Traffic Management

Traffic Operations Center

The 2,100-square-foot control room includes 32 video monitors mounted on a wall and large screens used to display traffic speed and weather information. There are four workstations in the control room. Operators at two of the stations monitor traffic in the Phoenix metro area, and the operators at the other two stations monitor traffic throughout the remainder of the state. There are 15 operators that work various shifts to ensure that there is 24-hour coverage in the control room. TOC staff constantly monitor the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, speed maps and CCTV monitors. When staff become aware of an incident, they use cameras to verify the incident and determine the appropriate response (e.g., dispatch DPS and/or ADOT staff, post messages on one or more Dynamic Message Signs [DMS], enter information into the Event Reporting System (ERS), which automatically places this information into the 511 system, etc.). ADOT staff anywhere in the state of Arizona can also input information into HCRS regarding construction and maintenance activities on the 6,000-mile state highway system. Many valley television stations now access live CCTV camera feeds from ADOT's cameras to show freeway conditions.

Incident Response Unit

This Incident Response Unit (IRU) was implemented on October 1, 2019. The 15 team members of Arizona Department of Transportation are responsible for 540 one-way road miles in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. The IRU primary focus is to meet the expectations of the motoring public in Traffic Incident Management Principles. The IRU team takes on a proactive approach for identifying traffic incidents which are unplanned roadway events that affect or impede the normal flow of traffic. Traffic incidents increase the likelihood of secondary crashes and pose a threat to the safety of incident responders as well as the traveling public. Incidents affect travel reliability, commerce, and transportation system performance. One of the essential responsibilities of IRU is public safety and ensuring the safe and quick clearance of traffic incidents. Furthermore, the IRU team utilizes strategies to coordinate multi-disciplinary processes to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that traffic flow may be restored as safely and quickly as possible.

Emergency Management

Departmental Emergency Operations Center

The DEOC is focused on operational and supportive efforts of the incidents impacting ADOT.  The ADOT DEOC may be activated in support of the State Emergency Operations Center or on its own.

Examples of scenarios that would cause the ADOT DEOC to activate:

  • Large scale coordination of a single or multiple related incidents (wildfires, major roadway infrastructure failure, large area evacuations, etc.),
  • Outage of ADOT facilities lasting an extended period of time causing interruption or relocation of mission critical functions,
  • Planned events where ADOT resources will need high level coordination and support, and/or
  • Other incidences where demand on ADOT personnel and property calls for the EOC support infrastructure.

Personal Preparedness Information Resources

 

For more information on Departmental Emergency Operations Centers, the following classes are suggested:

  • IS-775: EOC Management and Operations
  • IS-552: The Public Works Role in Emergency Management
  • MAG-190 1.0 ICS/DEOC Interface (available through erma.az.gov)

For more information on ADOT's DEOC, contact Emergency Management.