For the past five years, I’ve been overseeing more than 380 traffic signals across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida’s Panhandle – using just a couple of small screens in the Escambia County Public Works building and my laptop. But all of that is about to change.
In the next 12 to 24 months, the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) will unveil a newly constructed Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC), operated by DRMP. The RTMC will be DRMP’s first-ever staffed and operated center and will make Northwest Florida’s roads safer and less congested.
The design plans, which DRMP provided quality control and construction facilitation, are expected to be completed, signed, and sealed in the next couple of months. Once that’s done, a contractor will be selected, and construction will begin sometime in late summer or fall of 2025. We anticipate the RTMC will be fully operational by late 2026 or early 2027, barring any major delays.
Preliminary 90 percent drawings of the new traffic operations center
When the RTMC is up and running, it will bring with it a host of improvements, including at least five additional dedicated Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) DRMP staff members. This will significantly enhance our ability to manage traffic operations and improve safety in the region. We’ll be able to better coordinate with law enforcement and emergency services, monitor traffic using CCTV cameras to spot accidents or congestion in real time, provide more timely traveler information, and speed up maintenance response times.
Additionally, we’ll be adding more DRMP traffic engineers to the program, which will enable us to make quick, on-the-fly adjustments to signal timings and optimize the current signal timings across all 380-plus signalized intersections. The RTMC will serve as the hub for all ATMS operations in the region, equipped with operator workstations, one of the largest video walls in Florida, and a central location for stakeholder coordination. It will be built adjacent to the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center.
This is an especially exciting opportunity for me personally, as I’m the only traffic engineer at DRMP working directly on real-time traffic signal monitoring. My expertise also includes traffic signal and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) design.
Reducing Congestion and Enhancing Multimodal Travel
The primary goal of this project is to enhance the safety and efficiency of the entire transportation network within the Florida-Alabama TPO region. Through active arterial management, we aim to optimize traffic flow using the ATMS, while leveraging our findings and performance metric data to continuously improve both safety and efficiency.
The ATMS and RTMC are ongoing initiatives that will never be considered “complete.” We are committed to pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge technology and innovative traffic engineering concepts to create safer, more congestion-free roadways for all travelers.
Traveler information systems, such as Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), will be integrated into the RTMC as they are constructed and come online in the future. While the current ATMS has limited capabilities in this area due to its early stage of development, we are dedicated to expanding these capabilities. As additional construction funding becomes available, we will continue to build out more ITS infrastructure to improve the system.
Preliminary 90 percent drawings of the new traffic operations center
Our immediate objective is to implement the ATMS Masterplan, which includes extending fiber optic communications to all signals and ITS devices in the field. This will ensure stronger communication with future ITS installations and provide redundancy for the entire ATMS, including public-facing systems.
DRMP is currently operating various traffic management technologies, including field ethernet switches, traffic signal cabinets, vehicle and pedestrian detection devices, and message signs, with plans to incorporate future technologies, such as connected vehicles, smart parking, and corridor digital twin AI systems.
A Proven Partnership
Since 2017, DRMP has been deeply involved in the planning, funding, coordination, design, installation, and operation of the Florida-Alabama TPO ATMS Masterplan. As the contract incumbents, we have been instrumental in shaping the program into what it is today.
Our client, the Florida-Alabama TPO, has selected our firm to continue this important work, recognizing our significant involvement from the beginning. We have an unparalleled understanding of the existing signal system infrastructure, the local agency maintenance and response capabilities, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and local agency maintenance, repair, and modification resources. These long-standing partnerships, cultivated since 2017, were critical in securing this renewed contract.
Preliminary 90 percent drawings of the new traffic operations center
This contract represents a continuation of DRMP’s leadership in regional transportation management for the Florida-Alabama TPO. Our team will enhance traffic operations, signal management, and provide RTMC construction support throughout the TPO area, which encompasses five local agencies: Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, the City of Pensacola, the City of Milton, and the City of Gulf Breeze.
In 2019, DRMP entered into a continuing services contract with the Florida-Alabama TPO to provide enhanced traffic operations, traffic engineering, and transportation planning. We also provide related duties, functions, and services in support of traffic signalization, retiming, and overall traffic operations throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Existing Operations
We are currently serving in the capacity of providing Active Arterial Management for the region. We operate the ATMS from the Regional Traffic Signal Operation Center (TSOC) located in the Escambia County Public Works Building through the regional central management software applications, Transparity and Miovision One, where duties include monitoring CCTV cameras, network management, adjusting signal timings, and using Advanced Traffic Signal Performance Metrics (ATSPMs) to create signal timing plans.
Counties and cities have a maintenance agreement with FDOT to manage state signals. We help them and FDOT fix issues when they come up. I can often spot problems remotely using the central management software, accessing traffic signals, and viewing camera feeds. If I can’t fix it remotely, I’ll give the maintenance team the details they need. I’m also certified as an IMSA Signal Technician Level 2 and as an IMSA/FOA Fiber Optic Technician, so I’ll visit the site if necessary to handle the issue myself.
Preliminary 90 percent drawings of the new traffic operations center
As part of our expanded team for this next phase of the contract, DRMP will leverage national-level technical resources to elevate the service we provide to the Florida-Alabama TPO. Our subconsultants will be there to supplement expertise with their plethora of experience operating RTMC’s across the country. They bring a wealth of state and national experience in Active Arterial Management, which will significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of traffic operations across the region. With this enhanced capability, we are poised to meet the region’s transportation goals more effectively than ever before.
Staffing, Training, and Collaboration
The DRMP team includes experts with a proven track record in staffing and operating Transportation Management Centers (TMCs) working in partnership with state DOTs. Beginning with an assessment of staffing and engineering requirements essential for optimal RTMC operation, we would provide staffing models and position descriptions for RTMC operations.
This comprehensive approach will establish an agile and flexible team capable of efficiently managing traffic operations and responding to dynamic challenges within the region. Collaboration with the TPO/Emerald Coast Regional Council (ECRC) staff and participating local agencies to identify and fulfill necessary positions will be a top priority.
We will be responsible for training and coordinating with local agency staff and/or ECRC personnel to optimize operations of the RTMC. This involves designing and implementing comprehensive training programs tailored to the specific needs and functionalities of the RTMC and ensuring all staff members are proficient in using the center's resources and technologies effectively. Through observation, careful oversight, and ongoing support, the RTMC group would facilitate the efficient operation of the RTMC to improve traffic management in the region.
The RTMC experience will only grow this service line into something bigger and more competitive for DRMP. I am hopeful to see this Traffic Operations service line prosper into other areas of Florida and potentially even anywhere else in the country in the future. Learn more about our transportation services here.
