Overview
The Illinois Tollway’s Traffic Operations Center (TOC) — which monitors about 1,400 close-circuit cameras, 400 vehicle detection systems and about 300 miles of roadways — created its own mobile-friendly web application, the TIMS2GO Mobile Incident Response Tool, to give TOC traffic and incident managers the ability to gather real-time incident information and develop appropriate response plans.
Impact
The TIMS2GO app has been fully operational since late 2020, providing employees with instant access to livestreaming video, incident details and response status updates. Staff can quickly and easily communicate with first responders and roadway maintenance personnel, giving them the information they need to familiarize themselves with an incident and mitigate additional safety risks before they arrive on the scene.
For example, when a large truck overturned on the road, traffic and incident managers were able to direct cameras at the scene to zoom in on the truck placards, allowing them to ensure the truck was not carrying hazardous materials.
The same camera technology allows staff to zoom out and pan to check the surrounding area of an incident. If managers notice additional hazards or debris, they can inform responders ahead of time. Instant information also shows managers which response vehicles have arrived and what progress has been made. As new details become known, that information can be immediately added to the app.
With the information and accessibility TIMS2GO provides, the agency can better serve the public. The need for lane closures and detours can be communicated clearly, and signs that alert motorists of delays can be promptly updated.
Advice
TOC reached out to partners to help craft TIMS2GO, which was designed specifically for the Illinois Tollway, but any transportation agency that operates a traffic operations center and utilizes active traffic management system software can achieve similar results. TIMS2GO integrates off-the shelf solutions such as video streaming platforms to simplify its operations.
When creating the application, staff were careful to consider design elements that would be valuable to end users, such as limiting keystrokes and prioritizing legibility and viewability. Agencies should also consider developing a scalable solution that can grow as the needs of an organization evolve.
