CDOT Traffic Operations:
Past, Present and Future
by Rodrick Mead

TOC circa 1993

Early in 1993, a cooperative effort between the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) was launched to improve distribution of road and weather information across Colorado.
The CSP had already established 303-639-1111 to provide information to the public recorded by CSP dispatch personnel. Increasingly, the information line needed updating when CSP dispatch was busiest handling accidents and taking 911 calls. The need for a dedicated “information team” was obvious.

Because this type of program had never been attempted, persons with backgrounds in transportation, public relations, dispatch and broadcasting were considered. It was finally determined that broadcasters and PR people with a strong speaking background were best suited for the business. Thus the Traffic Operations Center was born.

Working from a borrowed computer in a storeroom at CDOT headquarters the initial team of Public Information Specialists, Gene Towne, Rod Mead and J.M. Lucas began to sketch out the direction the new unit would take.
Within a month the location for the first TOC was decided. Co-locating with the CSP seemed the most logical solution, but space at CSP dispatch was at a premium. The only available work area was used to store dry cleaning
for CSP troopers. A small area, but workable.

The first true TOC (now CTMC) was established in a 12ft x 5 ft room. At times, three persons were on shift and literally rubbing elbows. Stuffing two fax machines, three television monitors, two file cabinets, a radio and associated equipment into 60 square feet proved a challenge. Also, being the “new kids” in dispatch, visitors were frequent in our “fish bowl." The main focus of the TOC was updating of the 639-1111 phone system with the latest information available. The TOC team initiated a more proactive approach using existing resources, relying heavily on the pair of dedicated fax machines. The recipient list for TOC faxes contained 15 users. That number grew to 45, then 100 within two months.

Over the next two years the TOC would grow to encompass half of the second floor--3000 square feet--of the 700 Kipling Facility. The current Colorado Transportation Management Center houses 21 people with duties ranging from Web design to project management. The 1,000 sq. ft. Operations/Information area employs six dedicated Information Specialists disseminating travel information 24/7 and three “operators” responsible for dispatch of Mile High courtesy patrol, device control and traffic monitoring. Equipment includes a video wall capable of monitoring 15 individual camera feeds or splitting images between monitors. Information distribution has grown as well. The number of fax recipients has grown to over 200 users, the web site has taken as many as 1.5 million hits during winter months and the 639-1111 phone system, now in its third generation, receives 65,000 calls per month.

In our next issue I will outline our plans for the future CTMC.

Rodrick Mead has been Operations Manager at the Colorado Traffic Management Center Since 1999. Hired as one of the original TOC Information specialists in 1993, he has been involved in all phases of the evolution of the center since it's inception. Educated at Colorado State University and Metropolitan State College of Denver, his background as a Denver radio personality and experience with Public Relations led to his current position with CDOT.