> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Working together to quell traffic woes
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/working-together-to-quell-traffic-woes/
- Published: 2007-05-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:43:19.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Downtown, #archive-import

*TANKS A LOT*

(Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.) CITY HALL Looking to ease traffic congestion downtown, the City Council is expected to spend more than $4 million tonight on a synchronization system that will eventually link all 170 traffic signals citywide.

Scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2008, Phase 2 of the Advanced Traffic Management System will include modifications and upgrades to 11 traffic signals throughout downtown and five outside of the district, including required mitigation measures for the Public Safety Facility, the Civic Center Parking Structure and the Main Library.

Lincoln Boulevard from downtown to the southern city limit would also be included. Phase 1, which was completed in June 2006, focused on Fourth Street in downtown, according to a city staff report.

Phase 3 will cover three major arterials — Wilshire, Santa Monica and Pico boulevards. Design of Phase 3 will be initiated next year and construction is anticipated to commence during the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Phase 4 will target the Office District, Mid-City, Ocean Park Boulevard and Main Street/Neilson Way. If finances permit, construction would begin in 2009.

The final phase will cover the outlying areas such as San Vicente Boulevard and streets to the north. will be the primary conduit for communication between the signals and a traffic management center.

Future phases will include some wireless communication where possible. While most of the signals will need only minor modifications, 26 will require major upgrades to be brought into the system.

To pay for some of the upgrades, the City Hall will receive a $4.7 million grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That money will go towards improvements on current or future Rapid bus corridors.

Also on the council’s consent agenda is a request by city staff to modify an existing contract to provide additional improvements to underground storage tanks at various city-owned or operated facilities, including various fire stations.

The modification is not to exceed $8,872, according to a city staff report.

City Hall owns and operates 17 underground tanks at eight locations within the city. Since the contract with Fleming Environmental, Inc., was executed on Sept. 11, 2006, the Environmental Programs Division and the contractor identified enhancements to the monitoring equipment proposed for Fire Stations No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5.

“These improvements, while not mandated, will provide better fueling and avoid potential repair and or replacement in the future,” the report states.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 8, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050807.pdf?ref=smdp.com)