Internet may aid commute

Imagine an evening commute without having to file into one lane to avoid a construction zone or sit idle in the car until a traffic accident is cleared.

It is a possibility -- even in Las Vegas.

Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone plans to introduce an innovative Internet website Tuesday that will eventually give commuters with computers a peek at the valley's intersections.

Malone said the computer system will be linked to new traffic-monitoring cameras being installed in intersections. Computer-users will be able to click on an intersection and watch a 3-minute real-time video of the traffic flow.

"You can basically chart your way to work or your way home," Malone said. "Ultimately what this system will be able to do is you can type in where you live and where you want to go and it will give you the best route to take."

Malone said the cost of the program will be minimal, since the cameras are already equipped with the proper devices.

The county's website may not have the traffic program installed for a year, but it will serve another purpose.

Malone said he thought about building a site after residents in his district complained about constant road construction.

Many roads stretch through the county and city of Las Vegas and Malone said rarely do the two entities talk about who is doing what roadwork. The result often times is construction occurring on the same road.

When the website is built, the county and each city in the valley will inform UNLV computer experts when they plan to start a road project, when it will be completed and how much it will cost.

UNLV, which will operate the website, will log in the information.

Malone said not only will residents know what roads to avoid, but local governments can work together and save taxpayers money. He said he also hopes to get Prime Cable and the water and sanitation divisions involved.

If each service company does its work while the road is open, it will reduce the number of patches and bumps on streets. Agencies also will save money by sharing repaving costs.

"If Prime Cable is hooking something up and county public works needs to do something, we'll go out with Prime Cable," Malone said. "It's an opportunity for coordination."

Malone said there is a clause that says after a street is paved, it cannot be cut into for five years. Because of a lack of coordination and increase in construction, he said, that clause has been ignored.

"People always ask why I'm so into computers," Malone said. "I just think we should utilize technological advancements to the best of our ability."

Malone will make his presentation to fellow commissioners during Tuesday's County Commission meeting.

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