75% of the daily

congestion in Georgia.

Atlanta has approximately 50% of the daily travel and...

Why Is Incident Why Is Incident Management Important Management Important In Metro Atlanta?In Metro Atlanta?

Delay and Delay and CongestionCongestion

As much as 50% of congestion in Metro Atlanta is caused by non-recurring incidents

Atlanta’s average delay per peak road traveler is 70 hours

Atlanta’s cost of congestion for delay time = $1.7 billion

Risk of Secondary Crashes

Risk to Responder’s Safety

Lost time and productivity

Reduced air quality Increased response time

by emergency responders

Economic impacts Increased fuel

consumption Increased vehicle

maintenance costs Increased cost of goods

and services Reduced quality of life

IssuesIssues

What are we doing?What are we doing?

Traffic Incident Traffic Incident Management Management Enhancement (TIME) Enhancement (TIME) Task Task ForceForce

Highway Emergency Highway Emergency Response Operators Response Operators (HERO)(HERO)

The Region recognized a need and developed the Task The Region recognized a need and developed the Task Force in early 2002 to address the critical issues related to Force in early 2002 to address the critical issues related to incident management in the Metro Atlanta regionincident management in the Metro Atlanta region

Made up of concerned incident responders from Metro Made up of concerned incident responders from Metro Atlanta including:Atlanta including:

Transportation agenciesTransportation agenciesFireFireRescueRescuePolicePoliceTowing and recoveryTowing and recoveryEmergency medical servicesEmergency medical servicesHAZMATHAZMATMediaMediaOther concerned entitiesOther concerned entities

TIME Task ForceTIME Task Force

“Develop and sustain a region-wide incident

management program to facilitate the safest and

fastest clearance of roadway incidents,

lessening the impact on emergency responders and

the traveling public.”

Increase public Increase public awareness of regional awareness of regional incident management. incident management.

Develop/deliver common Develop/deliver common training for incident training for incident responders. responders.

Coordinate, Coordinate, communicate, cooperate communicate, cooperate between different between different agencies in the region. agencies in the region.

To continue the dialogue on ways to To continue the dialogue on ways to improve inter-agency coordination and improve inter-agency coordination and cooperation. cooperation.

To create an opportunity for multi-agency To create an opportunity for multi-agency training which promotes teamwork. training which promotes teamwork.

To serve as a platform for participants to To serve as a platform for participants to develop common operational strategies develop common operational strategies and a better understanding of other and a better understanding of other agencies' roles and responsibilities. agencies' roles and responsibilities.

TIME BOARD OF DIRECTORS(President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasury, Directors At Large=Subcommittee

Chairs, and Alternate Member)

Sub-Committees Local TIM Teams

Annual ConferencePlanning

Operations

Communications

Program & Institutional Issues

Gwinnett County

City of Roswell

After-Incident-Debrief (AIR)

f

Cobb County

Develop procedures for Major Develop procedures for Major Incidents, responders and motorist Incidents, responders and motorist safety, response and clearance policies safety, response and clearance policies and procedures. and procedures.

Accomplishments:Accomplishments:– Incident Responder DirectoryIncident Responder Directory– Wreckmaster DemonstrationWreckmaster Demonstration– Safety Training for RespondersSafety Training for Responders– Interactive Exercise Interactive Exercise – Internal kickoff meeting for T.I.M. TeamsInternal kickoff meeting for T.I.M. Teams– Web seminar trainingWeb seminar training

Sub-Committees

Operations

Sub-Committees

Encourage data and video information transfer between Encourage data and video information transfer between agencies and applications, encourage increase use of agencies and applications, encourage increase use of the Transportation management Center (TMC) and local the Transportation management Center (TMC) and local Traffic Control Center (TCC’s) to coordinate incident Traffic Control Center (TCC’s) to coordinate incident notification and response, develop specific policies and notification and response, develop specific policies and procedures for traffic management during incident procedures for traffic management during incident response.response.

Accomplishments:Accomplishments:– Governor signed “Incident Management Day” Governor signed “Incident Management Day”

proclamation in Georgiaproclamation in Georgia– Media coverage at meeting and eventsMedia coverage at meeting and events– Educate traveling public on TIMEEducate traveling public on TIME– Press Releases Press Releases – Email distributions and invitationsEmail distributions and invitations– TIME logo distributions TIME logo distributions (stationary, pens, speaking gifts, etc)(stationary, pens, speaking gifts, etc)

Communications

Develops multi-agency, multi-year strategic Develops multi-agency, multi-year strategic plans detailing specific programmatic plans detailing specific programmatic activities to be accomplished with activities to be accomplished with appropriate budget and personnel needs appropriate budget and personnel needs identified. Develop formal inter-agency identified. Develop formal inter-agency agreements on operational and agreements on operational and administrative procedures and policies. administrative procedures and policies.

Accomplishments:Accomplishments:– ResolutionsResolutions– AIR CommitteeAIR Committee– PresentationsPresentations– Educate agencies and increase membershipEducate agencies and increase membership

Sub-Committees

Program & Institutional Issues

FundingFunding

Currently, TIME is funded with the Currently, TIME is funded with the help/contribution of stakeholders – help/contribution of stakeholders – particularly GDOT, GRTA, & FHWA.particularly GDOT, GRTA, & FHWA.

Annual Conferences are funded Annual Conferences are funded through corporate sponsorships through corporate sponsorships and exhibitorsand exhibitors

Funding for 2007 is programmed Funding for 2007 is programmed in the TIPin the TIP

Future funding is anticipated Future funding is anticipated through Governor's Bond Program.through Governor's Bond Program.

2006 Task Force 2006 Task Force AccomplishmentsAccomplishments Held February and May Quarterly MeetingHeld February and May Quarterly Meeting Held Metro Atlanta Traffic Incident Management Held Metro Atlanta Traffic Incident Management

Initiatives "Strategic Vision" Workshops Initiatives "Strategic Vision" Workshops sponsored with GRTA, GDOT, and FHWAsponsored with GRTA, GDOT, and FHWA

Created Traffic Incident Response Matrix Created Traffic Incident Response Matrix BrochureBrochure

Sponsored 2-day NIMS Training at Georgia TMCSponsored 2-day NIMS Training at Georgia TMC Created a "Strategic Vision" document and Created a "Strategic Vision" document and

presented to GDOT Commissioner, GRTA, presented to GDOT Commissioner, GRTA, FHWA, and the Governor's Office for approval FHWA, and the Governor's Office for approval on moving forward with incident management on moving forward with incident management in Metro Atlanta.in Metro Atlanta.

Held an initial TIM Team meeting in Canton GAHeld an initial TIM Team meeting in Canton GA Conducted presentations to Georgia Coroner’s Conducted presentations to Georgia Coroner’s

AssociatedAssociated

Metro Atlanta Metro Atlanta Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Open Roads PolicyOpen Roads Policy Incentives for Heavy Duty Incentives for Heavy Duty

RecoveryRecovery Towing Certification and Towing Certification and

Training for Tow OperatorsTraining for Tow Operators Medical Examiner/Coroner Medical Examiner/Coroner

MOUsMOUs TIM TeamsTIM Teams

What to expect in the What to expect in the future?future?

Responder Safety TrainingResponder Safety Training Abandon Vehicle ProceduresAbandon Vehicle Procedures Technology Improvements to Technology Improvements to

Accident InvestigationsAccident Investigations Motor-Vehicle Spill PolicyMotor-Vehicle Spill Policy Legislative ChangesLegislative Changes

A well trained technician whose primary responsibility is to expedite the clean up and removal of any congestion causing incident that occurs on the interstate system.

HERO TRAININGHERO TRAINING

300 hours of controlled environment training

Minimum of 5 weeks on-the-job training

Basic Auto Mechanics Traffic Control &

Incident Management Emergency Vehicle

Training 1st Responder Haz-Mat Interagency

Coordination Crash Victim Extrication Radio/Telephone

Protocol Legal Liability Issues 1st Responder First-Aid Push Bumper Training

Highway Emergency Response Vehicle

HERO Vehicles are HERO Vehicles are equipped with:equipped with:

Push BumpersPush Bumpers Traffic Control DevicesTraffic Control Devices Fuel Transfer TankFuel Transfer Tank Retractable Arrow BoardRetractable Arrow Board Jump Starting SystemJump Starting System Halogen Flood LightsHalogen Flood Lights First Aid KitsFirst Aid Kits Air CompressorAir Compressor Air ToolsAir Tools

P.A. System Power Inverter Floor Jack Hand Tools Absorbent Materials Gasoline, Coolant Cellular Phone Southern Linc & 800MHz Radios

Types of Assistance

Changing flat tires Providing small quantities of fuel Jump starting vehicles Minor mechanical repairs Providing coolant/water Relocating stalled vehicles (from

hazardous locations) Transport stranded motorists Provide road and travel

information

Setting up traffic control and/or detour routes at major incident scenes

HERO UnitHERO Unit

Current HERO Staffing

1 Coordinator 2 Asst. Coordinator 1 Administrative Coordinator 1 Safety / Training Officer 1 Clerk 9 Shift Supervisors 63 HERO Operators 78 Total Employees

HERO Stats HERO Stats 20052005

Over 63,000 Assists (50,000 in Over 63,000 Assists (50,000 in 2004)2004)

12,742 Were Blocking Lanes 12,742 Were Blocking Lanes (11,700 in 2004)(11,700 in 2004)

13,860 Abandoned Vehicles (9,252 13,860 Abandoned Vehicles (9,252 in 2004)in 2004)

10,395 Accidents Assisted PD 10,395 Accidents Assisted PD (8,265 in 2004)(8,265 in 2004)

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

GARY MILLSAPS

GEORGIA DOT

GARY.MILLSAPS@DOT.STATE.GA.US

(404) 894-3857