Technical Tours
SMART SunGuide TMC - Fort Lauderdale
The SMART SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC) is a 24-hour facility run by FDOT District 4 and the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division. The TMC monitors freeways and major arterial routes with 45 closed circuit TV cameras, 67 speed sensors, traffic signal control devices and a fleet of Road Ranger Service Patrol vehicles. In coordination with local law enforcement and fire rescue, TMC operators identify incidents, disabled vehicles and other interruptions to traffic with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment. Information from the TMC is currently displayed on 31 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and on the region's 5-1-1 Advanced Traveler Information Service. For real-time traffic conditions or information about the SMART SunGuide TMC, please visit www.SMARTSunGuide.com.
Florida's Turnpike TMC - Pompano Beach
Originally constructed in 1957, Florida's Turnpike system now encompasses tolled highway in South, Central, and West Central Florida. The TMC located in Pompano Beach (near Fort Lauderdale) is a 24-hour facility and is one of two facilities that manage traffic conditions along Florida's Turnpike system. Florida's Turnpike has rapidly expanded its ITS program to include over 325 miles of fiber optic network that is used for supporting 317 CCTV traffic cameras, 28 DMS, 10 HAR, vehicle detection devices, as well as the Turnpike's SunPass electronic toll collection program. The TMC is responsible for working closely with the Florida Highway Patrol to initiate and monitor the highly-innovative Rapid Incident Scene Clearance program, an incentive based partnership Florida's Turnpike has with the towing industry to quickly clear and reopen the highway after major incidents.
http://www.floridasturnpiketraffic.com/
Palm Beach County ITMS TMC - West Palm Beach
The Palm Beach County Interim Traffic Management System (ITMS) is a comprehensive traffic and incident management system designed to address the traffic impacts of the interstate 95 reconstruction and Tri-Rail double-track expansion throughout Palm Beach County. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 and Federal Highway Administration sponsor the project. The mission of ITMS is to provide effective incident management and traveler information within the I-95 corridor between Boca Raton and Jupiter. ITMS began operations in July 2003 and is now a 24/7/365 operation. A staff of fourteen (14) operators and supervisors coordinate all incident management and information dissemination. The operation center contains six workstations, a rear-projection video wall, server room, conference room, reception area and 24x7 support facilities.
http://www.pb-itms.org/
SunGuide TMC - Miami
The District 6 SunGuide TMC is located at 1000 NW 111 Avenue, Miami, Florida. It was officially dedicated and opened on June 25, 2004. The SunGuide TMC is a 32,000 square foot facility featuring a multi-screen wall and eight console workstations where staff monitor and control closed-circuit television cameras, dynamic message signs, and vehicle detectors, and dispatch Road Rangers to clear accidents, remove debris, and assist stranded motorists. The Florida Highway Patrol, collocated in the facility, operates 18 workstations on the second floor. The SunGuide ITS TMC is a secured facility with closed-circuit television cameras set up to view the building's exterior as well as inside hallways and restricted areas (card entry access to sensitive rooms). An ID badge system provides separate control for the FDOT and FHP personnel. The building was designed to sustain the impact of a major hurricane and has a diesel emergency generator and an uninterruptible power system supported with batteries for continuous operation during power outages.
http://www.sunguide.org/
SunPass Customer Service Center - Boca Raton
SunPass, the State of Florida’s prepaid, electronic tolling program, began in 1999. It has since grown by leaps and bounds, selling its three-millionth transponder in April, 2007. SunPass customers enjoy the ease and convenience of electronic tolling as well as access to the Turnpike’s ever growing network of SunPass-only toll lanes, ramps and interchanges which process traffic at a faster rate, reducing congestion and associated traffic tie ups. SunPass customers also save an average of 25 percent on tolls at most toll plazas.
http://www.sunpass.com/
Florida International University ITS Lab - Miami
The Lehman Center for Transportation Research (LCTR) at Florida International University (FIU) was established in 1993 in honor of Congressman Bill Lehman and his tireless efforts to make South Florida a better place. Located in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, LCTR is committed to conducting research and training to improve transportation mobility and safety, and educating a multidisciplinary workforce to plan, manage, and implement transportation systems. LCTR is the only transportation center of its kind in South Florida -- home to more than a third of Florida's 16 million populations. Since its inception, LCTR has conducted numerous research projects in the areas of public transportation, GIS, transportation demand modeling, land use planning, intelligent transportation systems, transportation safety, traffic simulation, and transportation databases. The Center currently has an active staff of over 20 full-time researchers and over 20 graduate and undergraduate research assistants. With over 50 graduate students, the educational program is currently the largest in the State of Florida and one of the largest in the nation.
http://lctr.eng.fiu.edu/
'95 Express Lanes' – A Regional Congestion Mitigation Project Underway!
In an effort to provide new and enhanced mobility options for motorists and transit users in the region, The Florida Department of Transportation ( FDOT) is planning a Pilot Project to provide Managed Lanes on Interstate 95 (I-95), from I-395 in Miami-Dade County, to I-595 in Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale). The I-95 Managed Lanes Pilot reflects a growing national trend where urban areas are converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes into HOT (High Occupancy Toll) facilities; and is to be called '95 Express'. The 95 Express lanes will have variable congestion pricing, or tolls, that fluctuate with increased congestion so that an operating speed of 50 MPH can be maintained. Transit (buses) and registered high occupancy vehicles with three or more people (HOV-3) could use the 95 Express lanes at no cost. Additionally, all other vehicles will be allowed to enter the 95 Express lanes by paying a toll with the use of SunPass – South Florida’s Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. During your visit to South Florida for the 2008 Freeway and Tollway Operations Conference, this project should be underway; however it is not part of the technical tours. If you are interested in more information on this project, use the following link for regular updates – www.95express.com – and be on the lookout for project progress while you’re participating in the 2008 FTOC Technical Tours.
Please let us know your tour preferences by filling out a short form.
For any questions regarding off-site activities, please contact Dan Smith at 954-847-2785.
