"Improving traffic signal operations is one of our best options to enhance safety and reduce congestion for motorists using unincorporated area roadways. SACDOT has embraced the use of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology as a high-tech solution to improve our existing traffic signal system," said Tom Zlotkowski, director of the Sacramento County Department of Transportation. "Since the size of the local roadway system has grown just 1% since the 1990's, we need to get more out of what we have -- which is 2,100 miles of streets and 600 signalized intersections. Giving public access to real time traffic cameras at these intersections provides motorists another information resource to check when planning their commute or for trips in the community," he added.
The heart of Sacramento County's traffic management system is the Traffic Operations Center (TOC) which was opened in 2001. This state-of-the-art facility enables staff to monitor and improve traffic conditions as problems occur in four major transportation corridors in the Sacramento Area (Watt, Sunrise, Madison, Greenback) and at 300 signalized intersections. Corridors are monitored with 37 cameras communicating on 27 miles of fiber optic cable as well as the signalized intersections on both fiber optic and copper interconnect cable.
TOC staff monitors in these corridors and intersections and makes adjustments to signal operations to improve the flow of traffic. In addition to improving traffic flow and safety, staff can respond to accidents, hazardous spills and other emergencies by changing traffic signal timing and posting messages on any of five changeable message signs located on the corridors.
