The Highway Emergency Response Program is a highway service patrol operated in metro Atlanta, United States by the Georgia Department of Transport (GDOT). This is part of the GDOT Traffic Operations Office. Both individual programs and vehicles are usually referred to by bacronym HERO . The program started in Atlanta in 1994 as a city that was prepared for the 1996 Olympics and has since been expanded with the Navigation Smart Navigation Navigation System 511 program.
The main purpose of the HERO unit is to minimize traffic congestion by cleaning up damaged or defective vehicles from the travel path and providing traffic control at the scene. As a secondary service, HERO operates as a patrol service; helping stranded riders who often have flat tires, run out of fuel, or be stranded by mechanical failures of their vehicles. In addition to their normal patrol duties at the Atlanta metro, HERO is deployed to assist with traffic control at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia and along Interstates 16, 75, and 95 during storm evacuations.
HERO Operator is a GDOT employee, which distinguishes programs from other expressway service patrols in other states, such as California, which are operated under contract by private crane trucking companies. HERO's day is divided into four shifts: Alpha (morning), Bravo (afternoon), Charlie (weekend) and Delta (overnight). HERO operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typically, HERO and CHAMP Operators work between 75,000 and 80,000 incidents per year.
In Georgia, motorists need the help of HERO or CHAMP to call 511 (and press 1) to reach the Traffic Management Center, GDOT's main center for incident management. 511 is also a number for general traffic information throughout the state of Georgia.
State Farm began sponsoring the program in 2009 during the state budget constraints. The HERO unit now operates independently of state funds receiving funding from State Farm sponsors, 511 sign sponsors, and Federal Highway funding.
In February 2017, GDOT expanded it to eastern Georgia with Coordinate & amp; Maintenance Program ( CHAMP ), which performs all HERO functions, in addition to monitoring for each maintenance requirement along rural country roads. It originally started by closing the I-20 to the east from Atlanta metro to state lanes including I-520 around Augusta, and in the center of I-16 around Dublin. The CHAMP program expanded throughout the state in May 2017.
Video Highway Emergency Response Operators
Goal
- To minimize major disruptions to highway traffic flow at the scene.
- To focus on the factors causing the disruption of traffic flow and remove those factors.
- To reduce congestion and maintain consistent traffic flow at the scene
- To reduce response time to traffic related incidents
Maps Highway Emergency Response Operators
Task
HERO Unit:
- Take control of the Atlanta Interstate area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Initiate steps to reduce traffic congestion and delays
- Provide support to law enforcement, first response, and other emergency agencies
- Help clean up a jammed vehicle from the travel path
- Remove ruins from the path
- Assist drivers who are stranded with minor mechanical issues including:
- Changed flat tires and inflated flats
- Jump start of weak battery
- Provide fuel or water
- Provides transportation to safer areas
- Give courtesy phone use
Territory Coverage
The HERO unit is the only agent in Georgia that is active on patrol at Interstate in Georgia 24 hours a day. Patrol CART:
- I-20 from Douglasville to Conyers
- I-75 from Emerson to McDonough
- I-85 from Newnan to Buford
- GA-400 from Atlanta to Cumming
- AS-78 from Atlanta to Stone Mountain
- All I-285
- All I-675
- All I-575
- All I-985
Fleet
The HERO fleet comprises the configuration of the Ford F450 utility box as their main patrol vehicle, the International Rescue Truck, and the Ford F250 and Ford Expedition as a watch vehicle, all painted in bright green. The HERO truck can pull the full tractor trailer off the travel path. Inside the truck there is enough supplies to handle incidents from accidents, spills, and tool debris to get the riders back on the road. In 2017, GDOT began to increase its fleet to the Ford F550 both in the design of traditional closed utility boxes and new half box designs.
Duty Line
Since the HERO Unit was established in 1994, two operators have been killed in performing their duties. Spencer Pass was beaten and killed in January 2011 while jumping a jammed car on I-85 in South Atlanta. Motorists survived after being driven from a dangerous road. In 2016, flyovers on I-85 and Cleveland Ave were renamed in his honor. Moses King was assassinated in August 2015 when he was attacked by a disturbed driver who hit him at I-75/I-85 Atlanta while giving traffic control to the previous crash scene. The driver was arrested on the scene.
Expansion
Under the Governor Governor Sonny Perdue's Rapid Congestion Assistance program, the HERO program is expanded. Prior to the 2005 expansion, the HERO program consisted of 48 operators; May 2009 there are nearly 90 positions in the program, 2015 there are 110 operators. This expansion as well as several others since adding a new route to the HERO coverage area. By 2015, GDOT's HERO truck fleet covers over 420 miles of road.
The Towing and Recovery Incentive Program (TRIP)
The HERO unit also oversees TRIP programs that now require accidents to be adequately cleaned for traffic to increase significantly within 90 minutes from when the towing company arrives and is given notice to proceed. (must be at the scene within 30 (peak) up to 45 (non-peak) minutes or less) Most firms withdraw through this requirement due to assistance from GDOT to reach the site. Towing companies in the TRIP program must meet minimum standards and pass inspection by GDOT. Approved equipment is issued TRIP certification sticker.
References
External links
- HERO Site
- Website Navigator Georgia
"Georgia DOT Office for Traffic Operations, Highway Official Emergency Response Official (HERO)". Georgia Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008 . Obtained 2007-07-28 . Ã,
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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