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Interstate 4 (FL) Intelligent Transportation System – Agreements

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3.1 Institutional Agreements

A critical element of the inventory is identifying existing institutional agreements among agencies in the I-4 corridor with respect to ITS. These agreements fall into the following areas:

  • Planning of ITS systems;
  • Operation and management of ITS systems; and
  • Exchange of data collected by ITS systems.

In general, the transportation agencies in the I-4 corridor have developed a strong track record for institutional cooperation and data exchange within urban areas in the corridor (particularly within District 5 or District 7). Key examples of institutional agreements include the following:

  • CCTV and VMS operations and maintenance - FDOT Districts have developed operations and maintenance agreements with counties or cities to cover closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), variable message signs (VMS), and other roadside equipment. In a typical scenario, FDOT operates and maintains CCTV, but will yield primary control of cameras to specific jurisdictions. Secondary control centers are designated by most programs as well. FDOT District headquarters offices typically have the ability to review CCTV images and other data collected by these systems.
  • Traffic diversion - In both District 5 and District 7, regional ITS systems operated by FOOT provide traffic information to counties, cities, or expressway authorities. This information is used to implement traffic diversion plans and adjust signal timings to accommodate traffic diverted from I-4 by accidents and other incidents.
  • Incident response - The Florida Highway Patrol takes the lead role in responding to accidents and other incidents along I-4 and other Interstates. FDOT provides incident information from CCTV, callboxes, and other detection systems to FHP. In some cases, FHP is co-located at the primary control facilities for ITS systems to aid in immediate, coordinated incident response.

The following are examples of institutional agreements that are in place for operation of existing ITS systems in the I-4 corridor:

  • Daytona Area Smart Highways (DASH) - DASH provides traffic surveillance, incident management, and traveler information along I-4 between SR 44 and I-95, and along I-95 from I-4 to U.S. 92. The project is a partnership between FDOT District 5, the City of Daytona Beach, and the Daytona Beach Police. District 5 maintains and operates DASH. The primary control center is located at the City of Daytona Beach's Traffic Management Center (TMC), while the secondary control center is located at the Daytona Beach Police's dispatch and communications center. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is collocated at the TMC, and uses incident information collected by DASH dispatch response vehicles along the Interstates. District 5 headquarters in Deland has a dial-up connection to review data and can control the variable message signs (VMS) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
  • I-4 Surveillance and Motorist Information System (SMIS) - I-4 SMIS currently provides traffic surveillance, incident management, and traveler information along 39 miles of I-4 from U.S. 192 to north of Lake Mary Boulevard. I-4 SMIS is a partnership between FDOT District 5, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, Orange County, and the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX). District 5 operates and maintains I-4 SMIS, including the primary control center at the FDOT Regional Freeway Management Center (FMC). As with DASH, District 5 headquarters in Deland has a dial-up connection to review data and can control the VMS and CCTV cameras. The City of Orlando operates the secondary control center at its TMC. Real-time data from the I-4 SMIS are used by the City of Orlando, Seminole County, and Orange County to adjust signal timings to accommodate route diversion from I-4 during incidents. LYNX uses I-4 SMIS data to monitor traffic conditions along its I-4 express bus routes and provide traffic information to its riders. District 5 and LYNX are co-sponsoring a service patrol (I-4 Highway Helpers) along portions of I-4 near Orlando (from Lake Mary Blvd. to Fairbanks Ave). The Orlando Police and Fire Department and the FHP, which is co-located at the FDOT FMC, use I-4 SMIS data to dispatch response vehicles to verified incident locations. Agreements also have been reached with local ABC, Fox, and NBC affiliates for broadcast of the CCTV images.
  • Motorist Aid Call Boxes - A statewide motorist aid system using roadside callboxes is being deployed along portions of I-4 in District 5 (from S.R. 434 to I-95) and portions of I-75 and I-275 in District 7. The callboxes are a partnership between FDOT and the FHP. Each FDOT District maintains the callboxes, acknowledges calls for assistance, and redirects calls to the FHP. FHP dispatches service vehicles to aid the motorists. FDOT's Turnpike District maintains a similar system along the entire length of the Turnpike.
  • Northwest Hillsborough County Video Surveillance System - This system provides traffic surveillance, incident detection, and traffic control along S.R. 60 from I-75 to 2nd Street in Brandon. The system is a partnership between FDOT District 7, Hillsborough County, and the FHP. Hillsborough County operates the system, and has full access to and control of CCTV through its traffic control center. The county also develops signal timing plans to accommodate diverted traffic from I-4 during incidents. District 7 maintains the system, and has secondary control through the District 7 office for viewing images only. FHP's Troop C Radio Dispatch Area also has secondary control for viewing images only.
  • I-275 Sunshine Skyway Bridge Speed Advisory Warning System - This system is designed to warn travelers of high winds and/or poor visibility on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on I-275, and dynamically lower speed limits during these conditions. It is maintained and operated by District 7 at the St. Petersburg North Toll Plaza. FHP responds to incidents when notified by FDOT.

In addition, several other ITS partnerships are programmed in the corridor:

  • I-4 SMIS Expansion - Plans are underway for an expansion of I-4 SMIS to encompass other facilities in the greater Orlando area. The Florida Turnpike and the OOCEA have agreed to let District 5 expand the system onto their roads; Osceola County, the Seminole County Expressway Authority, Volusia County, and Polk County (in District 1) also may be added to the I-4 SMIS' territory over the next several years. Each authority will have responsibility for camera control and incident response in its jurisdiction. OOCEA has agreed to collocate at the District 5 FMC. Vehicles with OOCEA E-Pass and FDOT SunPass transponders may be used as probes for traffic data collection on the system.
  • Orlando Regional Computerized Signal System (RCSS) - The RCSS is a regional computerized signal control system that will cover Seminole, Orange, and Osceola Counties. District 5 will provide information on diverted traffic from I-4. The City of Orlando, Orange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, the City of Maitland, the City of Winter Park, and the Disney/Reedy Creek Improvement District will develop signal control plans to accommodate traffic diversion from I-4.
  • St. Petersburg I-275 Dynamic Message Sign System (DMSS) -- The DMSS will direct traffic from I-275 to events at Tropicana Field and in downtown St. Petersburg. District 7 will maintain the system. The system will be operated jointly by the St. Petersburg Police, which will have primary control at the police dispatch center; and the City of St. Petersburg, which will have secondary control. CCTV also are co-located with the DMS for surveillance and confirmation of the messages that are displayed on the DMS.

Issues that are not covered under current agreements include the following:

  • Data exchange across jurisdictions - Most existing ITS systems in the corridor operate in a single county, or within a single FDOT District. Formal agreements are not in place to cover the exchange of incident and other traffic data between TOCs and other traffic management centers in different Districts, or for coordinated response to major incidents along I-4 (e.g., shared VMS messages, traffic diversion plans, etc.). However, informally, the exchange of information occurs on an as-needed basis.
  • Interoperability agreements among electronic toll collection systems - Agreements are being developed to ensure interoperability of the electronic toll collection systems operated and maintained by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) (E-Pass) and the Florida Turnpike (SunPass). OOCEA maintains and operates all toll facilities within Orange County. FDOT's Turnpike District maintains and operates portions of these toll facilities that cross into adjacent counties, such as S.R. 528 from I-4 (west) to Boggy Creek Road (east); S.R. 528 from S.R. 520 (west) to I-95 (east); S.R. 417 from U.S. 17/92 (north) to the Seminole-Orange County line (south), and the S.R. 417 Southern Connector extension.