Virginia DOT to Ease Congestion with New Technology

AASHTO Journal, 10 May 2013

The Virginia Department of Transportation announced this week it was adding a private sector partner to cut down traffic congestion along the state’s highways.

VDOT and Gov. Bob McDonnell reported Tuesday that a Notice of Intent to Award has been issued to Serco, Inc., to operate the state’s five transportation operations centers and manage the Safety Service Patrol in Virginia.

The six-year, $355 million contract would direct Serco, Inc. to: monitor traffic through 900 cameras, 500 electronic signs, and 1,000 road sensors; both improve and maintain electronic device reliability; manage incident and emergency response; dispatch Safety Service Patrol to address incidents; provide 511 traveler information to reduce driver travel times; manage HOV and reversible lanes; provide emergency responders with real-time information; coordinate signal systems; and serve as emergency operations centers during major events.

“The result is using technology to be the eyes, ears and voice of Virginia’s road transportation system, so we can go into immediate action to prevent accidents, clear incidents, make our roads safer, and immediately inform motorists so they can reach their destinations faster,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton in a statement. “Our transportation system in Virginia must be more reliable than other states’ and countries in order for us to remain competitive economically.”

VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley also expressed his excitement for the project.

“I am very pleased with the progress VDOT has made in collaborating with the private industry to develop the best solutions to improve transportation through technology,” Whirley said. “It takes all tools and methods, including technology, operations, and first-class communication systems, in addition to maintenance and construction to make our highway system operate as smoothly as possible.”

The Commonwealth Transportation Board will consider the contract and is scheduled to decide whether to award the finalist during a meeting in June.

VDOT first released a Request for Information July 2012, generating interest and suggestions from the private sector on how all five transportation operations centers in the state could operate more as one system to better deliver services to motorists. VDOT reports more than 30 companies responded to the RFI.

Additional information on the project is available here. ​​

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