'Uptown Houston is the nation’s 14th largest business district and suffers enormous congestion. The Uptown Houston Development Authority has implemented a wireless video traffic surveillance system that monitors critical intersections and thoroughfares. This is the first system used in a dense urban-scale business center deployed entirely on private property and operated by an urban management district. Use of the system has dramatically reduced response time to incidents, which correlates to a direct reduction in the amount of traffic delay. This has proven to be a valuable tool for managing traffic and incidents and has improved overall mobility in the area.

Take the nation’s 14th largest business district and place it in a suburban location with large block lengths, restricted access to major freeways, limited transit service and enormous economic growth over the past twenty years. (Figure 1) You have the recipe for major traffic congestion, unique traffic demand and the daily potential for intersection gridlock. The delay on major streets in the AM peak can be as high as 125 seconds/vehicle and Levels of Service F is common.

PM peaks experience delays exceeding 140 seconds/vehicle and consistent Levels of Service F. Extensive planned reconstruction magnifies the problem. Recognizing that mobility is crucial to economic preservation and development, the Uptown Houston Development Authority (Uptown Houston) developed a comprehensive master plan to improve mobility, and address increasing traffic volumes and changing traffic patterns.

One important component of the master plan is a video traffic surveillance system and incident management plan that monitors critical intersections and thoroughfares. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are observed by peace officers in a command center who communicate with officers managing traffic on the streets. Utilization of this system allows officers to focus on real-time incident management. It has proven to be a valuable tool for managing traffic and incidents and has improved the efficiency of the officers in the field...'