VISTA - A small computer monitor at City Hall flashes simple, primary color graphics of automobiles, traffic lanes and pedestrians. It resembles an Atari video game, circa 1980, but city engineers say Vista's recently updated traffic control program is deceptively powerful.

"This is Art's toy," said Director of Engineering and Public Works Larry Pierce, referring to the city's traffic signal interconnect program and its primary operator, Art Brown.

Using software called QuicNet, which is used by most cities in San Diego County, the system allows city staff to monitor traffic flow and make real-time adjustments to signals to accommodate accidents, construction and the like, said Brown, the city's transportation operations manager. Staff members can set time for signals remotely to keep traffic flowing, Pierce said.

Late last year, the city completed the second of the interconnect system's three planned phases, connecting 12 intersections along two major roads -- Vista Village Drive from South Santa Fe Avenue to Melrose Drive; and Melrose Drive from West Vista Way to Melrose Way -- with underground fiber optic cables.

In May, city staff finished its timing studies for the new signals, but it will take a few months to work out the kinks, Brown said.

"You have to see (the intersections) at different times of the day," Brown said. "What looks good on paper doesn't always look good in the field."

City staff uses separate computer programs to devise signal timing patterns before downloading them into the central computer. Before the interconnect program, signals had to be programmed on-site, Brown said.

With the completion of Phase II, there are about 40 signals plugged into the network, officials said. Vista has 97 signals, though some are operated and maintained by Caltrans, Brown said.

On the computer screen at City Hall, graphical representations of tiny blue cars stack up as roadway sensors feel cars doing the same. When traffic signals change or a pedestrian pushes a button to cross the road, it's noted on the monitor.

At three of the city's busiest intersections -- Vista Village Drive and North Santa Fe; East Vista Way and Escondido Avenue; South Santa Fe and Escondido Avenue -- city staff can monitor road conditions on a large plasma screen that broadcasts video from closed circuit cameras.

The program's first phase, which included installation of the central computer and its connection to traffic signals along parts of East Vista Way, North and South Santa Fe Avenues, Escondido Avenue and Vista Village Drive, was completed in 2003.

Both Phase I and II were paid for by $850,000 in federal grants, Pierce said.

The city is beginning preparations for Phase III, which would include "a good chunk" of the unconnected signals, Pierce said. But right now, "we don't have enough money." At least, not if the work is done to the same specifications.

Because the bulk of the expense has come from burying cables underground, city staff is exploring other technologies that would allow the signals to communicate wirelessly, he said.

Pierce smiled when asked what driving would be like without the interconnect system.

"You would get to stop at every traffic signal," he said.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 631-6621 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.