Officials hope the new technology will save seconds and ultimately, lives.
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Changes are coming to intersections across New Braunfels as the city rolls out new technology designed to help emergency vehicles move through traffic faster and more safely.
City officials say the cloud-based system will allow fire trucks to switch traffic lights from red to green as they approach an intersection, reducing delays during emergencies and lowering the risk of crashes.
“Every time that we slow down, we also slow down our response, which can impact our citizens,” Fire Chief Ruy Lozano said.
The technology is installed underneath fire trucks and communicates directly with traffic signals when emergency lights are activated. When a fire engine approaches an intersection, the system sends a signal that turns the light green in its direction while holding cross traffic at a red light.
Lozano said intersections pose growing dangers for firefighters.
“The roadways have become one of the most dangerous places for firefighters because too many times when crossing an intersection, a distracted driver might hit an emergency vehicle,” he said.
City officials say those lost seconds can be critical, especially when transporting patients or responding to fires.
“Give us the green light so that we can cross safely while the red light holds everyone else in place,” Lozano said. “It makes that transport to the scene or the hospital safer.”
The system is expected to be installed at New Braunfels intersections within the next six months. Funding for the project comes from a $140 million bond approved by voters in 2023, which is dedicated to transportation improvements.
“A big part of it is citywide intersection improvement,” said Garry Ford, the city’s director of transportation and construction services.
Ford said the rapid growth of New Braunfels has made upgrades like this increasingly important.
“We’ve been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for the last decade,” he said. “We started with 20 signals and now we’re about 70 signals. Getting this technology to our signals is really important.”
The technology is currently available for the fire department. City leaders say discussions are underway with the New Braunfels Police Department about equipping select patrol vehicles with the system in the future.
Officials hope the new technology will save seconds and ultimately, lives.