City Stop Light Project in Washington

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   Through cooperation with the state department of transpiration, emergency responders in the city of Washington will soon have the ability to pre-empt stoplights.  Mayor Joe Wellman told the Washington Times Herald the project has been under discussion with INDOT for some time and originally INDOT was to pay 90% of the cost with the city picking up the tab for the remaining 10%.  Recently however, the mayor was informed that INDOT will pay 100% of the cost.  Once construction is complete, Wellman says, “By using GPS and links to the lights, police and fire will get the right of way and stop other traffic.”  While the city will not have to pay any of the actual construction costs, it will contribute $2,900 for planning expenses.   The Times-Herald story goes on to say that the pre-emption project is in addition to a separate project the state is doing with stop lights in the city.  “They are putting in all new signals on SR 57,” the mayor told the paper, “but when they are done, we will be going into the control boxes and putting in this new equipment.”  The project is expected to be completed sometime this Fall. Eventually ambulances, sheriff’s deputies, state police, conservation officers, and volunteer fire departments  may be able to tap into and use the system