PA Turnpike Celebrates Dedicated Dispatchers During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
PA Turnpike Celebrates Dedicated Dispatchers During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Traffic Operations Center staff works 24/7/365 to support customer safety and convenience
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) recognizes those who work every day to ensure the safe travel of the 550,000 daily customers across the PA Turnpike system during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
“Safety is at the center of everything we do at the PA Turnpike, and we are grateful for our dispatchers and supervisors at the Traffic Operations Center who are always ready to go beyond the normal call of duty,” said PA Turnpike COO Craig Shuey. “PA Turnpike drivers are never alone thanks to these dedicated professionals.”
The 36-member staff of the Turnpike Operations Center (TOC) in Middletown play a critical role in the PA Turnpike’s commitment to safety and continuously keeps an eye on activities across all 565+ miles of Turnpike roadways. These dispatchers monitor roadway conditions, construction status and weather conditions, answer calls, and coordinate with first responders and emergency services from the TOC, which also serves as the center for all PA Turnpike Incident Management activities.
“Our Traffic Operations Center dispatch staff are an extremely dedicated group of professionals who work around the clock to provide a safe driving experience for our customers,” said PA Turnpike Director of Traffic Engineering & Operations Tom Macchione. “They receive calls from *11 and 911 and dispatch fire, emergency medical services, state police, tow trucks and hazardous materials response teams when needed. The PA Turnpike dispatchers are the voice of calm that our customers hear when something does not go as planned, and they are in need of help along the roadway.”
Anyone traveling the PA Turnpike can dial *11 (or 1-800-332-3880) to report crashes, incidents or phone for emergency assistance. Calls go directly to the TOC where PA Turnpike dispatchers and Pennsylvania State Police are on duty 24 hours a day, every day. The PA Turnpike staff dispatches appropriate emergency personnel to the scene.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week which is celebrated annually during the second week of April, recognizes and honors the public safety telecommunicators who are the first responders to emergency calls, connecting callers to help and dispatching emergency professionals.
“It feels great to be appreciated,” said PA Turnpike Dispatcher Ashley Zombro. “A lot of times (dispatchers) get forgotten but the PA Turnpike doesn’t let that happen, they are very good at highlighting us and making sure that we are heard and are taken care of. I'm happy to be that lifeline for our customers and be a vital part in getting them the assistance they need.”
The Traffic Operations Center furthers the PA Turnpike’s commitment to safety.
The GEICO Safety Patrol includes a fleet of dedicated Pennsylvania Turnpike personnel who report to the scene, provide traffic control and can request first responder services for drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The GEICO Safety Patrol assisted in more than 35,000 incidents in 2024, in addition to their routine patrols. In the last year, team members have supported the birth of babies born on the Turnpike, assisted a driver involved in a fiery accident, and rescued injured animals on the side of the road.
The PA Turnpike now offers a real-time text messaging service to keep travelers informed during unexpected traffic delays. While at a complete stop in a location where it is safe to remain stationary, Customers can simply text “info” to 47676 using hands-free technology or through a passenger in your vehicle to get automated updates every 15 to 20 minutes until the backlog clears.
The PA Turnpike is committed to making travel safer for our customers and empowering them to stay informed. For more emergency preparedness and safety information on the PA Turnpike, visit PA Turnpike | Safety.
To learn more about PA Turnpike conditions, use one of these resources:
ON THE TURNPIKE
511PA Smartphone App: real-time, hands-free PA traffic advisories
Changeable Message Signs: more than 200 boards along the PA Turnpike
ON THE WEB
511/511pa.com: live, interactive map
X/Twitter: @PATurnpikeAlert
BY PHONE
511: dial from any PA roadway for local travel information
Pennsylvania Turnpike Customer Assistance Center: 877-736-6727, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.
MEDIA ATTACHMENTS:
DISPATCHER INTERVIEW SOUNDBITES & B-ROLL (Download link available in ⓘ information tab)
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Media Contacts:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com
Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com