TAMPA, Fla. – Imagine a crash avoided before it happens or emergency responders dispatched before a 911 call is made. That’s the goal behind the new Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC) being constructed to serve Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The RTMC will use real-time data and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and optimize how traffic is monitored and managed in the region.
How this vision became a reality – and the collaboration behind it – will be the focus of an upcoming presentation by DRMP Senior Vice President Ben Faust, PE, and DRMP Traffic Engineer Deston Taylor, PE, PTOE. They will present “Escambia-Santa Rosa Regional Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS)” at the APWA 2026 Florida Public Works Expo at 9:45 a.m., April 7, at the Hilton Tampa Downtown and Tampa Convention Center. Public works professionals, transportation planners, engineers, and local government leaders will gain insight into how a regional, collaborative approach can improve traffic signal operations and system performance. They will also highlight the evolution of the Escambia-Santa Rosa ATMS, a program DRMP has supported shortly after its conception.
Preliminary 90 percent drawings of the new Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC)
The session will explore how the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (FL-AL TPO) served as an “umbrella” agency to coordinate traffic signal operations across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida’s Panhandle. The effort established a unified regional program in collaboration with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 3, the FL-AL TPO, and local agencies. Faust’s and Taylor’s insights will demonstrate how collaboration, long-term planning, and strategic investment can strengthen traffic operations and support more efficient transportation networks.
“What makes this program successful is the collaboration behind it,” Faust said. “By bringing multiple agencies together under a unified approach, we’ve created a system that operates more efficiently and delivers better results for the public. This model shows how regional partnerships and smart technology investments can improve traffic operations.”
The Road to the RTMC
In 2019, FDOT District 3 Traffic Operations tasked the FL-AL TPO to act as an “umbrella” agency to bring five local agencies’ traffic signal operations programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties together to create a cohesive, regional ATMS.
Today, more than 380 traffic signals in the two-county region are communicating with a central system with full program buy-in from all five local agencies and FDOT, leading to ATMS buildout projects being added into the Five-Year Work Program.
Attendees will also learn how this model can be applied to other traffic operations programs and gain insight into the tools and strategies that support a modern ATMS.
Preliminary 90 percent drawings of the new Regional Traffic Management Center (RTMC)
For the past several years, DRMP has been managing the operations of the more than 380 traffic signals throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties using central management software, live camera feeds, and a regional Traffic Signal Operations Center (TSOC) located in the Escambia County Public Works building. From this existing setup, staff monitor conditions, identify issues remotely, adjust signal timing, and coordinate with maintenance teams to address field issues and keep traffic moving efficiently.
“For years, DRMP has managed traffic signals in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties from a small operations setup,” Taylor said. “With the new RTMC, we’ll have a fully staffed state-of-the-art facility with expanded coordination and more visibility, allowing us to coordinate responses with more advanced tools and data to help reduce fatalities.”
The session will also examine the development of the new RTMC, which will serve as the central hub for ATMS operations in the region. Currently under construction, the facility will expand operational capabilities with dedicated staff and enhanced monitoring tools to support more advanced traffic management and coordination. Once operational, it will improve coordination with law enforcement and emergency services, faster incident response, and more effective management of traffic conditions throughout the system. Construction of the new RTMC is expected to be complete in late 2027 or early 2028.
About DRMP
Since 1977, DRMP has earned a reputation as a trusted multidiscipline engineering firm that approaches challenges differently. What began as a small Florida-based firm has grown into a Southeastern powerhouse with over 700 employees across 23 offices. We partner with clients to deliver smart, sustainable infrastructure that helps communities thrive.
Ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms in the United States, DRMP is known for solving complex challenges through technical expertise, innovative thinking, and collaboration.
We value connection, creativity, and a welcoming, engaging culture that empowers employees to grow their careers. As we continue to expand, we remain committed to the principles that have guided us from the start.
