GENEVA - - The deafening alarms of ambulance and fire vehicles project through the streets of Geneva, alerting drivers to yield.
But even the loudest alarms and the brightest flashing lights can't keep motorists and emergency-response teams from clashing, so the city has installed a new satellite-controlled global positioning system (GPS) device to clear the traffic path for emergency vehicles, Northwest Ambulance Service Director Vince Gildone said.
"This is a huge project that benefits all of us. It makes travel and response safer for everyone," Gildone said.
The Opticom GPS System has been installed at 10 intersections in Geneva, Geneva Township, Austinburg Township and Harpersfield Township.
The satellite-controlled system automatically turns on when the vehicle's emergency lights are activated. As the vehicle approaches an intersection with a GPS receiver, the traffic light turns green for the emergency vehicle and the other three lights turn red, stopping oncoming traffic, Gildone said.
The system also anticipates an emergency vehicle's route by "reading" the driver's use of turn signals, tracks the precise location, direction and speed of the approaching emergency vehicle, and calculates the estimated time of arrival.
Traffic flow, including the length of green and red lights, is adjusted according to the GPS system information.
Ten emergency vehicles, including four NAD ambulances, four Geneva fire trucks and one fire truck from each Austinburg and Harpersfield townships, have been outfitted with system transmitters, Gildone said.
"By no means will emergency drivers just blast through an intersection without checking (for traffic), but really they don't have to worry about oncoming cars," Gildone said.
The system cost $102,000 for the 10 transmitters and 10 receivers, software and training for emergency responders, Gildone said.
"We got in on a promotion and got a good price on the system. It was a great deal, but now every system we add will cost $5,000 each," Gildone said. "But it should be known that the system is ours outright. There were no loans taken out to cover the costs of the GPS," he said.
The initial system is only the beginning for the regionwide program, including the possible addition of the Lockwood Street right of way at Route 20 - - if the city updates the traffic signal at that intersection, Gildone said.
"We are by no means done adding to this system," Gildone said. "We hope to put (transmitters) in all police vehicles, and all fire and emergency vehicles for the city, and Geneva, Harpersfield and Austinburg townships, and possibly even Trumbull Township. We are hoping to get (transmitters) for the snowplows at some point," he said.
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