TranStar Press Release

TranStar Wins Award for Roadway Flood Warning System

Dec 5th, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 5, 2019
Contact: Joshua Shideler, 713-881-3044

Houston TranStar Wins Transportation Systems Management and Operations Award for its Roadway Flood Warning Project

For the development of an innovative, real-time flood warning tool that educates motorists about roadway flood risks during heavy rainfall, Houston TranStar claimed this year’s National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) “Best TSMO Project” distinction.

NOCoE received 46 entries in the second year of its TSMO Awards. TranStar’s Roadway Flood Warning technology was chosen among projects submitted by cities, counties, MPOs, state DOTs and private sector organizations across the country.

“Our project enhances traveler safety in the Greater Houston region by giving motorists reliable information to avoid roadways that are highly likely to be flooded,” said Dinah Massie, Executive Director for Houston TranStar.

A collaborative effort between TranStar, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), this tool synthesizes rainfall and stream elevation data with traffic information in real time to identify where roadway flooding is highly likely to occur and displays that data on TranStar’s traffic map and mobile application.

“By combining state resources with those of other agencies, we are improving safety by providing potentially life-saving information during significant rainfall events,” said TxDOT Houston District Director of Transportation Operations, Ugonna Ughanze, P.E.

TranStar’s website and real-time traffic map, seen by more than three million unique visitors during Hurricane Harvey, influences travel patterns of a large portion of the region’s driving population.

“Developing a visual mapping aide of where street flooding is possible during heavy rainfall is a significant step forward in helping to reduce flood damage to vehicles and save lives,” said Jeff Lindner, Director of Hydraulic Operations and Meteorologist for the Flood Control District.

Houston TranStar was one of four category award winners. Selected projects will be recognized at the 2020 AASHTO Spring Meeting on May 26-29, 2020 in Kansas City, MO.


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Houston TranStar is a unique partnership of representatives from the City of Houston, Harris County, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) who share resources and exchange information under one roof to provide transportation management and emergency management to help keep motorists informed, roadways clear and lives safe in the fourth most populated city in the United States.
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