|
Incident Management
Once the traffic and roadway monitoring system
has identified a problem, an immediate response
is initiated to clear the incident and re-open
lanes as quickly as possible, while protecting
the safety of victims, travelers and emergency
personnel. CHART operates a nationally recognized
incident management program which depends heavily
on the
cooperation and teamwork developed among the
SHA, the MSP and the MdTA. The tools used for incident management include:
- Emergency Traffic Patrols (ETP) used to provide emergency
motorist assistance and to relocate disabled vehicles out of travel lanes.
- Emergency Response Units (ERU) used to set up overall traffic
control at accident locations.
- Freeway Incident Traffic Management (FITM) Trailers, pre-stocked with
traffic control tools such as detour signs, cones, and trailblazers used
to quickly set up pre-planned detour routes when incidents require full roadway closure.
- A "Clear the Road" policy which provides for the rapid
removal of vehicles from the travel lanes rather than waiting for a private
tow service or time consuming off-loading of disabled trucks which are blocking traffic.
- An Information Exchange Network (IEN) Clearinghouse, provided by an
I-95 Corridor Coalition workstation at the SOC, shares incident and traveler information
to member agencies along the Corridor.
A variety of other tools are used to facilitate incident management. These
include portable arrow boards, portable variable message signs, and portable travelers
advisory radio transmitters for traffic management; front end loaders, tow rigs and
push bumpers to move vehicles; and training exercises to maintain a high competency level
for teams working under hazardous conditions.
|
