kcscout.net

[dangerboy]

KC Scout is an intelligent transportation system (ITS) that will begin operating this winter. Sensors and cameras will be used to monitor traffic flow for congestion, backups, and accidents. The message boards will be used alert motorists about these things. Eventually their web site will have live traffic data and someday web cams.

http://www.kcscout.net

[bahua]

...and some guy getting it on with a horse.

Seriously though, I think the scout is a great idea, and should definitely be in place before lane-addition talk starts up, but a solution that tries to keep people from driving would be the best one, in my opinion.

[DanCa]

We have them here in California. I don't really think they do much though. When they put an amber alert on all the signs, they cause traffic jams because people slow down to read all the text. They use them by airports to tell you things like when all cars are being searched due to higher terrorism threat or parking is full. They also announce SigAlerts, which means one or more freeway lanes are blocked for at least a half an hour. But usually by the time you see a sign that says "Sig Alert", you're already stuck in it.

I've noticed a lot of cameras on our freeways which must be part of the system. They also use the cameras on TV traffic reports to show jams or that traffic is moving.

Another thing we have (that most big cities have now) are onramp meters - the stop lights on the on ramps. I think this helps keep traffic flowing becuase you don't get a line of cars all trying to merge at the same time.

[KCPowercat]

Is this not the worst designed site ever?  It's very hard to navigate or find any information.

I seriously hope this is a placeholder site until the real site is released when KCScout becomes operational.

[KC0KEK]

Agreed. It's awful just from a Web deisgn standpoitn. It's even worse compared to other cities' ITS/traffic cam Web sites.

[KCPowercat]

even STL's site http://www.gatewayguide.com is better and I thought that one sucked when it launched.

I think this is case of underfunding from MoDot

[dangerboy]

Scout is mostly funded with federal money, isn't it? Hopefully the site will be revamped once the system becomes operational and they need something more than an online brochure.

Gateway Guide is using the same mapping software as Channels 5 and 9 in KC http://kctv5.com/Global/link.asp?L=44575 - which really isn't very good.

I wish they would have the camera feeds on the web site, but they won't do that for another year. It would also be nice to have something shows the prevailing speeds on the roads, in addition to accidents.

[KCPowercat]

danger I believe scout will have prevailing speeds and have all their cameras online.

That's why I think they can't use the map currently on that site.

Houston has a good site...although it's hosted through Texas A&M?

http://traffic.tamu.edu/devmap/

Atlanta also has a good site
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/

Also Phoenix:
http://www.azfms.com/Travel/freeway.html

[KC0KEK]

Washington is another good one, at least in the Sea-Tac area:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/PugetSoundTraffic/cameras/

[The Summit]

wow, that site does suck, I had to get out because frustration was setting in. They are putting up more message boards east of Lee's Summit road. Are they already expanding it's coverage? This area is not on the maps on the website. I have yet to see one turned on.

[GRID]

KC Scout is being extended from Noland Road to Route 7. The first phase stopped at Noland. It's supposed to up next year. The part through BS will be up as the new I-70 opens next year and the following year.

[GRID]

Scout to be turned on next week. I bet the first day they come on there will be traffic jams as people slow down to look at them and all the tv stations will be doing live remotes from them during rush hour creating even more traffic jams.

They should just put "Go Chiefs" on all of them next week if we win.

[KC0KEK]

Does that include putting the camera feeds on the Web site? Or is the launch limited to the signboards?

If they put the camera feeds on-line, I sure hope they redesign the Web site first.

[KCPowercat]

they stated somewhere on the site that the cameras wouldn't be online till late 04.

and yes that site needs redesigned badly.

[KC0KEK]

Bummer. I hope it turns out like this:

http://www.georgianavigator.com/perl/cameras

or this:

http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/T ... ameras.php

[KCPowercat]

yeah that georgia one is great....I remember looking at that a few years ago and being impressed with how much info was on there.

[bahua]

I hope people check it when they get up in the morning, and say, "Blech. I'm moving into town and taking the bus."

[dangerboy]

Another article in the Star today.... Sounds like the web site will have live info for the public starting in March, probably a map similar to St. Louis' Gateway Guide - which is very similar to the maps that Channels 5 and 9 already use here in KC. Until then the system will be running but the public won't see anything except alerts on the message boards. Live camera feeds and highway speeds won't be on the public web site until the end of the year.

[KC0KEK]

I thought the Star story said the camera feeds would be on the site by March. Or did I misread it?

[KCPowercat]

it said they hope to have site done by March....I thought I read somewhere about feeds by end of the year but too lazy to go read it again.