Florida highways get smarter

The Florida Dept. of Transportation is putting together a real-time traffic information system with a network of video monitors, traffic counters and electronic highway information signs.

The Florida DOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Office reports that it has begun deploying the Nortel Multiservice Switch 15000 to tie together existing microwave radio networks for emergency call boxes with new traffic management and monitoring technology. When completed, the system will not only offer road users with up-to-the-minute traffic information, but also provide communications for the state's emergency evacuation needs.

The Florida ITS is responsible for traffic management on more than 40,000 highway lane miles and 6,300 bridges in the state. The new multiservice system is also expected to allow the state to provide new transportation communications services in the future.