The Smart Cities urbanisation project is part of the country’s recently announced infrastructure-based stimulus package estimated at US$6.4 trillion, ten times larger than China’s 2008 stimulus package.
The company’s ITS solutions will first address the growing traffic congestion in the Panyu District of Guangzhou, where Econolite and regional partner, Wu & Song Associates (Shanghai), will install a Centracs advanced transportation management system (ATMS), ASC/3 Series traffic controllers, Autoscope video detection systems, and 336S series Safetran cabinets. The aim is to enhance traffic mobility along six intersections of the heavily used north-south Guangming North Road arterial in downtown Panyu, with the objective of expanding the ITS concept in the District.
“The current resident population of Panyu District is about one million,” said Econolite director of international business Ed Ehrman. “However, the weekday population swells to nearly two million with commuters making their way into the downtown area for work.”
The dramatic influx of weekday traffic, including passenger vehicles, trucks, cycles/scooters and pedestrians worsens an already problematic commute. In addition, it contributes to a host of other problems, including high levels of pollution and incidents of driver aggressiveness. “The traffic congestion is also posing a real threat to the sustainability of economic growth,” said Ehrman.
