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In a nutshell: Nobody likes a freeway that's so congested it resembles a parking lot. The usual solution is to widen the road, but that comes with huge costs and lengthy disruptions. In California, transportation officials are piloting a much cheaper option: a "smart freeway" that uses an algorithm to control the flow of cars and offer suggested speeds.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission launched the smart freeway on an eight-mile stretch of the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 in Temecula on June 1.
SFGate reports that three on-ramp meters at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road are now managed by an algorithm. Unlike typical ramp meters, which operate on short fixed cycles, these determine when vehicles should be allowed to enter the freeway. That means drivers could end up waiting four minutes or more before being allowed to merge into traffic.
