KC Scout Shout!

On Thursday, October 31, Traffic Systems Supervisor, Kelly Alvarez and TMC AM Shift Supervisor James Banhart teamed up and dressed as Rey and Jedi from Star Wars for the MoDOT Halloween Contest!

KC Scout IT Technologist Terrance Sigler TMC Weekend TMC O/N Shift Operator, Rarotoga Fola TMC Weekend PM Traffic Systems Operator Catherine Janeczko   TMC AM Shift Operator Shayla Brown     ER Emergency Response Operator Eric Alleman (Former MoDOT maintenance worker)   MAV   Motorist Assist Operator James “Curt” Gabbert (Retired KHP Trooper)

On October 30th and 31st KC Scout ITS Project Manager, Mark Sommerhauser, traveled to Indianapolis to participate in the Federal Highway “Everyday Counts 7” Next Generation Traffic Incident Management Technology workshop hosted at the Indiana Department of Transportation. Although the workshop covered all aspects of Traffic Incident Management (TIM) technology, there was a focus on queue warning systems. Queue warning systems first detect when an incident blocks lanes of traffic and causes vehicles to start backing up. Then the system responds with some kind of warning for approaching motorists who may be traveling 65+ mph towards stopped traffic. Federal Highway funded one attendee from each DOT to participate in the workshop and provide a presentation on Traffic Incident Management technology efforts that their DOT has been working on. Sommerhauser has been working on queue warning systems with Scout and the statewide Traffic Division for over 8 years and was the perfect representa...

This past November, Engineering Technician Specialist, Michael Flory, was nominated to be a panelist for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) in Washington, D.C. to work on a project focused on Managing the Life Cycle of Software for Evolving Traffic Management Systems. During this 30-month commitment, alongside the other panelists, Flory will be attending meetings, reviewing a Request for Proposal (RFP), selecting a consultant to conduct the research, and then finally sharing the final document. Here is a little background information on what the program is all about: As agencies progress toward the next generation of their traffic management systems (TMSs), new software that adds functions must be implemented within TMSs. A TMS software could be modular or stand-alone but must be integrated within a software subsystem of TMSs. These software subsystems could use proprietary, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), open-source, or customized software, or a combination ...

The Regional Operations Leadership Forum (aka ROLF) was hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in Milwaukee on October 8 th -10 th . Traffic Systems Supervisor, Kelly Alvarez attended the forum with Ploisongsaeng Intaratip, MoDOT Assistant Traffic Liaison. Fellow participants included those from ITS, Signals, Operations, Engineering, Planning, Traffic Modeling, Assets Management and MPOs from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and New Jersey. The three-day training focused on introducing key TSMO concepts within the Transportation Operations Manual or the ‘TOM’ such as culture, performance management, business processes, corridor management, emerging technologies, traffic incident management, planned special events, and program plan development. Peer presentations on various topics include INDOT’s Solar Eclipse Response, ODOT’s Traffic Incident Management Center and their smart corridors, MDOT’s Flex Routes Operation and Performanc...

  Jon Nelson – MoDOT State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson is the State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer for MoDOT. In this role, Jon leads the department’s highway safety and traffic efforts.  Jon is a registered professional engineer and has worked for MoDOT since graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2003. He has extensive experience with the Highway Safety and Traffic Division where he has worked in numerous areas, including highway signing, striping, intelligent transportation systems, traffic operations, and highway safety. Jon is most passionate about working with others to provide a transportation system that is both safe and reliable. Jon and his wife, Sarah, live in Jefferson City, MO with their two daughters, Riley and Makayla.  Mike Moriarty – KDOT Dir. Of Planning and Development Mike uses his 25 years of transportation experience to lead KDOT’s Division of Planning and Development. In doing so he oversees the Bureaus of Tra...