75% of the daily congestion in Georgia. Atlanta has approximately 50% of the daily travel and... Why Is Incident Management Important In Metro Atlanta?

Delay and Congestion  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 Issues

What are we doing?  Traffic Incident Management Enhancement (TIME) Task Force  Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO)

 The Region recognized a need and developed the Task Force in early 2002 to address the critical issues related to incident management in the Metro Atlanta region  Made up of concerned incident responders from Metro Atlanta including:  Transportation agencies  Fire  Rescue  Police  Towing and recovery  Emergency medical services  HAZMAT  Media  Other concerned entities TIME 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 awareness of regional incident management. Increase public awareness of regional incident management. Develop/deliver common training for incident responders. Develop/deliver common training for incident responders. Coordinate, communicate, cooperate between different agencies in the region. Coordinate, communicate, cooperate between different agencies in the region.

To continue the dialogue on ways to improve inter-agency coordination and cooperation. To continue the dialogue on ways to improve inter-agency coordination and cooperation. To create an opportunity for multi-agency training which promotes teamwork. To create an opportunity for multi-agency training which promotes teamwork. To serve as a platform for participants to develop common operational strategies and a better understanding of other agencies' roles and responsibilities. To serve as a platform for participants to develop common operational strategies and a better understanding of other agencies' roles and responsibilities.

Cobb County

Develop procedures for Major Incidents, responders and motorist safety, response and clearance policies and procedures. Develop procedures for Major Incidents, responders and motorist safety, response and clearance policies and procedures. Accomplishments: Accomplishments: –Incident Responder Directory –Wreckmaster Demonstration –Safety Training for Responders –Interactive Exercise –Internal kickoff meeting for T.I.M. Teams –Web seminar training Sub-Committees Operations

Sub-Committees Encourage data and video information transfer between agencies and applications, encourage increase use of the Transportation management Center (TMC) and local Traffic Control Center (TCC’s) to coordinate incident notification and response, develop specific policies and procedures for traffic management during incident response. Encourage data and video information transfer between agencies and applications, encourage increase use of the Transportation management Center (TMC) and local Traffic Control Center (TCC’s) to coordinate incident notification and response, develop specific policies and procedures for traffic management during incident response. Accomplishments: Accomplishments: –Governor signed “Incident Management Day” proclamation in Georgia –Media coverage at meeting and events –Educate traveling public on TIME –Press Releases – distributions and invitations –TIME logo distributions (stationary, pens, speaking gifts, etc) Communications

Develops multi-agency, multi-year strategic plans detailing specific programmatic activities to be accomplished with appropriate budget and personnel needs identified. Develop formal inter- agency agreements on operational and administrative procedures and policies. Develops multi-agency, multi-year strategic plans detailing specific programmatic activities to be accomplished with appropriate budget and personnel needs identified. Develop formal inter- agency agreements on operational and administrative procedures and policies. Accomplishments: Accomplishments: –Resolutions –AIR Committee –Presentations –Educate agencies and increase membership Sub-Committees Program & Institutional Issues

Funding Currently, TIME is funded with the help/contribution of stakeholders – particularly GDOT, GRTA, & FHWA. Currently, TIME is funded with the help/contribution of stakeholders – particularly GDOT, GRTA, & FHWA. Annual Conferences are funded through corporate sponsorships and exhibitors Annual Conferences are funded through corporate sponsorships and exhibitors Funding for 2007 is programmed in the TIP Funding for 2007 is programmed in the TIP Future funding is anticipated through Governor's Bond Program. Future funding is anticipated through Governor's Bond Program.

2006 Task Force Accomplishments Held February and May Quarterly Meeting Held February and May Quarterly Meeting Held Metro Atlanta Traffic Incident Management Initiatives "Strategic Vision" Workshops sponsored with GRTA, GDOT, and FHWA Held Metro Atlanta Traffic Incident Management Initiatives "Strategic Vision" Workshops sponsored with GRTA, GDOT, and FHWA Created Traffic Incident Response Matrix Brochure Created Traffic Incident Response Matrix Brochure Sponsored 2-day NIMS Training at Georgia TMC Sponsored 2-day NIMS Training at Georgia TMC Created a "Strategic Vision" document and presented to GDOT Commissioner, GRTA, FHWA, and the Governor's Office for approval on moving forward with incident management in Metro Atlanta. Created a "Strategic Vision" document and presented to GDOT Commissioner, GRTA, FHWA, and the Governor's Office for approval on moving forward with incident management in Metro Atlanta. Held an initial TIM Team meeting in Canton GA Held an initial TIM Team meeting in Canton GA Conducted presentations to Georgia Coroner’s Associated Conducted presentations to Georgia Coroner’s Associated

Metro Atlanta Strategic Vision  Open Roads Policy  Incentives for Heavy Duty Recovery  Towing Certification and Training for Tow Operators  Medical Examiner/Coroner MOUs  TIM Teams

What to expect in the future? Responder Safety Training Responder Safety Training Abandon Vehicle Procedures Abandon Vehicle Procedures Technology Improvements to Accident Investigations Technology Improvements to Accident Investigations Motor-Vehicle Spill Policy Motor-Vehicle Spill Policy Legislative Changes Legislative 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 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 equipped with:  Push Bumpers  Traffic Control Devices  Fuel Transfer Tank  Retractable Arrow Board  Jump Starting System  Halogen Flood Lights  First Aid Kits  Air Compressor  Air Tools  P.A. System  Power Inverter  Floor Jack  Hand Tools  Absorbent Materials  Gasoline, Coolant  Cellular Phone  Southern Linc &  800MHz Radios

Types of Assistance Providing small quantities of fuel Changing flat tires 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 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 ,393 Total Assist 77,393 Total Assist 11,608 wrecks 11,608 wrecks 65,785 other incidents 65,785 other incidents Incident detection 85%, HERO first Incident detection 85%, HERO first Lane Blocking Incidents 16% (12,383) Lane Blocking Incidents 16% (12,383)

GARY MILLSAPS GEORGIA DOT (404)