ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems)

The ITS Section provides support for ITS technology systems throughout Arizona. The team is comprised of an ITS/IT team that covers all technology and telecommunication support systems for ITS, a Traffic Analysis section that specializes in recurring and nonrecurring congestion, and a Maintenance Analyst who tracks millions of dollars in funding related to ITS.

ITS/IT & Telecommunications

The ITS/IT section is responsible for maintaining all computer and telecommunications equipment under control of the Transportation Technology Group. Their primary focus is the support of ITS-specific systems, which differs greatly from standard end-user IT support.

With less than a half-dozen professionals, the ITS/IT Section performs ITS/IT Management, Windows-based Administration, Unix-based Administration, Non-Windows-based Network Administration, Programming, Systems Engineering, Configuration Management, GIS Development, Telecommunications Support, Traveler-based Website maintenance, and operation of Arizona’s 511 Traveler Information Telephone System, in addition to providing 24/7 support to the Control Room.

The section stays on the leading edge of technology, working with such ITS systems/items as a 350-port Video Switch, Statewide 511 Voice Response Activated (telephone) System (VRAS), Statewide Traveler Information Website with real-time GIS-based incident mapping, Statewide Departmental Radio Communications, multi-recipient Paging System (for administrative notices of key incidents as well as maintenance response initiation), Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) server control, Traffic Signal server control, and Weather Monitoring Systems for advance knowledge of flooding adjacent to freeways.  All of this is housed in an online (zero-millisecond lag time) UPS- and generator-protected facility and makes for a fast-paced, fun place to work.

Traffic Analysis

Traffic Analysis is divided into two areas, recurring and non-recurring.

Recurring traffic issues such as congestion can occur every morning and every afternoon while motorists are commuting to and from home and work.  Ramp meters are one tool that staff utilize to reduce the amount of recurring congestion.  Ramp meters are installed on a series of interchanges to control the amount of traffic entering the freeway.  In general, the timing for ramp meters is related to the amount of traffic on the freeway; the green and red lights will have variable times depending on the volume of traffic on the freeway--ideally, the green lights will be timed so motorists can easily merge onto the freeway.  A complex process of corridor evaluations are involved in determining the location and timing pattern of the ramp meters.  The use of ramp meters improves both traffic safety and traffic flow.

Non-recurring congestion is caused by a wide variety of events. Staff participate in the planning for funerals, football games, basketball games, baseball games, automobile races, mass evacuations, bicycle tours, construction activities, maintenance activities, etc.  Staff prepare a weekly report on activities that will severely restrict traffic on highways and freeways.  In addition, staff prepare a monthly report on all major incidents (e.g., highway and freeway closures, fatal crashes, large fires, etc.).  Furthermore, staff participate in meetings to improve homeland (transportation) security.

Maintenance Analyst

The Maintenance Analyst is charged with tracking all ongoing ITS projects and their associated budgets to assure projects are completed within available budgets. With dozens of ITS projects underway at any given time, the Maintenance Analyst is responsible for budgets in the millions of dollars.

The Maintenance Analyst works closely with a variety of Project Managers on such elements as receiving procurement requests, processing requests into the procurement system, receiving items ordered, invoicing, and budget tracking and analysis.