Topeka public works director Jason Peek says he understands the frustration drivers feel when they sit at a red light for what seems like a long time.
He said Wednesday that the city uses technology, including video cameras and “loops” embedded in the street, to detect vehicles arriving at most signalized intersections and adjust the signal’s timing to keep traffic running smoothly.
“But these are all pieces of infrastructure that require maintenance,” Peek said.
Sometimes loops break, or straight-line winds — such as those the city saw last week — alter a camera’s direction and keep it from working effectively, he said.
Traffic signal timing was among topics Peek discussed while answering 35 questions posed by Topeka Capital-Journal readers during a podcast/Facebook Live event broadcast Wednesday on CJOnline.
The podcast was part of a reader engagement project linked to the program “#TopCity What? You ask. We answer.” Readers may access it on The Capital-Journal’s Facebook page.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)