Behind the scenes, a team of professionals works around the clock to keep traffic moving and prevent serious crashes on Central Texas’ busiest toll roads.
At the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority's Traffic & Incident Management Center, the mission is simple: detect roadway incidents and clear them as quickly as possible.
“[We help] the traveling public experience the least amount of disruptions during their commutes,” Traffic & Incident Management manager Fabiola Bowers said.
What kinds of incidents do they handle?
Most of the calls involve common issues, such as stalled vehicles, minor crashes or debris, but these can be more dangerous than they seem.
“Any disruption causes people to rubberneck, resulting in distracted driving and then secondaries,” Bowers said.
How does technology help them respond faster?
The team uses an advanced system of cameras, sensors and software to stay ahead of potential problems.
“We have sensors that are out on the roadway to detect any slowdowns,” Bowers said. “We also have some integrations that help us to determine [incidents that are] difficult to detect, such as hard braking in certain areas, or, in relation to weather, windshield wiper activations.”
Because they can’t watch every camera all the time, these alerts are key to helping the team move quickly and efficiently.
Are there any recent upgrades drivers should know about?
The agency recently rolled out Highway Emergency Response Operators, or HERO, trucks on two additional roadways. These trucks actively patrol and can immediately respond to issues they come across.
“[Our HERO team] makes one of the biggest differences for our incident response [times],” Bowers said.
The center is also working on new safety messaging and radar-based speed signs to raise awareness about speeding. Ongoing analysis of crash data helps the team identify problem areas and suggest changes, such as better signage or longer merge lanes.
How does the center work with emergency responders?
When an incident occurs, the center immediately contacts the appropriate regional partners, from local law enforcement to emergency crews. Operators are trained to know which agency to call based on the incident location.
“We're all trying to work together for one mission: to get travelers to their destination safely,” traffic supervisor Joseph Williams said.
The agency also attends monthly AIM High meetings where law enforcement, engineers and safety officials review recent incidents to share lessons learned and improve coordination.
“There are always improvements [that can be made] in any agency, and [the Aim High meetings] give us the opportunity to review those findings [and continue improving],” Williams said.
What do they want drivers to know?
The top safety tips are simple but often overlooked: stay alert, slow down and avoid distractions while driving.
“If everyone just put their phones down and focused on the road, we could prevent a lot of crashes and save lives,” Williams said.
Why does this work matter?
Though their work isn’t visible to most drivers, the team at the Traffic & Incident Management Center makes an impact every day.
“The majority of the traveling public don't know that we exist. They don't know what we do, and they don't know the difference that we make on a daily basis,” Bowers said. “Seeing how quickly we can not only detect an incident, but clear it by calling the appropriate resources makes all the difference.”
That difference is ultimately what leads to fulfillment for the team.
“I've been in this industry for about 13 years,” Williams said. “I get enjoyment from making sure a mom, dad or their kids get to their destination safely. Ultimately, that's my goal, and that’s what gives me enjoyment.”
To learn more about the Mobility Authority’s Traffic & Incident Management Center, click here.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
