ODOT's Traffic "Nerve Center" Ready for Bridge Breakdown

Portland, Oregon -- It looks a little like mission control but it's not. It's the Oregon Department of Transportation's Traffic Management Operations Center (TMOC), the agency's central nervous system for the Portland area's Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS). Next week the TMOC's mettle will be tested when the northbound span of the Interstate 5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver closes for emergency repairs.

The TMOC has been under construction for approximately 18 months and has operated on a limited program since March 1997 handling over 10,000 calls for assistance, information and coordination of incidents and traffic movement on the freeway system.

The center features two large video screens, 16 smaller monitors, and four workstations featuring computers, high and low band state radios, a metro-area 800 MHz system, fax machines and an extensive telephone network.

TMOC operators continuously assess traffic conditions based on information from 40* video cameras focused on travel lanes along key stretches of interstate freeways, numerous ramp meters and other innovative traffic control devices. With information in hand, operators activate variable message signs by computer to immediately alert motorists to a variety of traffic conditions caused by accidents, hazards or construction.

Another feature of the system is an incident response program (COMET). Responders drive five specially equipped trucks and patrol designated segments of Portland-area freeways to remove road hazards, provide motorist assistance, and improve on-scene incident management.

After six months of operation COMET has become an integral part of commuter traffic life in the Portland area. Responders have assisted over 2,600 disabled motorists; tagged and/or towed more than 1,200 abandoned and hazard vehicles; responded to more than 1,000 debris/hazard removal calls; and participated directly in on-scene traffic management at more than 500 incidents/accidents.

During the bridge closure the TMOC will be the command and control center for all traffic and systems function issues on the south side of the Columbia River. The TMOC will have direct communications with the city of Portland's Traffic Management Center, Bureau of Maintenance, police and fire agencies, as well as with the Oregon State Police. It will also oversee and coordinate 30 extra road patrols comprised of ODOT maintenance forces.

Additionally, the TMOC will have direct communication with Clark County's Emergency Communications Center, the city of Vancouver's police, fire and transportation agencies, as well as with Clark County and Washington state law enforcement and transportation agencies.

Real-time information will be supplied to traffic reporters via a new alpha-numeric paging system. Faxed trunnion updates and daily briefings will keep the media apprised of traffic conditions and construction project progress.

"The first phase of the advance traffic management system could not have come at a better time," said ODOT ATMS Manager Dennis Mitchell.

"Coordination and implementation is critical to the success of the trunnion Traffic Management Plan," Mitchell added.

Variable message signs alert motorists to a variety of traffic conditions caused by accidents, hazards or construction. Ten signs can be activated through ODOT's Traffic Management Operations Center (TMOC). Those signs are located ...

Traffic conditions can be monitored by way of ODOT video cameras located at strategic vantage points overlooking state freeways. Cameras are located at ...