Florida Department of

TRANSPORTATION

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Intelligent Transportation System for Lee County

About the project

What is the Lee County Management Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)?

The Florida Department of Transportation completed an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project in 2012. Work added roadside sensors, closed circuit television cameras, and a roadway weather information system to gather live data about conditions affecting traffic on and approaching the US 41 Caloosahatchee River and Edison Bridges in Lee County. ITS gives traffic operations center staff the tools to display real-time road and travel information for drivers on dynamic message signs. Electronic arrows on strategically placed dynamic trailblazer signs direct drivers to alternate routes when traffic or weather conditions warrant. ITS also uses highway advisory radio broadcast on 1640 AM radio and advance warning signs to relay messages about incidents and significant delays in travel.

What is Lee County Traffic Management System (TMS)?

TMS helps reduce congestion by improving traffic flow at 61 intersections. Closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) , traffic sensors and traffic count data collectors analyze traffic conditions in real-time. Information gathered at each intersection is relayed to Lee County's traffic operations center where the staff monitors traffic conditions and makes adjustments to keep traffic moving through the network of signals.

ITS and TMS both use cameras and sensors to monitor conditions that affect traffic in real-time.  Both systems give traffic operations center staff a "window to the world" from one central location.  Staff can notify law enforcement and emergency personnel quickly about incidents and crashes, traffic conditions. They also can alert motorists to lane closures and traffic detours through message boards.  Importantly, as well, traffic engineers can adjust signal timing to enhance traffic flow around congestion.  ITS and TMS are different systems that are integrated and work together into improve capacity, reliability, and efficiency of our transportation system in Lee county.

Where will the TMS be installed? 

Crews are installing TMS equipment on Lee County roadways including US 41, Bayshore Road, Bonita Beach Road, Colonial Boulevard, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Pine Island Road, and some streets in downtown Ft. Myers.  TMS components will help improve traffic flow at 61 intersections across the county.  Crews will be working close to traffic and equipment will be next to the roadway.  Drivers should use caution traveling through work zones.

Domed CCTV cameras give traffic control staff a bird's eye view of traffic conditions in real-time.  The cameras are NOT used to monitor speed or issue tickets for traffic infractions.  Crews are installing CCTV cameras at 36 locations:

Microwave Vehicle Detection System (MVDS) sensors identify vehicle's presence and their rate of speed (increasing, steady, decreasing). This data allows traffic engineers to adjust signal timing more efficiently. Crews are installing sensors at 28 locations:

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS ) equipment provides backup power at critical intersections.  Irregular power and outages can lead to congestion,  traffic delays and crashes.  Crews are installing UPS units at 38 locations:

How TMS brings benefits to Lee County

The Lee County TMS project will give traffic staff feedback about traffic conditions in real-time, allowing them to make adjustments remotely to improve traffic flow. The project also means more efficient use of field personnel. The project repairs damaged and non-functioning equipment in the field, replaces outdated copper wire with fiber optic cable, and installs uninterruptible power supplies at key intersections improving system reliability.

 

Project team approach

The Florida Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Lee County Department of Transportation and the Lee County Emergency Operations Center, completed the Intelligent Transportation Project (ITS) project in early 2012.

The Florida Department of Transportation hired Tindale-Oliver & Associates and Traffic Control Devices as the design/build team for the Lee County TMS project. Design finished in summer 2013. Installation of components in the field began summer 2013 and is expected to finish by fall 2014.

Construction is done in phases. Crews are installing CCTV cameras, traffic sensors and uninterruptible power supply equipment and are repairing and/or replacing damaged and non-functioning control cabinets. Different stages of construction may require crews to return to the same work sites several times during the project. To minimize inconvenience to drivers and the community, activities involving lane closures will occur overnight from 9 p.m to 5 a.m. During these hours, work may be underway in several locations throughout the county. Public information staff is available to answer questions about construction activities and the project schedule.

For more information, please call the project HOTLINE at 239-281-7585 or e-mail Janet Cook, Project Information Officer, at info@ITSLee.org.   

Media inquiries:  Please call Florida Department of Transportation public information director Debbie Tower at 239-225-1900 or e-mail her at Debbie.Tower@dot.state.fl.us