FISHERS -
Fishers is getting smarter about handling growing traffic. It's installing so-called smart lights.
"Basically we're open to new ideas all the time. We're a growing community," said Town Manager Scott Fadness.
To deal with traffic delays at major choke points along Allisonville Road, 96th and 116th Streets, Fishers will become the first Indiana community to install a traffic light control system that better regulates traffic flow.
The $2.4 million system is paid for with the help of a $2 million grant from INDOT.
"We're moving the cars through quicker. One signal is talking to another signal three or four signals down saying, 'move this traffic through' based on this particular pattern," said Fadness.
The system relies on sensors in the pavement to collect information on traffic count. The information goes to a computer that makes decisions about how to best move the vehicles.
"Anytime time you have traffic congestion and can alleviate that and make it a more desirable place for people to want to visit, I think that's a good thing for economic development or residential," said Fadness.
"They're too long," said one woman stuck at the light at 116th and Allisonville. Behind her another driver told us, "You can be waiting 15 minutes, sometimes 20 minutes and you can't even get a turn lane."
Both welcome the promised speedup. The town president hopes cars will move through the improved intersections 17 percent faster.
Installation begins later this year and should be done by late fall.
