Mayor announces new Istanbul traffic proposals

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş said the new system will be the first of its kind in the world. DHA photo

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş announced a series of new traffic proposals in a recent meeting in Istanbul, including a new signaling system that will allow jammed streets traffic light priority.

The new system will sense signals coming from vehicles going both directions and will regulate the timing of lights accordingly. Green lights will also be more frequent depending on vehicle movement.

Topbaş said the new system will be the first of its kind in the world, adding that transportation in urban centers is a subject of continual global debate.

The Istanbul Municipality is spending 55 percent of its investments on the issue of traffic and transportation, Topbaş added.

“No other municipality in the world is building its own subway,” Topbaş said. “We are currently building ours, so we may contribute to the solution of the problem.”

“These are all long-term solutions,” Topbaş added. “We are bringing forth short-term solutions as well, but our investments [in sustainable solutions] will continue.”