KC Scout Shout!

  In April, Senior Information Systems Technologist Stacey McKinley attended the ITS Heartland Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, along with teammates Kelly Alvarez, Dwayne Brown, Mary Bundridge and Amy Holt-Weaver.  “The ITS Heartland Conference is a big regional meetup for people in the Transportation Technology Industry within our 5-state ITSH coalition which includes, MO, KS, IA, OK and NE. It’s an opportunity for DOT’s, engineers, planners, technology vendors, consultants and public agencies to talk about how existing and new technologies can improve our roadways, traffic flow, safety and transportation systems,” McKinley said. Among the many conversations and demonstrations at the conference, one technology in particular caught McKinley’s attention. “The coolest thing I saw was the demo of the Lidar detectors. There is a detector placed at opposite sides of an intersection and without the use of a camera it detects and tracks vehicles, people, cyclists etc.,” said McKi...

 TMC Operator Brian Brown was first to identify a stalled FIFA travel bus on the I-29 southbound on ramp to 152 eastbound via CCTV. The bus stopped due to a mechanical issue and was blocking half of the cloverleaf ramp and beginning to create a traffic concern. Brian immediately dispatched MoDOT ER Operator Carlos Campos to the scene and he quickly called for support from fellow ER Operator Eric Alleman. Because the bus still had air in its tanks, the ER team was able to place it in neutral and release the brakes – a key factor that made the move possible. Using a larger truck and two operators, they cleared the bus from the active lane within five minutes, pulling it to a wide shoulder where it could be safely towed. This incident not only prevented a traffic backup but also provided a valuable training opportunity for Eric and Carlos. Their swift coordination reflects the team’s continued commitment to safety, readiness, and responsive action on Missouri’s roads. 

  The KC Scout Team is known for staying calm under pressure and delivering quick, effective solutions. That skill was on full display July 3 rd during Match 5 of the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.   Ahead of Match departure, concerns were raised about an intersection located close to a major traffic exit route which lost signal power, thereby risking traffic backing up onto the interstate. MoDOT Director of Safety and Emergency Management, Chris Engelbrecht, asked whether a generator could be used to temporarily power the intersection to keep vehicles moving safely. Scout Senior Signal and Lighting Technician Dwayne Brown was dispatched to take his assigned backup generator and meet MoDOT Intermediate Signal and Lighting Technician Nathan Collins at the intersection near the stadium. Shortly before the match ended, the signals came back online on their own, meaning the generator wasn’t ultimately needed. However, the quick coordination and teamwork among Customer Service, ...

  As the leader of a large team, it is important to have a deep understanding of your team members and what they encounter every day. KC Scout Manager, Randy Johnson not only takes his role very seriously, but also enjoys constant growth and has a love for reading and learning new things.   After 4 months of studying, Johnson took the Road Safety Professional (Level 1) exam and earned his RSP1 certification. “The studying covered a lot of different resources, such as the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual, ITE Traffic Engineering Handbook and FHWA Road Safety Fundamentals,” said Johnson. “I am an avid reader and so I took the time to read through all the material.” This certification not only gave Johnson a broader understanding for road safety, but also a new perspective on the human element – and how human behavior influences roadway safety. “Safety is the most important part of our job and I wanted to make sure I knew all the different aspects of transportation safety.” ...

  KC Scout spent many months preparing for any situation that might come their way during the FIFA World Cup, from traffic backups to unexpected equipment issues. But sometimes, it’s the smallest moments that highlight the power of coordination.   Kansas Highway Patrol MAV (Motor Assist Vehicle) operator, Neil Stanley, notified the KC TMC shortly after witnessing a KC2026 bus leaving the Lenexa City Center with its side hatch open. As the bus pulled away, a stroller fell out onto the roadway. Neil quickly retrieved the stroller, and having notified the KC Scout TMC, they in turn, contacted the Martin City based Transportation Operations Center (TROC) onsite Scout staff, James Banhart and Brian Brown, who then relayed the situation to the bus team in the Joint Operations Center (JOC). The bus was notified, the hatch was secured, and it continued to FIFA Fan Fest to drop off all passengers safely. Meanwhile, Neil still had the stroller in his possession. He coordinated with ...