Traffic Management Center

Scottsdale’s Traffic Management Center is the “brain” behind the city’s Intelligent Transportation System, or “ITS.” It is part of Public Works. 

This high-tech system of pan-tilt-zoom cameras, Ethernet communications, and central monitoring system has several goals:

• Reduce traffic congestion
• Improve driver information
• Manage incidents that impact drivers, such as weather, accidents and special events.

How it works

The city’s ITS system includes roughly 175 miles of fiber optic cable that connect traffic signals and cameras to operators in the Traffic Management Center. The system also includes more than 90 radios that allow communication with additional intersections. Coverage spans the majority of the city from Jomax Road to McKellips Road, and 136th to 64th streets.

The system allows operators to monitor nearly 170 cameras in key city locations, giving them a real-time view of traffic conditions. Based on what they see, operators can modify traffic signal operation to assist traffic flow. TMC operators can also remotely control a signal to get cars moving.

How it started

Scottsdale launched its ITS in 1993 with a single camera at one of the city's busiest intersections – Scottsdale Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. It was installed to help alleviate congestion during the Phoenix Open. The camera reduced the manpower and time required to control traffic at special events and set the foundation for today’s system.

In 2014, the TMC was expanded, upgraded and relocated to the North Corporate Yard. Viewing access to the pan-tilt-zoom cameras is provided to the Scottsdale Police Department and Arizona DOT's and neighboring communities' traffic operations centers.