The “smart stoplights” in San José’s Plaza González Víquez haven’t functioned properly since a weekend robbery in which thieves made off with the fiber optic cable that fed them intelligence, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT).
Traffic has slowed on Paseo Colón, said Ministry Assistant Director Mario Chavarría, because coordination has been cut off between the control center and some of the stoplights in downtown San José, the daily La Nación reported.
The ministry calculates thieves stole as much as 50 meters of cable.
The transport authorities installed the high-tech stoplights – equipped with video cameras – in November, aiming to steady San José’s traffic from a control room.
