Santa Cruz de Tenerife is moving towards the Smart City concept, embracing innovation and technology to facilitate the automated and efficient management of urban traffic. This March, the city will begin the installation of smart pedestrian crossings at 23 different locations. This new system involves the use of two light plates, one at each end of the white pedestrian crossing line, which are activated by the presence of pedestrians. Their primary function is to alert drivers with ample reaction time, thereby enhancing mobility and road safety, and reducing accident rates.
Evelyn Alonso, the Councilor for Mobility of the Capital City Council, revealed the introduction of this road signaling system while presenting the 2024 budgets for her department, amounting to 31.5 million euros. Out of this sum, 340,000 euros will be allocated for the implementation of the smart pedestrian crossings contract. These crossings will be strategically placed around the municipality based on a study identifying accident-prone areas for pedestrians’ safety.
Additionally, she mentioned a planned pilot project for prioritizing traffic lights for buses and taxis operating in the city, giving them precedence at intersections and roundabouts, akin to the tram system. “We are considering implementing this concept in specific areas of the capital, entailing the installation of surveillance cameras to activate traffic lights upon the arrival of public transportation,” she explained.
Furthermore, the mayor highlighted an upcoming focus on the tendering and awarding of contracts for the maintenance, installation, expansion, and modification of road signage. This will also cover road safety elements and signaling for fords in the municipality, backed with a budget of 1.7 million euros.
Simultaneously, a substantial amount of 2 million euros is earmarked for the upkeep, operation, and enhancement of traffic lights, regulation equipment, systems, and management, as well as the visualization of traffic flow through cameras and the introduction of Smart Mobility. This will enable drivers to access real-time updates on road and parking status through a mobile application (app).
The councilor also emphasised the allocation of 181,819 euros for programs aimed at improving road safety, along with participation in the Star project led by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). “The focus is on devising safe routes to schools within the educational environment, with the involvement of parents. A pilot project is presently being conducted in Spanish-English,” she concluded.
