Adaptive AI signals coming to Highway 68, saving the county millions
New artificial intelligence technology is making its way to the County of Monterey to help with congestion on U.S. Highway 68.
The adaptive AI signals project is in its final approval stage with The California Department of Transportation before being built.
"The goal is to have the system installed and operational by the end of 2025," Kevin Drabinski, public information officer Caltrans district five said.
Adaptive signals use AI to monitor road congestion in real time to coordinate the best flow for oncoming traffic.
For example, it can be used to coordinate multiple traffic lights to turn green at the same time to allow traffic to move at once.
Mitch Secondo has lived in the county for decades and says he has personally see the congestion issue on Route 68 for many years.
"A lot of traffic between here and Monterey, especially going early in the morning or at school time and Toro Park or San Benancio," Secondo said. "There's a lot of congestion at those times."
Caltrans said they would do a pilot test of this system for the first five years.
Some highway users are not completely sold on the fact that the technology would be using AI.
"I'm hoping that artificial intelligence can be trusted," MK Baker, a frequent Route 68 user, said. "The unfortunate thing is we don't know what will happen until it happens. And so that's a little scary."
The signals are already used in multiple states across the nation and for neighbors like Secondo, they are not afraid at all.
"No, ai is a good term for people that want to continuously improve, and i think it'll work," Secondo said. "It'll help. I'm not sure if it's a full solution because there's only two lanes on Highway 68 at some point."
Caltrans said local input is necessary and that they will continue to host public meetings.
"The overall goal is to is to get a safer and more efficient commute for folks," Drabinski said. "It starts with the locals who live right there, people who use it for their commute, and then people from out of the area who are seeking to see the beautiful sights of the Monterey coast."
Before the signals were approved, proposed ideas would have cost the county over $200 million.
The tech coming in is sitting at a little over one million dollars in cost and Caltrans said that we could see this technology implemented before the end of the year.
