By Gitte Laasby, Post-Tribune staff writer
A private company wants to give Indiana commuters real-time traffic information about highway road conditions, buses and flights to avoid congestion and promote safety.
But they want taxpayers to foot the development cost and RDA board members want more details.
The company has drummed up support from several regional economic development agencies, state Sen. David Ford and state Rep. Edmond Soliday and Purdue University Calumet Chancellor Howard Cohen.
In a draft funding proposal, 21CSI has requested $4 million from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority to develop a model of the system.
"You can't add any more lanes. You're forced to do more with what you have," Robert Wichlinski, director of Commercial Systems Group, told an RDA working group Friday morning. He represented 21CSI at the meeting.
The RDA group is considering whether to send the funding request to the full board for a vote.
Under 21CSI's system, information would be collected from radar, road sensors, cameras, INDOT, the Toll Road, the National Weather Service and other sources.