Media Roles in Traffic Media Roles in Traffic Communication and Communication and CoordinationCoordination

OverviewOverview

60 employees, about half full-time60 employees, about half full-time

Open 24/7/365 with at least four people in at all Open 24/7/365 with at least four people in at all timestimes

Provide service to over 40 radio stations and 1 TV Provide service to over 40 radio stations and 1 TV station all over southern California including station all over southern California including LA/OC, IE, Lancaster, Victorville, Santa Barbara, LA/OC, IE, Lancaster, Victorville, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and TemeculaSan Luis Obispo, Santa Maria and Temecula

Provide data feeds to other vendors such as Provide data feeds to other vendors such as Navigation Systems, websites, etcNavigation Systems, websites, etc

Information DistributionInformation Distribution

Broadcast Producer

Data Producer

Resources

Plain English Script

Website

Database

ReportersRadio

TVActiveMaps

Websites

TV Maps

Navigation

Current ResourcesCurrent Resources

Aircraft (2 planes, 1 Aircraft (2 planes, 1 helicopter)helicopter)

CHP CADCHP CAD CHP TMCCHP TMC ScannersScanners Speed Flow Maps Speed Flow Maps

(City Streets & (City Streets & Highway)Highway)

Proprietary Proprietary CamerasCameras

Caltrans & City DOT Caltrans & City DOT CamerasCameras

REACTREACT Cell CallersCell Callers

SuccessesSuccesses

CHP permitting media access to CADCHP permitting media access to CAD Caltrans increasingly adding access to still and Caltrans increasingly adding access to still and

moving camerasmoving cameras TMCs in major metropolitan areasTMCs in major metropolitan areas Caltrans PIO Press Releases for major Caltrans PIO Press Releases for major

incidentsincidents Good relationships between media and state Good relationships between media and state

agencies. State is very media friendlyagencies. State is very media friendly

Areas for ImprovementAreas for Improvement

Additional camera coverage and more Additional camera coverage and more stable streamingstable streaming Rotating streaming cameras with still Rotating streaming cameras with still

cameras alsocameras also Special incident stream that TMC could Special incident stream that TMC could

change when there is a big incident in change when there is a big incident in camera viewcamera view

Areas for ImprovementAreas for Improvement

Better relationships and Better relationships and communication with local agenciescommunication with local agencies Understand that the media is not the Understand that the media is not the

enemy and can be beneficialenemy and can be beneficial Make sure to notify CHP and media when Make sure to notify CHP and media when

conducting actions on freeways and state conducting actions on freeways and state highwayshighways

Different Information NeedsDifferent Information Needs

Traffic ReportersTraffic Reporters

Basic description of Basic description of incidentincident

Lanes blockedLanes blocked DurationDuration What point in the What point in the

process of clearingprocess of clearing Effect on trafficEffect on traffic

News ReportersNews Reporters

NamesNames Detailed factsDetailed facts Sound bitesSound bites ImagesImages

Why Cooperate with the Why Cooperate with the Media?Media?

Cooperation and communication with the Cooperation and communication with the media helps public agencies because...media helps public agencies because...

People are directed away from the incident locationPeople are directed away from the incident location People are educated about the circumstances and People are educated about the circumstances and

complications of the incident, therefore less angry and complications of the incident, therefore less angry and inconvenienced inconvenienced

Media more likely to help agencies get the word out Media more likely to help agencies get the word out during campaignsduring campaigns