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ADOT's TOC staff works to keep traffic moving

ADOT's TOC staff works to keep traffic moving

October 23, 2013

Whether it’s a traffic jam, crash, flood, or even a produce spill – if it happens on the state’s highway system, you can bet ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center is already working to ease the impact it will have on drivers.

The Traffic Operations Center (referred to around here as the TOC), is ADOT’s state-of-the-art electronic data hub. Open 24 hours a day, the TOC is where ADOT staff keeps an eye on traffic conditions around the state.

But they’re not just watching…

Everyone at the TOC is actively working to help make your commute as smooth and safe as possible. They're also letting motorists know what to expect on the road.

“We have many ways to let the public know about what’s going on, on the roadways. We use our Twitter site as well as AZ 511,” says ADOT Public Information Officer Caroline Carpenter in the video above, adding that the ADOT website and Facebook page are also options for learning about road closures and alternate routes. “And, if you’re driving we have nearly 200 overhead messaging boards across the state that will give you all of the information as to what’s happening on the roadways ahead of you.”

Strong partnership

If there’s a crash or other type of incident on the state’s roads, the staff at the TOC will work closely with the Arizona Department of Public Safety until traffic is moving again.

DPS Officer Carrick Cook explains in the video how that partnership is valuable to drivers.

“The people that work at the TOC are a great asset and without their help, people would be stuck in these crashes for a very long time … we rely heavily on them and we appreciate everything they do,” said Cook.

A few more facts about the TOC

  • The TOC monitors more than 250 traffic cameras throughout the state.
  • There are 40 reconfigurable 55-inch flat-panel displays that line a wall in the TOC.
  • Traffic cameras are only for monitoring traffic flow. ADOT does NOT record the video (we get asked about this from time to time … and, in case you ever wondered, the cameras aren’t used for speed enforcement).
  • The dynamic message signs used by TOC staff to warn drivers of what’s ahead are also used for weather advisories and Amber Alerts.

For more on the TOC, see our blog post about its recent high-tech overhaul. You can also read about how ADOT enhanced its online traffic camera images earlier this year and learn how ADOT calculates those freeway travel times.