Advanced Traffic Signals Proposed to Detect Pedestrian Crowds

Traffic lights equipped with “smart” technology, capable of identifying significant pedestrian groups awaiting road crossing, are being considered for a town. This initiative aims to alleviate congestion. The proposed software integration is a component of Blackpool Council’s £17 million Town Centre Access Scheme. According to Ian Large, head of highways, the primary objective is to prepare the town centre for an anticipated increase of thousands of new office workers over the coming years. Specific locations identified for this intervention include the intersection of Adelaide Street West and Coronation Street, as well as the vicinity of Topping Street and Talbot Road. Additional strain on the town centre infrastructure is foreseen with the relocation of 3,000 civil servants to new offices scheduled to open on King Street next year. Furthermore, plans for a multiversity and an additional office building are also under consideration. Addressing the Climate Change and Environment Scrutiny Committee, Mr. Large stated: “We have no room for underpasses for pedestrians in our town centre, so the next best thing is controlled crossings.” He added that the intention is to “be making the traffic signals more intelligent and better able to deal with peaks and troughs,” noting that “There is software now that can pick up if there is a large number of people waiting at a crossing.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the government granted funding approval for the town centre scheme earlier this month. This funding comprises £15.3 million from the Levelling Up initiative and £1.7 million contributed by the council, with £570,000 specifically allocated for enhancing traffic signals. Additionally, a planning application is anticipated for a multi-storey car park, offering 600 spaces, to be constructed on the former Syndicate nightclub site within the town centre. Mr. Large indicated that another objective involves encouraging transit traffic to circumvent the town centre. Nevertheless, he dismissed the implementation of park and ride schemes, asserting that they “had been shown not to work.”