Real Time Traffic Technology Coming to Forsyth County

If you frequently travel on Georgia 400 you probably have noticed those colorful tubes that appear to be sprouting up through the ground along both sides of the state route for several miles.

Those yellow, blue, orange and red tubes are part of a $1.6 million project of computer technology that's making its way into Forsyth County by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

The project will extend components of the ATMS (automated traffic management system) and ITS (intelligent traffic system), which is the computer technology that shares real time data about what is happening on the road from McFarland Parkway (exit 12) to SR 20 (exit 14).

That's about 7.7 miles of connectivity.

"So it will extend the 511/Navigator system to SR 20 with cameras on the web so you can see traffic and get trip times along the corridor," said Teri Pope, spokesperson for GDOT. "Technology uses several types of cameras and sensors to gather information that is shared on our website through our app and to the media."

World Fiber Technologies out of Marietta is handling the project, which began several months ago and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2013.

"The project is going well and is on schedule," said Pope.

When the work is completed, there will be six cameras along GA 400, three northbound and three southbound. There will also be video detection cameras on the ramps at McFarland Parkway and SR 20 to and from GA 400.

Pope said the video detection cameras will replace existing sensors in the roadway that tell the traffic signal at the ramps when a car is waiting and where it is waiting so the signal can do what that vehicle needs.

"The sensors aren’t very reliable, they get damaged in crashes and have to be replaced frequently," she said. "The video detection is the next level of technology, it looks over the intersections and when a vehicle is stopped waiting to turn left, the camera notices and triggers the left turn arrow. The cameras are much more reliable than the sensors and have very little maintenance. We are switching to video detection as our budget allows."

The new technology in the county will provide more real time traffic information to be shared easily with commuters who use GA 400 either through the Georgia 511 website or on GDOT's new app.

About Georgia 511

Motorists can access real-time, statewide, route-specific information on accidents, roadwork, traffic and weather conditions through Georgia 511 - a free phone service. By dialing 511, callers also can transfer to operators to 24 hours a day to report incidents or request assistance. The system can be used to access transit providers, major airports, rideshare organizations, tourism information and 511 systems in surrounding states. Additionally, 511 is available online. Georgia DOT partners with sponsors for assistance in funding 511, thereby preserving tax dollars and helping sustain critical services.