Traffic Management

Traffic incidents, including crashes, disabled vehicles and debris on the road, create unsafe situations; put motorists, and responders’ lives at risk; and account for approximately 25 percent of all traffic delays. For each minute that a freeway travel lane is blocked during peak use, an estimated 4 minutes of delay result after the incident is cleared. The Traffic Management Center (TMC) is the hub of most freeway management systems. Wth two facilities and regionalized operations, the TMC’s of Florida’s Turnpike monitors and manages traffic along Florida’s Turnpike System roadways 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The staff works closely with Florida Highway Patrol, the Road Rangers Safety Patrol, the statewide 511 traveler information service, contracted tow service companies, traffic media, and other agencies to provide you with accurate and timely information. The TMC actively monitors nearly 900 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras for events on Florida’s Turnpike System roadways and posts safety messages on almost 200 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) to raise motorist awareness and contribute to safer roadways. The TMC requests emergency roadway maintenance and collaborates with Florida Highway Patrol and Tow truck operators to clear incidents within 90 minutes.

Motorist assistance on any of Florida’s Turnpike System roadways is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling *347 (*FHP).   

These electronically illuminated signs are strategically placed throughout Florida’s Turnpike System and arterial roadways approaching the Turnpike system roadways. The overhead signs provide real-time information about traffic delays, incidents, emergency operations and construction, allowing customers to make better informed travel decisions and reduce speeds approaching a slowed traffic condition to prevent secondary crashes. During major incidents, the TMC’s priority is to provide accurate information as quickly as possible. When traffic conditions don’t warrant a motorist response, the signs broadcast valuable information, such as travel times or public safety messages to promote driver awareness.

Florida’s 511 Travel Information Systems is the state’s official source for real-time traffic and traveler information. Users view camera snapshots, monitor traffic conditions, and active incidents, and schedule personalized traffic alerts to their mobile phones or emails. FL511.com provides locally generated reports on traffic conditions for daily travel and for major evacuation routes, Road and Bridge closures, Toll Suspensions and other travel alerts in affected counties, cities, roadways and agencies. 511 also provides AMBER, Silver, Purple and Blue alerts, and get emergency information. Florida’s 511 Traveler Information System is one of the most effective ways drivers can keep informed about roadway conditions during severe weather, evacuations and emergencies. FDOT provides 511 to help Floridians get vital roadway information during an emergency: hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, high winds and others. You can also download the Florida 511 app for Apple and Android devices to get access to the same information.

Wrong-way drivers pose a serious risk to road safety, often resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. In 2014, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) initiated a program to install flashing LED Wrong Way signs and radar detectors to address the dangerous trend. This technology provides real-time alerts to wrong-way drivers and the Traffic Management Center (TMC), potentially preventing collisions. The TMC is alerted immediately and can post warning messages to drivers on the overhead roadway signs and notify Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Dispatch enabling a timely response.

Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase of deployments and FTE currently has 106 Wrong Way Driver Detection Devices installed at various locations along Turnpike roadways:

• 24 on Toll 821, from MP 1-47 in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties
• 17 on Toll 869, from MP 1A-11 in Broward County
• 28 on SR 91 in Broward and Palm Beach Counties
• 7 on SR 91 in Orange and Sumter Counties
• 2 on SR 528 in Orange County
• 18 on SR 417 in Osceola and Seminole counties
• 8 on SR 429 in Osceola and Orange counties
• 2 on SR 589 in Pasco County

Florida’s Turnpike uses sensors and technology readers to actively monitor and report real-time travel times to destination interchanges. Whenever possible, the most accurate travel time calculated will be posted on roadway Dynamic Message Signs to assist customers with their real-time travel plans. When slow conditions are detected by the Turnpike’s vehicle detection sensors, the Queue Warning System automatically posts congestion and exit delay messaging on the DMS in close proximity. This messaging dynamically updates every minute to reflect the current travel conditions.

Highway Advisory Radio transmitters are placed at strategic locations along northbound and southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike System that provide real-time information about traffic delays, emergency operations and construction updates. Messages are broadcast by the TMC on the 1640 AM frequency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.