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This survey is from The Urban
Transportation Monitor's May 28, 1999 newsletter.
Editorial
This week's survey is on Freeway Service
Patrols. The Urban Transportation Monitor conduced a
similar survey on Freeway Service Patrols in 1992. At that time,
11 active patrols were identified. Although this is more than
double, a considerable increase, the total number of patrols is still
disappointingly low considering the valuable service they provide.
Our survey results show that the various patrols that responded to the
survey provided an average of 53,000 assists per year. This is
nearly 2,000 assists per vehicle pre year. Since most patrols
operate on weekdays, every patrol vehicle assists an average of about
8 motorists each day. The services they provide are invaluable
-- quick repairs, directing traffic, medical assistance, providing
fuel and oil, clearing debris, to name a few.
One of the most recent published reports
("Performance and Benefit Evaluation of CHART Incident Management
Program" -- Maryland Department of Transportation) regarding the
benefits of incident management (in which freeway service patrols play
a significant role) concluded that the incident management program
reduced the blockage duration from incidents by 36%. This
translates to a reduction in highway user delay time of about 42,000
hours per incident.
These statistics show that incident
management, and more specifically freeway service patrols, provide an
extremely valuable service. They should be expanded where they
are currently operating and they should be implemented in more urban
areas in the U.S.
Daniel B. Rathbone
Editor/Publisher
Freeway Service Patrols
The Urban Transportation Monitor earlier this month conducted
a survey on freeway service patrols.
Survey questionnaires were faxed to 23
organizations that manage freeway service patrols in the U.S.
Eighteen completed questionnaires were returned.
Results of the survey are published in two
parts. Part I appears here and Part II will appear in the
next issue of The Urban Transportation Monitor.
Freeway Service Patrol Contacts
|
CONTACT |
NAME OF PATROL |
LOCATION |
TEL. |
| James
A. Marszal |
Road
Crewzers |
Cleveland, OH |
(216)
581-2100 |
| Tad
Ornstein |
Highway Emergency Local Patrol |
Westchester, NY |
(914)
949-6350 |
| Bruce
Pettus |
Motorist Assist |
St.
Louis, MO |
(314)
340-4343 |
| Mike
Jensen |
Orange
County Freeway Service Patrol |
Orange
County, CA |
(714)
560-5659 |
| Grover
Schretter |
Courtesy Patrol |
Fort
Worth, TX |
(817)
370-6736 |
|
Dominic Muniza |
Penn
Lincoln Pkwy Service Patrol |
Pittsburgh, PA |
(412)
429-6034 |
| Susan
Clarke |
Freeway Service Patrol |
Sacramento, CA |
(916)
654-7055 |
|
Randall Freeman |
Motorist Assist |
Kansas
City, MO |
(816)
241-2223 |
|
Patricia Ott |
Emergency Service Patrol |
Mt.
Arlington, NJ |
(973)
770-5105 |
| Alton
Bowdoin |
Motorist Assistance Program |
Houston, TX |
(713)
881-3041 |
| Scott
Foltz |
Freeway Service Patrol |
Carson
City, NV |
(775)
888-7999 |
| Scott
Cole |
Incident Management Assistance Patrol |
Charlotte, NC |
(704)
342-6814 |
| Scott
Evans |
ARTIMIS Freeway Patrol Service |
Cincinnati, OH |
(513)
564-6113 |
| James
Blake |
Mile
High Courtesy Patrol |
Denver, CO |
(303)
757-951 |
| Paul
Cuerdon |
Highway Emergency Local Patrol (HELP) |
Albany, NY |
(518)
474-6377 |
| Carol
Cox |
Motorist Assistance Program |
Boston, MA |
(617)
973-7785 |
| Troy
Boyd |
Hoosier Helper |
Gary,
IN |
(219)
886-3374 |
| Susan
Fischer |
Highway Emergency Local Patrol (HELP) |
Long
Island, NY |
(516)
582-1094 |
Freeway Service
Patrol Survey
|
LOCATION |
Cleveland, OH |
Westchester, NY |
St. Louis, MO |
Orange County, CA |
| NAME
OF PATROL |
Road
Crewzers |
Highway Emergency Local Patrol |
Motorist Assist |
Orange
County Freeway Service Patrol |
|
SPONSOR |
Ohio
DOT, Ameritech, East Ohio Gas Company |
None |
Missouri DOT -- exclusively |
Orange
County Transportation Authority; Caltrans; CA Highway Patrol |
| TYPE
OF PATROL |
Courtesy patrol |
Full
service patrol |
Courtesy patrol; traffic control; focused on traffic congestion
incident management |
Congestion Mitigation / Motorist Assistance |
|
MANAGING ORG. |
ODOT
-- District 12 |
NYSDOT |
Missouri DOT |
Orange
County Transportation Authority |
| CENTER
LINE MILES PATROLLED |
95 +/- |
147 |
234 |
170 |
| NO. OF
VEHICLES (exclusively for service patrol) |
5 pick
ups |
21
pick ups |
14
pick ups (1 additional vehicle for emergency response) |
25
wreckers; 3 pick ups; 3 cars |
|
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED |
Floor
jack; gasoline; water; oil; sand; cold mix; jumper cables; spill kit;
air tank; hand tools; fire extinguisher (2); flares; traffic cones;
first aid kit; misc. supplies |
Compressor; extra battery; flue; flares; traffic cones; antifreeze |
Traffic advisors; push bumpers; fire extinguishers; air; heavy duty
jack; mechanics hand tools; state radios; cell phone |
External speaker and public address system; mounted spot light cable;
power outlets; programmable scanners; tool box; first aid kit; fire
extinguisher; misc. supplies |
| HOURS
OF OPERATION |
5 am -
8:30 pm Monday through Friday |
6 - 10
am and 3 - 7 pm |
4 am -
8:30 pm, Monday through Friday |
5:30 -
9 am and 3 - 7 pm (5:30 - 7 pm in construction zones) |
| WHO
PROVIDES SERVICE PATROL? |
In-house service |
Outside contractor |
In-house service |
Outside contractor |
| WHAT
SERVICES DOES YOUR SERVICE PATROL PERFORM? |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; provide traffic reports; make
repairs; direct traffic; provide medical assistance (basic supplies
only); fix potholes; phone |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; make repairs (minor); direct
traffic; provide fuel and antifreeze; fix flat tires; jump starts |
Provide fluids; HAZMAT - Absorbent Booms |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; make repairs (minor); direct
traffic if requested by CHP at accident scene; change tires; gas; tow
off highway |
| NO. OF
ANNUAL ASSISTS PROVIDED |
10,000
+/- |
23,000
+/- |
30,000
+/- |
55,000
+/- |
| MAX.
LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED TO ASSIST BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN |
15
min. +/- |
10
min. +/- |
30
min. |
Generally 5 - 10 min. |
|
LOCATION |
Fort Worth, TX |
Pittsburgh, PA |
Sacramento, CA |
Kansas City, MO |
| NAME
OF PATROL |
Courtesy Patrol |
Penn
Lincoln Parkway Service Patrol |
Freeway Service Patrol |
Motorist Assist |
|
SPONSOR |
Texas
DOT |
PENN
DOT |
CA
Highway Patrol; Caltrans; local transportation agencies |
N/A |
| TYPE
OF PATROL |
Courtesy Patrol |
Full
service patrol |
Courtesy Patrol |
Courtesy Patrol |
|
MANAGING ORG. |
Traffic Engineering (TX DOT) |
PENN
DOT |
Local
transportation agencies |
Missouri DOT |
| CENTER
LINE MILES PATROLLED |
160 |
30 |
1,160 |
41 |
| NO. OF
VEHICLES (exclusively for service patrol) |
6 pick
ups |
3
wreckers (1 back up) |
277
wreckers; 10 pick ups; 1 flatbed |
4
pick-ups |
|
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED |
Gas;
floor jacks; impact wrenches; tire patch kits; cell phones; arrow
board; emergency lights; assorted tools |
Carries over 50 pieces of equipment to aid in servicing disabled
vehicles |
Fuel;
sand; water; fire extinguishers; flares; cones; booster cables; tool
kit; etc. |
Push
bumpers; jumper cables; assorted tools for minor repairs; fuel; first
aid kits |
| HOURS
OF OPERATION |
24
hours/ Monday through Friday |
6 - 9
am and 3 - 6 pm Monday through Friday |
Varies
-- typically am and pm commute hours |
5:30
am - 7:30 pm Monday through Friday |
| WHO
PROVIDES SERVICE PATROL? |
In-house service |
Outside contractor |
Outside contractor |
In-house |
| WHAT
SERVICES DOES YOUR SERVICE PATROL PERFORM? |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; set up alternate routes; provide
traffic reports; make repairs; direct traffic; provide medical
assistance |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; make repairs; direct traffic;
provide medical assistance; provide free gas |
Push
vehicles off highway; provide gas; change flat; jump starts; taping
hoses and refilling radiators |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; make repairs; direct traffic;
provide medical assistance (CPR trained); dispense fuel |
| NO. OF
ANNUAL ASSISTS PROVIDED |
7,686 |
3,681 |
600,000 |
7 -
8,000 |
| MAX.
LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED TO ASSIST BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN |
Until
motorist is back underway or other assistance has arrived |
10
min. |
10
min. |
8 min. |
|
LOCATION |
Mt. Arlington, NJ |
Houston, TX |
Carson City, NV |
Charlotte, NC |
| NAME
OF PATROL |
Emergency Service Patrol (ESP) |
Harris
County Sheriff's Department Motorist Assistance Program |
Freeway Service Patrol |
Incident Management Assistance Patrol |
|
SPONSOR |
FHWA
program 100% federally funded |
Metropolitan Transit Authority; Houston Automobile Dealers
Association; Harris County Sheriff's Department; Houston Cellular
Telephone Co. |
Nevada
DOT |
North
Carolina DOT |
| TYPE
OF PATROL |
Full
service patrol |
Assistance patrol |
Full
service patrol |
Full
service patrol |
|
MANAGING ORG. |
New
Jersey DOT |
Harris
County's Sheriff's Department |
Nevada
DOT |
North
Carolina DOT |
| CENTER
LINE MILES PATROLLED |
N/A |
N/A |
45 |
50 +/- |
| NO. OF
VEHICLES (exclusively for service patrol) |
9
pick-ups |
18
vans |
6 vans |
6
pick-ups |
|
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED |
Air
compressors; Hazmat spill clean-up kits; tools; jacks; jumper cables;
fire extinguishers |
Floor
jacks; jumper cables; small hand; tools; gas; water; flares; first aid
kits |
Fully
equipped |
Winches; push bumpers; air compressor; tools |
| HOURS
OF OPERATION |
4 am -
8:30 pm |
6 am -
10 pm |
6 am -
7 pm Monday through Friday; 10 am - 6 pm Saturday |
5:30
am - 9:30 pm Monday through Friday; 11 am - 7 pm Saturday and Sunday |
| WHO
PROVIDES SERVICE PATROL? |
In-house |
In-house |
Outside contractor |
In-house |
| WHAT
SERVICES DOES YOUR SERVICE PATROL PERFORM? |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; set up alternative routs; provide
traffic reports; make repairs; direct traffic; provide medical
assistance; place and program variable message signs |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; provide traffic reports; make
repairs; direct traffic; jump starts; gas; water; push; gas; water;
push; assist in changing flat tires |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; provide traffic reports; make
repairs; provide medical assistance; incidence detection program;
assist highway patrol at accidents |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; set up alternative routes; provide
traffic reports; make repairs; direct traffic |
| NO. OF
ANNUAL ASSISTS PROVIDED |
15,000 |
N/A |
15,000 |
18,000 |
| MAX.
LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED TO ASSIST BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN |
10
min. |
No
maximum time set |
15 -
20 min. |
20
min. |
|
LOCATION |
Cincinnati, OH |
Denver, CO |
Albany, NY |
Boston, MA |
| NAME
OF PATROL |
ARTIMIS Freeway Service Patrol |
Mile
High Courtesy Patrol |
HELP
(Highway Emergency Local Patrol) |
Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) |
|
SPONSOR |
ARTIMIS; CVS Drug Stores |
Colorado DOT |
New
York State DOT (using federal and state funds) |
CVS
Drug Stores sponsors 2 of 21 vans |
| TYPE
OF PATROL |
Courtesy patrol |
Courtesy patrol |
Courtesy patrol |
Courtesy patrol |
|
MANAGING ORG. |
ARTIMIS |
Colorado DOT |
New
York State DOT |
Mass
Highways |
| CENTER
LINE MILES PATROLLED |
88 |
48 |
40 |
283 |
| NO. OF
VEHICLES (exclusively for service patrol) |
5 vans |
10
wreckers |
2 pick
ups plus 1 back-up truck |
21
vans |
|
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED |
Public
address system; CB radios; cell phone; police and fire scanners;
fluids; minor repair kits; air compressors; jacks; tools; flares;
first aid kit; blankets |
Towing
equipment; cell phones; 2-way radios; floor jacks; booster cables;
recharge air bottles; fire extinguishers; first aid kit; safety
equipment; gas |
Air
compressor; lug nut remover; air jack |
Repair
equipment; environmental equipment; parts for temporary mechanical
repairs |
| HOURS
OF OPERATION |
6:30 -
9:30 am and 3 - 6 pm Monday through Friday |
6:30 -
9 am and 3:30 - 6:30 pm Monday through Friday |
7 - 10
am and 3 - 7 pm |
6:30AM
- 9:30 am and 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm Monday through Friday |
| WHO
PROVIDES SERVICE PATROL? |
Outside contractor |
Outside contractor |
Outside contractor |
Outside contractor |
| WHAT
SERVICES DOES YOUR SERVICE PATROL PERFORM? |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; provide traffic reports; make
repairs; provide medical assistance; help law enforcement during
freeway closures |
Tow
vehicles off highway; clear debris; provide traffic reports; protect
scene; give gas/water/ change tires; safe drop sites; cell phone |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; make repairs (minor repairs -- 10
min.); direct traffic; provide medical assistance (first aid/CPR);
gas; jump start; change tires; use of cell phone |
Clear
debris; make repairs; provide medical assistance -- if a disabled
vehicle is not mobile within 10 min. a tow truck is dispatched |
| NO. OF
ANNUAL ASSISTS PROVIDED |
18,000 |
20,000 |
3,300 |
25,000 |
| MAX.
LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED TO ASSIST BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN |
No
limit |
10
min. |
10
min. |
10
min. |
|
LOCATION |
Gary, IN |
New York, NY |
| NAME
OF PATROL |
Hoosier Helper |
HELP
(Highway Emergency Local Patrol) |
|
SPONSOR |
None |
New
York State DOT (using federal and state funds) |
| TYPE
OF PATROL |
Full
service patrol |
Courtesy patrol |
|
MANAGING ORG. |
Indiana DOT |
New
York State DOT |
| CENTER
LINE MILES PATROLLED |
29 |
155 |
| NO. OF
VEHICLES (exclusively for service patrol) |
5 vans |
14
pick ups plus 2 cars |
|
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED |
Cones;
arrow boards; first aid supplies; roll-up signs |
Compressors; air jacks; fuel; antifreeze; water; basic hand tools;
cell phone |
| HOURS
OF OPERATION |
24
hours/day; 7 days/week |
6 - 10
am and 3 - 6 pm Monday through Friday |
| WHO
PROVIDES SERVICE PATROL? |
In-house |
In-house for expressways; outside contractor for parkways |
| WHAT
SERVICES DOES YOUR SERVICE PATROL PERFORM? |
Push
vehicles off highway; clear debris; make repairs; direct traffic;
provide medical assistance |
Push
vehicles off highway; make repairs; provide medical assistance;
provide fuel and oil; repair flats; make phone calls; request tows |
| NO. OF
ANNUAL ASSISTS PROVIDED |
16,000 |
36,000 |
| MAX.
LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED TO ASSIST BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN |
20
min. |
10
min. |
|
