Traffic signals at 50 more intersections throughout DuPage County will be fitted with emergency vehicle preemption devices that allow ambulances, firetrucks and police cars to pass safely through under an agreement approved Tuesday by County Board members.
Nearly 300 county-owned traffic signals already are equipped with the devices under the program, which started five years ago. County officials say agreements with 11 local agencies, approved by the County Board’s Transportation Committee Tuesday, will extend that coverage to every major publicly owned signal in the county.
Emergency vehicles equipped with emitters send signals to detectors and the traffic signals are preempted–greens stay green and reds more quickly turn to green–to allow the vehicle through. That speeds up trips to an emergency and minimizes chances of a collision.
The county is contributing $130,000 toward the $600,000 project. A federal grant paid for half of the project and participating municipalities will make up the remainder.
The full County Board is expected to pass the measure next week.
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