It seems the warmer the weather gets in Santa Monica the worse the traffic becomes.
But city officials hope a new municipally-owned radio station that broadcasts continuous traffic updates can cool off some the city’s notorious summer congestion.
“We want to try to help people get around our city as easily as possible,” sad Lucy Dyke, the city’s transportation manager. “One aspect of that is real time information about where there is congestion and where there is available parking.”
The antenna for a low frequency AM radio station — 1640 on your radio dial — has been installed at the city yards on Michigan Avenue and 24th Street.
The signal from the radio station will only be audible within the city’s limits, and the broadcasts will be limited to traffic and parking information.
Though officials believe they will be able to broadcast advocacy spots, advertising off-beach parking locations that have a free shuttle service to the beach.
“We want to get the message out that you can get out of your car and park once in Santa Monica,” said Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown. “We provide a lot of services that people who come visit us don’t know about.”
Officials have not decided when the new AM radio station will begin broadcasting, but they believe it may be up and running within the next two months.
All the equipment has been purchased and all the necessary permits have been received from the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates television and radio.
“It’s a special FCC license given to communities specifically for traffic use,” said McKeown, a former general manager at KROQ Los Angeles. “If a voice off the dash board can help get cars off the street, I’m all for it.”
“If a voice off the dash board can help get cars off the street, I’m all for it.” — — KEVIN MCKEOWN Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem
Now all the city needs to do is decide where the broadcast booth will be located and how information from the police and fire departments, and other city departments will be collected.
2CC,“It’s a brand new system for us,” said Dyke, who has been leading the city’s efforts to create the new radio station. “Most of our traffic problems are regular occurrences and we can predict when they are likely to occur.”
“But we will need someone to actively update it,” she added.
The city also plans to broadcast which downtown parking structures and beach lots have available spaces. Those spaces can be monitored through a new electronic system the city has installed to monitor the city-owned parking decks.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 10, 2002. Read the original PDF.