National Hurricane Conference

Monday April 9, 2001Dr. Christine Johnson

Director, ITS Joint Program OfficeProgram Manager, FHWA Operations

Roads are our lifelines

Here is Part of It…

100110120130140150160170180

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

Inde

x 19

80 =

100

VMT (millions) Lane Mile Index

Population Growth

36 Million 1993

76 Million in 2010

2,400 persons a day are moving to the East and Gulf Coastal areas

Our Roads are Full– Evacuation will require

•Traffic Planning

• Real Time Management

• Detailed communication to drivers

•Full use of technology

Planning…

•Traffic Management a factor

• DOT is a player

3-5 Days to Gear Up Employees need time to prepare

It takes time to move equipment

Real Time ManagementOnce an evacuation is called…

we need to move people quickly and safely

Multi-Agency CoordinationInformation sharing

Collaboration

Technology can change evacuation management

Install traffic and weather sensors

Everyone will benefit from better sensing on the roadways

A Nationwide System to Gather Traffic Data

Communication …..

Web based applications

511

• Can’t assume the roads are “there”

• DOTs need to become players

•Technology will make a difference