October 13, 2004

VDOT Selects Open Roads as I-81 Corridor System Integrator

RICHMOND, VA -- The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that it has selected Open Roads Consulting, Inc. to provide full service Smart Traffic Center (STC) systems integration and operations for VDOT's Staunton, Salem and Bristol Districts.

Open Roads is joined by team members URS Corporation, Kimley Horn and Associates, TrafficLand, Inc., and Meteorlogix, Inc. The Open Roads Team will provide development, coordination, integration, operations, and maintenance of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components and Smart Traffic Centers along the I-81 corridor. ITS encompasses a broad range of technologies that provide lower cost solutions to help monitor and manage traffic, reduce congestion, enhance productivity, and save lives, time and money in the short and long term.

"The I-81 ITS Systems Integration Project is a key part of the I-81 Corridor Smart Travel Program. It provides aggregate system and data management for VDOT's I-81 ITS infrastructure. This allows for quick ITS deployment by the I-81 Smart Traffic Centers to address traffic and incident situations," said Dean Gustafson, VDOT - Staunton District ITS Program Manager. "We look forward to the Open Roads Team assisting us based on their past experience in Richmond and Hampton Roads."

Steve Beckwith, Program Manager for this project and Vice President of Open Roads states: "We are excited to be a part of the VDOT team to bring and grow an integrated approach for ITS within the I-81 corridor. Within two months, we will be deploying our full enterprise Transportation Management System, OpenTMS, which includes support for variable message signs, environmental sensor stations, traffic sensor systems, device scheduling, incident detection and management, and work zone management. We will also deploy our video over IP solution, VICADS, integrated with VDOT's statewide video distribution system; and a system for viewing the Virginia State Police's Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) incidents related to transportation concerns."

According to Barbara Skiffington, President of Open Roads: "Our team brings together the capabilities to not only deploy lower cost, proven, 'off-the-shelf' systems but also to hire and train the staff to support the operations and maintenance activities for a 24 x 7 operation in quick order."

Open Roads Consulting (www.openroadsconsulting.com) provides integrated software and system solutions for our clients worldwide. The corporate focus of Open Roads is directed toward the Intelligent Transportation and Security industries. Whether developing systems that enhance safety, enhance system efficiency, streamline maintenance or protect critical assets, Open Roads provides the right solution at the right cost. Open Roads staff has decades of experience in the design and deployment of systems worldwide.

URS Corporation (www.urscorp.com) offers a comprehensive range of professional planning and design, systems engineering and technical assistance, program and construction management, and operations and maintenance services for surface transportation, air transportation, rail transportation, industrial process, facilities and logistics support, water/wastewater treatment, hazardous waste management and military platforms support. Headquartered in San Francisco, the Company operates in more than 20 countries with approximately 27,000 employees providing engineering and technical services to federal, state and local governmental agencies as well as private clients in the chemical, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, forest products, mining, oil and gas, and utilities industries.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (www.kimley-horn.com) provides clients with an in-depth understanding of the essential and defining characteristics of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), with an emphasis on user services particularly as they enable optimum traveler decisions on modal choice, seamless regional travel, and timely and reliable pre-trip and en-route information. Kimley-Horn's experience in ITS design and telecommunication network designs has played a defining role in the development of freeway and arterial management systems across the United States. As a consultant to Virginia DOT and many other departments of transportation across the U.S., the firm has established themselves as one of the premier ITS firms in the nation.

TrafficLand, Inc. (www.trafficland.com) heads a consortium of leading companies that manufacture, integrate and support a wide range of sophisticated video surveillance, monitoring, storage and control systems. TrafficLand’s mission is to put advanced video technology to work along area roadways to provide travelers with anywhere-anytime access to the information they need to make more informed travel choices—and avoid traffic congestion.

Meteorlogix, Inc. (www.meteorlogix.com) is an institutionally-owned private company. Based in Minneapolis, Meteorlogix delivers industry-specific weather management capabilities for its customers to manage weather-related business risks, maximize personal safety and minimize financial loss. Meteorlogix serves more than 20,000 customers with a focus on public safety, broadcast media, transportation, energy and aviation industries.

Contact

Stephen Beckwith
Open Roads Consulting, Inc.
Phone: 757-546-3401
Fax: 757-546-1832
Email: slbeckwith@openroadsconsulting.com