STC solves pass-by problem at Mountain View, CA facility

TEMPE AZ 02/26/2007 - Solar Traffic Controls (STC) has furnished a modified version of its Solar Ped-X system to enhance traffic safety at the Mountain View Sanitary District's industrial facility in northern California. The facility has a curved private road with a one-lane tunnel for vehicle access. Vehicles would sometimes meet head-on in the tunnel resulting in one vehicle having to back up and wait for the other to pass. Often, large semi-trucks had difficulty backing up due to the curved approach on either side of the tunnel.

STC was able to rewrite the software for the standard Solar Ped-X product to accommodate this unique project. The system consists of two solar flasher poles each equipped with a single red lamp and a TC26B microwave vehicle detector (MS SEDCO) on each pole. The two poles are connected via frequency hopping spread spectrum radios. Flashers remain in the dark state in standby.

When a vehicle approaching a sensor is detected, a call is generated to the system controls. The opposite flasher then goes to flashing red. The vehicle detected is given a single flash to indicate it has been recognized and granted right of way. The controls include a programmable timer for the red flash sequence which can be set to time out after a delay of up to 1.5 minutes from the last detection on a sensor. Custom signs to go with the flashers were furnished by the Contra Costa traffic department. This project typifies the flexibility of many of STCÕs products to be adapted to industrial safety situations in addition to standard DOT projects.

About Solar Traffic Controls, LLC
Solar Traffic Controls (STC) designs and manufactures solar-powered traffic control systems for city, state and federal DOTs. Its primary products are solar-powered flashing beacon systems used for school zones and 24-hour applications. What sets STC's systems apart from its competitors: technical merit. For more information, please visit www.solar-traffic-controls.com