826-836 - Incident Management

Incident Management

Incident Management Overview

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) provides incident

management services to help keep traffic moving at all times. The District Six

Incident Management Program promotes a quick-clearance, multi-agency

approach to incident response along all of our roadways, including State

Road (S.R.) 826 and S.R. 836. The program’s goal is to maintain the safety and

mobility of our regional highway system by clearing incidents quickly and

efficiently, restore free flowing conditions and reduce congestion. Operations

staff housed within the SunGuide® Transportation Management Center (TMC)

monitor the roadways to detect traffic incidents and dispatch the appropriate

resources, such as Road Ranger Services Patrols and other response professionals to clear these events 24 hours per day,

seven days per week. Partnering agencies of the program include representatives from law enforcement, fire and rescue,

towing and recovery services, hazardous materials contractors, emergency medical services and others.

Additional incident management resources have been dedicated to the S.R. 826 (Palmetto Expressway)/S.R. 836 (Dolphin

Expressway) Interchange Reconstruction Project. These resources will enhance the traffic management, motorist assistance

and traveler information components of the incident management program.

FDOT Incident Commander responding to the scene

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) provides incident management services to help keep traffic moving at all times. The District Six Incident Management Program promotes a quick-clearance, multi-agency approach to incident response along all of our roadways, including State Road (S.R.) 826 and S.R. 836. The program’s goal is to maintain the safety and mobility of our regional highway system by clearing incidents quickly and efficiently, restore free flowing conditions and reduce congestion. Operations staff housed within the SunGuide® Transportation Management Center (TMC) monitor the roadways to detect traffic incidents and dispatch the appropriate resources, such as Road Ranger Services Patrols and other response professionals to clear these events 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Partnering agencies of the program include representatives from law enforcement, fire and rescue, towing and recovery services, hazardous materials contractors, emergency medical services and others.

Additional incident management resources have been dedicated to the S.R. 826 (Palmetto Expressway)/S.R. 836 (Dolphin Expressway) Interchange Reconstruction Project. These resources will enhance the traffic management, motorist assistance and traveler information components of the incident management program.

SunGuide TMC

An inside view of the state-of-the-art Traffic Management Center

The District Six SunGuide TMC serves as the regional command post for the transportation and incident management services for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The Center houses the operations staff members who administer the statewide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Program that promotes traffic management through the advanced technologies deployed along our roadways, such as closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, dynamic message signs (DMS) and roadway detectors. These devices allow FDOT staff to monitor roadway conditions and manage traffic in real time. They enable quick incident detection and verification, faster response times and accurate publication of traveler information.

As part of this project, additional cameras will be placed along S.R. 826 and S.R. 836. FDOT and Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) staff will be able to monitor conditions along the Interchange with the use of these new cameras and will collaborate on incident response procedures.

Traveler Information

DMS sign currently along Miami-Dade County roadway

Construction events and traveler information will be broadcast through various tools to help drivers make informed decisions when traveling along the project’s limits. FDOT will be deploying 24 additional DMS at various locations on both expressways and surrounding streets to inform drivers of upcoming delays and allow them to seek alternative commute options.

DMS signs will be placed at project’s limits to inform motorists along S.R. 836 from both the eastbound (NW 87 Avenue) and westbound (between NW 42 and NW 57 Avenue) approaches to the interchange. Similarly, signs will be placed on S.R. 826 for motorists on the northbound (at SW 24 Street) and southbound (at NW 36 Street) approaches of the Interchange. The map above identifies the locations for all of the DMS.

Additionally, the 511 Traveler Information Service will also publish important traffic information related to this project. Drivers can call 5-1-1 or log onto www.fl511.com before starting on their commute for up-to-the minute updates on all traffic-related activities along the Interchange.

Current and future DMS locations along the project corridor

Click here for a larger view of the map.

Road Rangers

The Road Ranger Service Patrols provide free incident management and motorist assistance services along the major roadways of Miami-Dade County. They are equipped and trained to clear the roadways of small-scale travel-lane blocking events and they also provide maintenance of traffic support on larger scale events. They work alongside emergency responders on the incident scenes to clear the highway and restore capacity back to regular operating conditions.

As a result of the interchange project, two additional rangers are supplementing existing services on S.R. 826 (one regular tow truck circulates the area and one flatbed tow truck is staged at strategic points on S.R. 826 and is dispatched as needed). The new road rangers will travel mostly from SW 24 Street to NW 36 Street along the Palmetto Expressway. MDX manages its own road ranger services on S.R. 836. Road rangers will be called into service on either roadway whenever there is a need

Las Patrullas de los Road Rangers proporcionan gratuitamente servicios de manejo de incidentes y ayuda a los conductores en las principales carreteras del Condado Miami-Dade. Están equipados y entrenados para despejar las vías cuando se presentan eventos de pequeña escala que bloquean los carriles de tránsito y además, también ofrecen apoyo para el mantenimiento del tráfico en eventos de mayor magnitud. Trabajan al lado de los equipos de respuesta a emergencias en escenas de incidentes para despejar la autopista y restaurar la capacidad de regreso a las condiciones regulares de operación.

Road Ranger assisting a motorist on S.R. 826

Como resultado del proyecto de intercambio, dos patrullas de Road Rangers adicionales están suplementando los servicios existentes en la S.R. 826 (un camión grúa regular circulando el área y un camión grúa de cama baja estacionado en puntos estratégicos en la S.R. 826 que será despachado cuando sea necesario). Los Road Rangers nuevos estarán recorriendo por el Palmetto Expressway, principalmente entre las Calles 24 del SW y 36 del NW. La MDX administra sus propios servicios de Road Rangers en la S.R. 836. Los Road Rangers serán llamados a entrar en servicio en cualquiera de las autopistas cuando exista la necesidad.

Despeje Rápido de Escenas de Incidentes (RISC) – Manejo de Incidentes Funcionando

El Programa RISC es un servicio innovador y especializado de manejo de incidentes, ofrecido por el Distrito Seis de FDOT y MDX, para hacer más expedito el despeje de eventos de gran escala, tales como volcaduras de camiones tractores con remolque, derrames de cargas y otros accidentes complejos, dentro de un período específico de tiempo. Contratistas privados de camiones de remolque son despachados por el equipo de operaciones del TMC, que en conjunto con la Patrulla de Carreteras de la Florida, activan el servicio cuando un evento de tráfico requiere equipo y recursos adicionales para un despeje completo. El Programa RISC ayuda a restablecer en las autopistas las condiciones regulares de operación más rápidamente de lo que se lograría usando servicios comunes de despeje/recuperación, y además incrementa la disponibilidad de recursos de otras agencias existentes. El Programa RISC puede ser activado 24 horas por día, 7 días a la semana, dentro de los límites del proyecto del intercambio.

"I had a flat on 826, I was almost to work when I heard a rumbling noise. I pulled over and lo and behold it was a flat tire. I was on the phone with road services and dreading the wait when a ranger pulled up behind me. It was an answer to my prayer because I did not want to wait an hour for someone to come. Ranger Manny, my guardian angel, immediately took charge, secured the vicinity and replaced my tire. It was speedy, precise and very professionally done. I am so happy you have people out there like Manny who not only does his job but makes you feel safe and secure while the process is being done. Thank you, Manny, from the bottom of my heart."

- Driver on S.R. 826

"Today I was traveling on the Palmetto Expressway and my front tire blew up. I stopped but 5 minutes later, the Road Ranger stopped. The driver was very nice, very courteous and went out of his way to help me, explaining what had happened. I am an older lady and was very nervous. I really want to commend him on a job well done. At that moment, he was like an angel sent from above. Thank you!"

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