Emergency traffic-light system expands in Manatee

After a successful trial run of a system that allows devices on emergency vehicles to control traffic signals while on emergency responses, Manatee County is about to expand its coverage to more intersections, including a few in Lakewood Ranch.

The pilot program for the county’s Emergency Vehicle Preemption system involved 24 intersections along U.S. 41, U.S. 301 and portions of State Road 64 in and around Bradenton and Palmetto. According to Manatee County, the system that has operated since 2024 has been well-received by emergency crews, leading to expansion plans. County commissioners approved those expansion plans on Nov. 4.

In total, 95 more intersections will soon be equipped with the technology. In Lakewood Ranch, the system will be set up at S.R. 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, 44th Avenue and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and 44th Avenue and Solutions Lane. Additional intersections west of Lakewood Ranch along 44th Avenue and along SR 64 will also be equipped, the county said.

Additionally, 48 more emergency vehicles will be equipped with the devices that communicate with traffic signals, bringing the county’s entire fire-rescue fleet to 100% equipped status. Initially, 10 EMS vehicles, eight ambulances and two supervisor vehicles were able to use the system.

Manatee County Traffic Engineering Division Manager Vishal Kakkad said in a news release that $1 million had been set aside for the project, about $300,000 of which was spent on the pilot program. Now, the remainder will go to fund the broader rollout.

“That first phase was deemed successful with no major issues, so we are coming back for the remaining $700,000 from the generational impact and expand this,” he said.

When an emergency vehicle is dispatched, the onboard preemption device communicates with traffic signals ahead, triggering green lights along its response path.  The goal is to reduce the number of times emergency vehicles have to enter intersections against red traffic lights, reducing risk of collision.

Clearing traffic ahead of time also serves the purpose of picking up and delivering the patient faster to the hospital. 

Once the emergency vehicle has passed, the system quickly reverts back to the normal traffic pattern to minimize any disruptions and keep traffic flowing. 

Manatee County’s emergency call center averages approximately 1,500 calls a day, and the average EMS response time is just over 8 minutes.  

“Every second counts in an emergency,” said Manatee County Public Safety Deputy Director James Crutchfield. “This investment ensures our teams can get to those in need faster and safer.”