Denver just got a big grant from the federal government to use technology to try to reduce traffic congestion.
The $6 million grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program.
The money will go toward three programs that are part of Denver's Vision Zero Initiative to reduce deaths and serious injuries from crashes to zero.
- A partnership with the traffic app Waze to use existing city transportation sensors and detection devices to share information about road closures, construction and dangerous intersections directly to the public.
- New rules to turn highways in north Denver into "Freight Efficiency Corridors" that will shift truck traffic to non-peak travel hours and ideally reduce congestion, noise and pollution in neighborhoods. This would keep I-70, I-25 and I-76 as major truck routes while trying to mitigate some of the impact to surrounding communities.
- Implementation of Automated Pedestrian Detection (APD) technologies known as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons to improve pedestrian and driver interactions at difficult crossings.
“Denver’s transportation system must evolve as our city continues to grow,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said in a press release. “These funds will play a critical role in addressing transportation and mobility challenges, like traffic congestion, while also delivering measurable, and innovative outcomes for our residents.”
You can read more about each of the projects here.
Denver also got a $1.3 million grant this week to study bus rapid transit on Colfax Avenue.
