FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 October 17, 2006

CITY RETURNS TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO  SERVICE;

WORKS TO RESTORE SYNCHRONIZATION 

            The City Department of Transportation Services finished reactivating traffic signals at all 800 signalized intersections on Oahu Monday night, Director Melvin Kaku announced today.

            The signals lost power in Sunday’s post-earthquake, islandwide blackout. After power was restored, most signals defaulted to constant flashing or did not work at all until they were reactiviated. City Transportation Services crews worked through Sunday evening and all Monday performing that task. Signals at the final intersection, Kamehameha Highway near the Laie Shopping Center, returned to full service at 10:55 p.m. Monday.

            Kaku added, “Localized power surges continue to knock the traffic signals out of operation here and there. We are continuing to respond, returning to those signals to perform spot repairs in those cases.”

            In addition, he said, Transportation Services workers have begun restoring the synchronization schedules for the traffic signals.

             “We expect to fully return to pre-quake synchronization scheduled by Friday,” Kaku said. “Until then, some motorists may experience slower going on congested surface streets. We apologize for that. Our crews are working to restore full synchronization as quickly as possible.”

            Proper synchronization requires the controller at each intersection to be physically adjusted by a City technician. In the wake of Sunday’s blackout, all of those technicians were first put to work first reactivating the signals. 

            With the exception of military bases, the City operates, manages and maintains all traffic signals on Oahu, including those on state highways and roads.

-30-

Contact:

            Melvin Kaku, Director of Transportation Service, 523-4125

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767