Transportation Management Center
For more than 20 years the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Transportation Management Center (TMC), has been ground zero for mobility in the state and the nerve center for our world-class intelligent transportation system (ITS). From the Olympics, to Super Bowls to Snow Jams, top state officials and the news media gather on the Ops Floor to get the latest information on traffic and watch operators dispatch and manage resources.
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the TMC is the headquarters and information clearinghouse for NaviGAtor – Georgia’s Intelligent Transportation System. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the TMC is committed to enhancing travel safety and transportation efficiency by managing incidents, controlling traffic, and providing accurate information to the traveling public.
TMC employees work behind the scenes to provide statewide incident management through a three phase process.
Phase 1: Collecting Information
The TMC monitors the roadways and collects real-time information from Video Detection System (VDS) cameras along the interstates. Operators also gather information taking 511 calls from travelers regarding traffic congestion and roadway incidents.
Phase 2: Confirm and Analyze Information
TMC employees must then confirm each incident by identifying the problem, the cause and the effect it will have on the roadway. The proper authorities, such as police, fire or HERO, are notified so they can respond to the incident.
Phase 3: Communicate the Information
The third step is communicating this information to travelers, allowing them to make informed travel decisions, through changeable message signs (CMS) on the roadways, the NaviGAtor website, media relations, audio messages from 511 calls and the new 511 Georgia smart-phone app.
10 Years of Service
ITS Georgia marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of the TMC with a panel of ITS pioneers who built the state’s intelligent transportation system.
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20 Years of Service
In the spring of 1996, the Georgia Department of Transportation opened the TMC and launched the NaviGAtor intelligent transportation system. For the past 20 years the TMC has been the symbol and substance of the ever-expanding and improving ITS system in Georgia.
June 29, ITS Georgia and the pioneers of the TMC gathered with more than 100 transportation professionals around the southeast to mark the occasion.
20 Year Upgrade
So, after 20 years of watching over millions of daily commuters, the TMC earned a facelift – and it’s not just cosmetic. To accommodate the expansion of electronic toll lanes on I-75, both north and south of the city, the State Road and Tollway Authority is moving and expanding its operation to the TMC. The expansion will allow make room for 36 operator pods, up from 19. Each pod will focus on one aspect of managing the expansive Interstate ITS system and to work with city and county-level control centers to manage surface streets.
ITS Georgia members got an exclusive behind the scenes look at the renovated TMC in January 2016.
Pods will also be assigned to the Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta region traffic specialists, 511 operations and HERO dispatchers.
Since the new I-75 toll lanes are reversible, their operation will be controlled from the TMC along with the variable pricing. HERO units will be on hand to make sure each day’s lane reversal goes smoothly.
ITS Georgia member firm AECOM is the designer of the $2.7 million project. Chapter Board member Mark Demidovich, who is assistant state traffic operations engineer, is providing engineering leadership.