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Cranberry touts technology

Visitors tour Cranberry Township's traffic operations center in the public works building last week. The center has nearly two dozen high-definition televisions, computer screens and projectors that are used daily to manage traffic, including 34 synchronized traffic signals.
Control room used to manage signals

CRANBERRY TWP — More than 30 residents got an in-depth glimpse this past week at one of the most advanced traffic management systems in Pennsylvania.

Township manager Jerry Andree had an open house at Cranberry’s traffic operations center in the public works building off Route 19 near the Community Park.

Visitors saw the command center with nearly two dozen high-definition televisions, computer screens and projectors that are used daily to manage traffic.

Marty McKinney, the traffic operations specialist for the township, discussed how he uses real-time data to adjust traffic signals and patterns if problems arise on any given day.

McKinney also described technology the township uses that automatically syncs up green lights on Routes 19 and 228 in the event of an emergency. For instance, a program installed at each intersection can hear emergency sirens from fire trucks and ambulances and clears the path for those emergency responders by switching the traffic lights.

Cranberry has the largest traffic control system of its kind in the state, McKinney said, a system so advanced it’s been studied as a model for other communities.

McKinney said the system includes 48 traffic signals in every corner of the township, 34 of which communicate and sync together before sending data back to the control center.

It’s been quite the growth, McKinney said, pointing out that the township used to have only seven signals to control.

Managing roads like routes 228 and 19 is not an easy job, McKinney said, especially considering more than 120,000 vehicles travel those corridors in a day. That is a number comparable to the volume of traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The only difference, he added, is that the Turnpike doesn’t have any traffic signals.

“Imagine putting a red light right in the middle of the Turnpike,” McKinney said. “That’s what we have to deal with.”

McKinney said he’s gotten so adept at using the technology that he now calls the county’s 911 emergency center in Butler Township seconds after a vehicle accident, instead of the other way around like it used to be.

Visitors also heard from Kathleen McCaig, a planning specialist who’s helping the township revisit the Cranberry Plan.

Part of that revision includes studying the interconnectivity of sidewalks and bike trails, something the township supervisors have placed an emphasis on for several years.

Cranberry went from two miles of sidewalk in 1977 to 45 miles in 1995. Now, she said, it has more than 160 miles of sidewalk for residents.

In addition, Cranberry is exploring the possibility of installing bicycle lanes, and it already has 15 bike racks across the township. There also soon will be two “fix it” stations where people can find tools and air pumps to repair their bicycles.

“Cranberry is really proactive in the sense that we’re at the forefront of connectivity,” she said.

Andree agreed, and said the supervisors always are looking ahead when it comes to issues such as traffic management and pedestrian activity.

“The board has always said that if something is coming our way, we need to deal with it the best way possible,” Andree said.

He will host another seminar at the traffic operations center on Feb. 17.

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