MATOC Monitors Region during Eventful Weeks

MATOC

The Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) program which is housed at the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology’s Capital Wireless Information Net (CapWIN) offices was recently touted in several Washington Post articles for successfully monitoring the metro region during the 9/11 Memorial Ride and the 5.8M Earthquake.

The August 19 ride which consisted of nearly 2,000 motorcycles stretching 12 miles began in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and snaked through Maryland and Virginia ending the day at the Pentagon. On the following day, the procession continued across the District of Columbia and back into Maryland towards New York City, its final destination. Departments of Transportation from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia worked with police and public safety agencies to warn motorists avoid the event’s route because of the potential severe congestion it could create. Taran Hutchinson, MATOC Facilitator, was interviewed by the Washington Post about the Washington Area’s response to the warning. “If you look at [Interstate] 66, even for a Friday that’s light, so I think people got the warning” was his quote published in the Post. MATOC Operator, John Minisi, was also quoted in the Post article about how fast the ride was able came through the area.

MATOC was also on hand during the major earthquake that shook the metro region on August 23. One Post article discussed the horrendous commute most residents faced after the earthquake. Hutchinson commented on how while congestion started earlier it was pretty normal for rush hour. The other Post article talked about how the earthquake highlighted how problematic evacuating Washington, D.C. is. Hutchinson commented, “Once people began moving out, it was just a volume issue.”

To read the full Memorial article, visit: Avoid BW Parkway, travelers warned as they plot escape around 9/11 memorial ride.

To read the full Difficult Commute article, visit: After quake, a difficult commute for thousands.

To read the full Colossal Challenge article, visit: Earthquake illustrates colossal challenge of evacuating Washington, D.C..

About MATOC
Following experiences from the 9/11 attacks and other major incidents, transportation officials from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) have committed to share information and coordinate their incident management practices for both day-to-day operations and during larger regional incidents. The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) has partnered with the major transportation agencies in creating MATOC, the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination Program. By integrating traffic management systems, improving procedures and planning, and providing more accurate and timely transportation information to the public, your transportation agencies are working together to make travel smoother and safer. This is the vision of MATOC. For more information about MATOC visit: www.matoc.org.

Published September 27, 2011