Traffic Engineering and Operations

Traffic engineering and operations on rural and urban highways are diverse, involving for example, responses to fires, crashes, stalled vehicles and fallen power lines. Crashes on the PA Turnpike vary in nature from very simple fender benders involving one vehicle to more complex incidents involving multiple tractor-trailers, carrying hazardous materials, resulting in injuries and the threat to human life.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission works constantly to limit the probability of incidents of the PA Turnpike, however, incidents still occur. That is why the Commission has established a sophisticated incident detection and response network that spans the entire Turnpike System. Early warning incident detection measures help to promote safety and issue prompt responses along the entire Pennsylvania Turnpike System.
The Commission operates a Traffic Operations Center (TOC), located in Middletown that serves customers 24/7 365 days a year. Serving as the hub for all communications, the TOC continuously monitors activities across all Turnpike roadways via an extensive radio system. Roadway conditions, construction status and weather conditions are all monitored at the TOC. The TOC also serves as the center for all PA Turnpike Incident Management activities.