The Intelligent Transportation System is officially up and running.

Although the system has been working for a few weeks now, ITS was officially brought online in a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 10.

“This is the culmination of several hard years,” Director of Public Works Bob Brock said. “It turned into what you see behind us. … This is state of the art, the best in today’s technology.”

ITS is a system that allows city staff members to monitor and adjust traffic lights to make things flow more efficiently and smoothly. The system’s 19 cameras and command station with multiple display screens make it possible to adjust for delays such as accidents and constructions projects. Four message boards throughout the city will alert drivers to potential congestion.

“It’s a highly cost-effective way to manage our traffic,” Brock said.

“It’s a way to expand without expanding,” Mayor Ava Frisigner added.

The project was approved in a bond measure in November 2004, and was originally slated to cost $3.63 million. However, the city was able to obtain grants after the election to cover $1.89 million. City officials plan to hold several open houses in August, September and October to collect the public’s opinion about how the extra funds should be spent. Some ideas include adding a traffic flow map to the city’s Web site and the possibility of viewing the traffic camera feeds online.

City officials had said before the bond that any unspent funds would only be used to pay off the bond or on the same project.

The system has already brought about improvements in many of Issaquah’s corridors.

The biggest improvement has been on Park Drive, where from Highlands Drive to 9th Avenue Northeast the average travel time in the morning has gone from about 35 seconds to 13, a 63 percent decrease.

Front Street has also seen improvements, from Newport Way to Northwest Dogwood Street has improved 54 percent, from 2 minutes and 1 second to 56 seconds.

The system is also able to give emergency responders real time traffic information.

The numerous cameras are all relayed back to the command center, where staff can watch the intersections to see if any improvements can be made.

Currently the command center is only staffed during business hours, however the hope is to one day get a laptop so the command center can go mobile and then perhaps be monitored during non-business hours.

Reporter Kyra Low can be reached at 425-391-0363 or klow@reporternewspapers.com.