District 4 Traffic Operations

The Division of Operations consists of 320 technical and administrative staff in nine offices responsible for planning, design, and analysis of highway safety and traffic operational improvements; traffic management activities and operations as well encroachment permit, on over 700 miles of freeway and expressways and 1500 miles of conventional highways.

TOPS MANAGER (BAY AREA) develops and implements a Traffic Operations Strategic (TOPS) Plan for the District, addressing congestion trip reliability and safety through better system management and new technology. The plan provides guidance and establishes priorities for traffic operations projects in coordination with adjoining Caltrans Districts and promotes local and regional transportation partnerships. The TOPS Manager focuses on the implementation of projects identified in the plan, working with district functional units to ensure that projects are programmed, designed and constructed. The TOPS Manager will also coordinate project Corridor System Management Plans for District 4 as required by Corridor Management Improvement Account’s (CMIA) Proposition I Bond measures.

OFFICE OF ELECTRICAL DESIGN and OPERATIONS designs and reviews all electrical system projects in the District including traffic signals, highway lighting, ramp metering, Changeable Message Signs (CMSs) Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs), Highway Advisory Radios (HARs), fog horns, navigational and warning lights on bridge structures, planned improvements in toll-bridge and tunnels, power distribution and toll collection supervisory control systems. The Office is also responsible for the operation of over 1000 signals in the District. In addition, the Office develops software for signals and signal system operations.

OFFICE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OPERATIONS provides support for operation of Traffic Operations Systems (TOS) equipment such as traffic monitoring stations, ramp metering systems, Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs), Changeable Message Signs (CMSs) Highway Advisory Radio (HARs), and Extinguishable Message Signs (EMSs). The office also provides support for the Traffic Management Center (TMC) which compiles, monitors, and disseminates traffic information to minimize impact to the traveling public. In addition, the office reviews the design of the systems developed by consultants, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission or other stakeholder, integrating TOS components into a compatible system for the integration with the TMC.

OFFICE OF HIGHWAY OPERATIONS reviews and performs all traffic operational analyses including corridor studies, interchange and intersection analyses for scoping documents, and identifies operational improvement projects. In close coordination with the Metropolitan Transportation commission (MTC), the Office also helps develop Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) by providing lane closure charts, detour routes, and assessment of delay impacts as well as providing construction support. Highway Operations monitors freeway congestion using probe vehicles and/or other automated methods for the Bay Area State of the System report. The Office of Highway Operations also manages and monitors the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on state facilities, reviews studies in support of Environmental Documents proposed, and lead by the Department or by other agencies. This Office investigates and responds to complaints from motoring public as well as state and local officials. In addition, the Office updates and maintains the District’s Traffic Census and Inventory data as well as truck usage. The Office of Highway Operations reviews IGR/CEQA documents and encroachment permits and also coordinates with Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) on improving FasTrak lanes on all state operated toll bridges. This Office also provides input to traffic-related research, traffic flow, HOV and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes.

OFFICE OF ENCROACHMENT PERMITS processes permit applications and issues permits to applicants for highway improvements to construct approved facilities or to conduct specified activities. The Office’s primary objectives are to protect, maintain and enhance the quality of the State Highway System during and after permitted work, ensure the safety of both the highway users and the permit applicant, ensure that the proposed encroachment is compatible with primary uses of the State Highway System, protect the State’s investment in the highway facility and document temporary uses of highway right of way for special events, filming, etc.

OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY is primarily involved in assessment and analysis of traffic safety on state highways. The office is responsible for the design of signing and striping components for Bay Area highways and freeways, maintains sign logs, maintains accident records, provides services for District Claims and Legal Support Offices, conducts speed zone studies and administers the District’s Traffic Safety Program. The Office also investigates complaints about traffic safety and operational problems and responds to public inquiries and initiates corrective action where needed. In addition, the Office also administers and develops Project Study Reports (PSRs) and Project Reports (PRs) for the purpose of programming projects into the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) for safety or operational improvements.

OFFICE OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT The District Traffic Manager’s (DTM) Office has the responsibility of emphasizing the importance of traffic management and inclusion of related components in all construction, maintenance and permits activities on the State Highway System. The DTM advises Caltrans management on traffic matters and proposes changes to District and State policies on traffic management issues. The DTM Office provides services in three areas: 1) The Lane Closure System (LCS) unit reviews, approves and coordinates lane closures from construction, maintenance and permits activities on the freeways and highways in the Bay Area to minimize the traffic impacts to the traveling public; 2) The Traffic Management Team (TMT) unit provides field traffic management support through the use of Changeable Message Sign (CMS) Trucks for providing motorists information and traffic monitoring activities for incidents, non-permitted special events and selected high profile or sensitive closures; 3) The Transportation Management Plan (TMP) unit provides guidance and support to functional units on TMP matters. These efforts involve review, coordination, modification and approval of TMP's for all projects in the district.

OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SYSTEMS is responsible for the reviewing, planning, and development of the Traffic Operations System (TOS) for the District. The office prepares and develops Project Study Reports (PSRs) and Project Reports (PRs) for the implementation of TOS equipment such as traffic monitoring stations, ramp metering systems, Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs), Changeable Message Signs (CMSs) and, Highway Advisory Radios (HARs). The office also reviews large projects (e.g. freeway widening and interchange modifications) for opportunities to install these TOS elements. The office is also involved in the development and operation of the district’s Park and Ride Lot system. The office monitors intelligent transportation strategies with our transportation partners, and operates and maintains over 230 ramp meters in the Bay Area. In addition, the Office operates the Transportation Management Center (TMC), with its traffic monitoring components (detector stations and CCTVs), the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP), and its motorist information components such as CMSs and HARs. The TMC coordinates with the CHP and Bay Area 511 to provide real-time traffic information to the motoring public and is heavily involved in disaster planning and incident management due to natural or manmade causes such as earthquakes, floods, terrorist attacks, etc.

OFFICE OF TRUCK SERVICES communicates with the two Regional Transportation Permits Offices (located in Sacramento and San Bernardino) and the various District 4 functional units, including Planning, Programming, Project Development, Construction, Maintenance, Traffic Operations and Transportation Management Centers (TMCs). It reviews all programming and design documents including Project Study Reports (PSRs), Project Reports (PRs), Project Study Scoping Reports (PSSRs), and Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&Es), where they may impact extra legal loads. This Office is responsible for providing data on temporary and permanent changes of highway systems to ensure vertical and horizontal clearance which may impact routing of extra legal loads or designation as part of the National Network. It ensures the information is accurate, up-to-date and communicated to the appropriate Regional Transportation permits office. Office of Truck Services also responds to inquiries from law enforcement and public agencies regarding trucking issues. It works closely with Roadway Rehabilitation Program advisor in Headquarters and Districts to communicate the trucking industry interests. Additionally, this Office consults with the trucking industry to obtain and initiate major project improvements, minor signing/striping projects, and other miscellaneous projects for improved truck routing and goods movement.