By Don Gammill
The Oklahoman
If you've noticed more message boards along your route, it's intentional. In fact, there will be more in the future.
And they're all to help you and other motorists have a safe journey.
Whether they are portable message boards along the roadway or the dynamic message boards overhead, they are part of the
Oklahoma Transportation Department's Intelligent Transportation System.
The Intelligent Transportation System is part of a nationwide effort of the
Federal Highway Administration and the
U.S. Transportation Department "to improve and maintain the flow of traffic, improve safety and improve our ability, and the ability of first responders, to access an accident scene and respond accordingly,”
Transportation Department officials say.
As of July 1, the state agency had 31 partners statewide, including such groups as the
Civil Emergency Management Agency, Public Safety Department,
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, INCOG (a voluntary association of local governments serving
Creek,
Osage,
Tulsa,
Rogers and
Wagoner counties), and the cities of
Tulsa,
Oklahoma City,
Moore and
Midwest City.
Duane Cranford, network administrator for the state
Transportation Department's Traffic Engineering Division, said the system has 189 cameras in 43 locations (53 in Tulsa and 136 in Oklahoma City) for identifying traffic congestion areas and 18 message boards (seven in Tulsa and 11 in Oklahoma City).
At this time, individuals at consoles in various locations monitor the cameras, which give a clear picture of traffic conditions. If an accident occurs, help can be summoned rapidly from the nearest location.
Plans are that by late summer, the
Transportation Department will unveil a Web site where citizens can check for traffic congestion.
For those of you who still think this system is another way of enforcing speed laws and the like ... forget it. It is not. It's a safety and traffic maintenance system. And it's a good one.
So good, in fact, that other states are looking at it for use on their major routes.
"Alabama is interested in how we do the software for the system,” Duane said. "Kansas is interested. It's getting attention.”
Most-recent related work includes a closed-circuit television project in
McAlester, and a fiber-optic project in Oklahoma City on Lincoln Boulevard, Interstates 44 and 35 that connects the Public Safety Department, the
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, the
Office of State Finance and Transportation Department.
If you're curious about that arrangement, Finance needed to install a fiber-optic setup in the same area. So adding its funding to the project enables that to be accomplished at the same time.
Elsewhere, a closed-circuit television project is expected to begin soon in
Lawton; a Dynamic Message System communication project in Tulsa; and another one with Tulsa/Oklahoma City/turnpikes may begin later this year.
Since 2001, more than $10 million has been spent on the system. More will be needed as it expands and improves.
Is the system successful? Is it worth the cost?
Well, it's already made a difference in locating problem areas, accident scenes and response time for emergency personnel.
You be the judge.
If it gets help to a loved one faster in an emergency situation, that's a major consideration.
By the way ...
You might or might not notice the cameras along major routes such as the interstates, but I doubt you'll miss the message boards.
As of July 1, you could find the boards in Oklahoma City along I-44, along I-35 (in Moore as well) and on I-40.
In Tulsa, they were along
U.S. 169, State Highway 51, I-44,
U.S. 412 and I-244.
Check 'em out.
Enjoy your week and drive safely.
