What else does WSDOT do at the Traffic Management Center?
One of the main activities of the WSDOT Traffic Management Center is to provide traffic information to the public. The Traffic Management Center uses variable message signs located over the freeways to inform motorists of incidents, construction information, and congestion. Highway advisory radio is also used for this purpose. The Traffic Management Center operates a real time traffic and weather information line at 5-1-1 that is available 24 hours a day. To help alleviate traffic congestion, WSDOT operates the “freeway entrance lights” called ramp meters. The main purpose for the data collection is to operate an efficient ramp metering system. Things like the Internet Traffic Page, and other traveler information services are actually a secondary benefit of the ramp metering system.
