Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) sought to upgrade the existing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) along 4.3-miles of SR 528 to actively monitor and manage a first of its kind deployment of express lanes in Central Florida.

DRMP was responsible for the concept of operations, design and plans production for the new ITS infrastructure. The design and plans addressed all impacts to the existing ITS fiber and devices within the project limits.  The existing vehicle detection system (VDS) and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were upgraded to meet the latest FTE requirements.  The project included new gigabit Ethernet communications backbone fiber with supporting field installations of dynamic message signs (DMS) (lane status, toll amount and incident), CCTV Camera sites, microwave vehicle detection systems (VDS) and Bluetooth travel time systems (TTS) and highway advisory radio (HAR) systems. This project also included widening of 4.3-miles of SR 528 from a 4-lane to 8-lane limited access toll facility with two inside express toll lanes separated by a 4-foot buffer with delineators in each direction.  Electrical services with automatic transfer switches and permanent generator backup for all field devices were also part of the project. Wiring and fiber splicing diagrams, equipment details and specifications were developed. 

The upgraded VDS and CCTV cameras are now up-to-date with the latest technology giving the FTE a more robust traffic management system allowing the dissemination of traveler information. The ITS created for the express lane system will allow for dynamic toll rates based on real-time traffic flow conditions. This provides a tool to manage the express lane volume which ensures a reliable route is maintained for the motoring public.