building permit, according to the council report.
The city really loves to spend money and slow down traffic rather than step up enforcement. Drivers run lights while speeding all the time, especially on Rengstorff. Police actively blow this off. What improvement did the city identify? Higher visibility crosswalks at Old Middlefield.
You’re right DF. Someone else here commented that the city is issuing on average just 40 moving violations a week….for four officers on the traffic unit.