Texas Transportation Officials Enhance Emergency Response

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Department of Transportation has signed a contract to improve emergency responses through the Combined Transportation, Emergency & Communications Center (CTECC), officials said Monday.

CTECC is the centralized public safety facility for operations of shared, critical emergency communications and transportation management for the region. Serco Inc. has been selected to manage the TxDOT freeway operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Safety is our number one priority,” said TxDOT Austin District Engineer Terry McCoy. “Contracting with the company now managing our Highway Emergency Response Operator program means we can identify incidents faster, and respond more quickly to help reduce congestion on our busy roadways.”

In addition to monitoring closed circuit television (CCTV) and dispatching HERO safety service patrol trucks, Serco will proactively monitor the roadways, coordinate incident management activities, and provide information to the public by posting messages to the dynamic message signs (DMS) on area roads to alert drivers to traffic conditions ahead.

In addition, the company will coordinate with local first responders to promote safe, quick clearance of incidents. This is enhanced through the use of new cameras on the HERO trucks that will send images back to CTECC for better incident management and regional coordination with other first responders.

The four-year contract is valued at $7 million.

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