Ventura Traffic-Light Bill Gets a Green Light

A state bill containing $250,000 to synchronize 40 traffic lights in Ventura cleared a hurdle this week as it passed through a major legislative committee.

The bill, proposed by Assemblyman Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto), passed through the state Assembly Ways and Means Committee on a 12 to 9 vote, clearing the way for the measure to be heard next Tuesday on the assembly floor.

If passed, funds would be used to connect the signals to a central computer system which monitors and adjusts traffic signal timings to handle rush-hour traffic and bottlenecks due to accidents. Most of the other 95 traffic signals in Ventura are synchronized through the system.

Money to pay for the project would come from the state Petroleum Violation Escrow Account, which includes money collected from oil companies which violated federal oil price regulations during the 1970s.