For the Herald
FAIRBORN – The City of Fairborn has installed its first Traffic Signal Pre-Emption (TSP) system at the Commerce Center Boulevard and Dayton-Yellow Springs Road intersection. This GPS-based device makes the intersection safer for the public when apparatus from Fire Station No. 2 are dispatched, in addition to assisting in reducing response times.
Once triggered by apparatus responding from Station No. 2, the traffic signals change to halt conflicting traffic to allow emergency vehicles the right-of-way. A confirmation light mounted on the mast above the traffic signal lets firefighters know the signal is working properly.
Fairborn Fire Division Chief Dave Reichert said once the TSP is activated, it determines how fast and from what direction the fire apparatus is approaching the intersection. The TSP then knows when to provide a green light to fire apparatus and red lights to all other traffic.
“During heavily congested traffic times, fire apparatus usually has to go left of center and into oncoming traffic to get through the DYS-Commerce Center intersection,” Reichert said. “This device will prevent us from having to go left of center ensuring safety to the firefighters and to the public.”
Firefighters activate the TSP by either turning on emergency lights or using a bypass so that the pre-emption can be activated by a manual switch. Only apparatus that have the TSP equipment installed can activate the signal.
Future planned intersections to receive TSP include Colonel Glenn Highway and Funderburg Road, and at Five Points, as funding permits.
