Southern Nevada’s traffic management center drives region’s smart mobility advancements

The following was submitted by Clark County, Nev., host of the 2019 NACo Annual Conference, set for July 12-15.

As technology continues to advance and disrupt the transportation industry, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has embraced the changes, testing groundbreaking new mobility solutions that will help build a synergistic ecosystem of mobility options. As RTC CEO Tina Quigley has said, “it is our responsibility to not sit back but to test, learn and evolve.”

The RTC is uniquely positioned to forge the necessary public-private, multi-jurisdictional and intergovernmental partnerships to develop and implement forward-thinking plans that leverage technology to solve the region’s mobility challenges. That’s because it serves as the area’s public transit authority, roadway planning and funding agency, metropolitan planning organization, administrator of Southern Nevada Strong (a regional plan to build complete communities) and centralized regional traffic management agency for all of Southern Nevada —all under one roof.

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Reigster for the Annual Conference

Southern Nevada faces mobility challenges including safety and capacity. The RTC is pursuing public/private partnerships and leveraging advanced technology solutions to meet these challenges, now and in the future.

The Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center (TMC) is one of the first truly integrated Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the country. While the RTC manages Southern Nevada’s extensive valley-wide network of traffic signals, ramp meters, dynamic message signs, lane-use control signals and cameras, the traffic management center operates across multiple jurisdictions and in partnership with the Nevada Department of Transportation and the Nevada Highway Patrol.

A unique collaboration empowers the TMC and the groundbreaking technology programs being tested to increase the safety and efficiency of roadway systems. This includes technology from Waycare that harnesses information, analyzes data and identifies potentially dangerous driving conditions so first responders can better deploy resources on the roadways and help prevent accidents.

To prepare for the future of transportation, the RTC is working on a regional level to ensure the necessary smart infrastructure and data-sharing processes are in place to enable vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Multiple smart infrastructure technologies, such as Audi’s “Time to Green” system, connects the traffic signal network to vehicles and Keolis’ first fully autonomous shuttle operates in mixed traffic on public roads. 

Technology is the new asphalt, and RTC is helping pave the way forward.