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Permian Basin MPO wins $156,000 grant to pilot AI traffic signals on SH‑191
Summary
The Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization told the Odessa City Council it received a $156,000 award to fund artificial‑intelligence traffic signal upgrades on State Highway 191 between Midland and Odessa and invited candidate sites for a separate grade‑separation fund created by recent state legislation.
The Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization informed the Odessa City Council that it has been awarded $156,000 to pilot artificial‑intelligence signal control along State Highway 191.
“We were the winners of it, the recipients of it. It's a $156,000,” Cameron Walker said, describing a competition that yielded three finalists and a final award to the MPO. Walker said five signals in each community — Midland and Odessa — will be fully funded under the award.
The MPO presentation framed the project as a corridor safety and congestion initiative for SH‑191, the major connector between Midland and Odessa. Walker described an 11‑person “brain trust” of local officials and stakeholders who met to design the proposal and said the effort grew from cooperative regional work with partners including the Permian Strategic Partnership and the Permian Road Safety Coalition.
Council members pressed staff on a separate state fund Walker referenced for off‑system grade‑separation projects. Walker said the statute passed earlier this year requires projects be off‑system — not already in the TxDOT or MPO portfolio — and suggested councilors bring candidate locations to the MPO advisory committee for consideration.
The presentation was informational; Walker encouraged local staff to coordinate with the MPO and with Midland counterparts on contract and procurement details. Council did not take formal action on the award during the meeting.
