ITS components of the TREX project in Denver, CO.

TREX stands for Transportation Expansion and it's a 1.7 billion dollar design/build freeway widening and light rail expansion project currently under construction in the Denver, Colorado area. The project includes an extensive Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) component, designed to provide public information, traveler information and incident management functions from a web site available to the public. The project includes numerous ITS components which communicate to a central Transportation Management Center (TMC). These ITS components include freeway entrance ramp meters, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), Highway Advisory Radio (HAR), Arterial Vehicle Detection Systems (AVDS), Freeway Vehicle Detection Systems (FVDS), and Transit Related ITS. The technologies being used include radar detection, video detection, Light Emitting Diode (LED) signs, fiber optic communications, and Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) cell phone technology communications. The ITS components are designed to provide full video surveillance of the freeway to detect incidents. A special password protected portion of the web site is available to local police, fire, and traffic management agencies to view live incident CCTV images. The contractor operates a temporary TMC which can post messages on the DMS and HAR systems to alert motorists of incidents and potential delays. The web site available to the public includes real time color coded maps of the freeway indicating the current traffic congestion, similar to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) web site. Color coded congestion maps will also be available for approximately 300 local arterial intersection approaches, based on real time volume, and occupancy and data collected from the AVDS component. This allows the public to make informed decisions about possible alternate routes to avoid incidents or other congestion. The Transit Related ITS component includes real time Variable Message Signs (VMS) and a Public Address (PA) system which inform the public when the next Light Rail Transit (LRT) train and connecting busses will be arriving. Signs are also planned to provide real time status on whether the Park-n-Ride lots are full. Bus traffic signal priority systems are also planned to give priority to busses exiting the LRT stations. Construction of the TREX project is well underway with completion expected by 2006. The project includes 19 miles of freeway widening and an adjacent light rail line which will connect downtown Denver to the Denver Tech Center. The project was approved by Denver area voters in 1999. The project includes a mix of Federal, State, Local, and Transit Agency funding.