TranStar Press Release

Houston TranStar expands life-saving Roadway Flood Warning System into TxDOT-Beaumont District

Nov 16th, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (November 16, 2021)

Joshua Shideler, Public Information Officer - Houston TranStar
Office: 713-881-3044

Houston TranStar expands life-saving Roadway Flood Warning System into TxDOT-Beaumont District


TranStar’s Roadway Flood Warning System is expanding into the TxDOT-Beaumont region, offering area residents and travelers access to potentially life-saving information during heavy rainfall.

“Developed initially in Houston, these flood alerts show drivers the areas highly likely to be flooding based on real-time rainfall and stream elevation data,” said Mike Vickich, with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). “And it’s a prime example of government partners working together to leverage innovation into valuable, practical tools.”

In 2018, after Hurricane Harvey, TranStar partnered with the Harris County Flood Control District, the Texas Department of Transportation and TTI to build the tool, ultimately displaying its critical data on TranStar’s traffic map and mobile application.

With this expansion, TTI has incorporated 77 existing rainfall sensors into the system, each owned and maintained by Jefferson County Drainage District 6. The plan is to continue building in additional sensors where appropriate throughout Texas.

TranStar’s Roadway Flood Warning System has claimed numerous awards including the Texas Public Works Association’s Technical Innovation Award, the Emergency Management Association of Texas Technology Award, the National Operations Center of Excellence Transportation Systems Management and Operations Award and an ITS Texas award.

“This is an important initiative to enhance safety for the traveling public along the I-10 corridor with collaboration with regional partners,” said TxDOT-Houston District Director of Transportation Operations, Ugonna Ughanze, P.E.

To access the Roadway Flood Warning System and TranStar’s real-time traffic conditions, residents are encouraged to visit www.HoustonTranStar.org or download the free TranStar mobile app.


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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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