Smart Roads

Not only can hybrid drivers begin to use the HOV (Diamond) Lane in California, now we have 'smart' freeway signs.

California's Department of Transportation unveiled a new system on Monday that is expected to help motorists answer that question. It won't ease congestion, but officials are hoping it will ease congestion anxiety.

Caltrans is posting estimated travel times on 14 electronic freeway signs across the region, part of a pilot program that the agency eventually hopes to expand.

The information on the signs comes from 15,000 sensors Caltrans has placed on freeways to measure traffic speed. The fiber optic system has a sensor every half mile of urban freeway, transmitting information every 30 seconds. Officials pick key commute markers and calculate the commute time given the traffic flow. Each sign contains commute times for two destinations.

The new project won't cost additional money because the sensors and freeway signs are already in place. The test period will last for three to six months on the 14 initial signs. If all goes well, Caltrans plans to extend the program to all 120 freeway signs across the region, said spokeswoman Deborah Harris.