Status: Postponed.

Budgeted funds: $150,000.

Project spending: None.

Background: Town officials had hoped to add 14 new closed-circuit cameras at key intersections around town to keep a closer eye on traffic flow and improve response to car crashes or inclement weather.

Traffic engineers were still evaluating a list of proposed sites for the cameras when Cary officials pulled the plug on the project due to budget constraints.

Designs for the camera installations also were in the works when the project was postponed.

A report prepared by Cary's transportation staff states that the project has been considered an important one because "inability to monitor certain intersections will reduce the effectiveness of the Traffic Management Center."

The report notes that, in addition to their more common function of monitoring for congestion, public works and utilities workers utilize the cameras during snow events and other emergencies.

Cary already monitors traffic flow via cameras placed at 23 intersections around town, including, for example, the intersections of Cary Parkway at Tryon Road and Regency Parkway at Ederlee Drive. Signal system engineers monitor the cameras on television screens at Cary's Traffic Management Center in the engineering department at Town Hall.

The town had considered adding cameras at: Cary Parkway at High House Road; NE Maynard Road at Chapel Hill Road; Tryon Road between Walnut Street and Jones Franklin Road; Davis Drive between Morrisville Parkway and Morrisville Market; U.S. 64 at Lake Pine Drive; Cary Parkway at Old Apex Road, NW Maynard Road at Chapel Hill Road; Maynard Road at Old Apex Road; High House Road at NW Maynard Road; Cary Parkway at Waldo Rood Boulevard; Kildaire Farm Road at Penny Road; Kildaire Farm Road at Ten Ten Road; Academy Street at Dry Avenue; and Harrison Avenue at Weston Parkway.

Staff Writer Jordan Cooke