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FDOT outlines Road Ranger fleet, 90‑minute 'open roads' goal at MPO meeting
Summary
FDOT District 1 Traffic Incident Management Manager Tom Morrison described the Road Ranger program, a 90‑minute 'open roads' clearance policy, RISC contractors and new drone/camera tools aimed at speeding crash clearances and protecting first responders.
Tom Morrison, Traffic Incident Management Program Manager for FDOT District 1, told the Charlotte County‑Punta Gorda MPO on March 30 that the district runs a statewide TIM program designed to move traffic and protect first responders. "TIM is a traffic incident management. It is a nationwide program," Morrison said, noting District 1 operates 14 Road Rangers and that Charlotte County coverage runs roughly 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. He described Road Rangers as providing fuel, tire changes and on‑scene assistance that reduces the burden on the Highway Patrol.
Morrison stressed Florida's open‑roads goal and the RISC (Rapid Incident Scene Clearance) program, which uses pre‑approved contractors with heavy‑wrecker equipment to shorten full closures. "We have a 90 minutes 90 minute policy agreed to with the highway patrol and FDOT," he told the board, and outlined equipment requirements (a 70‑ton rotator, a 50‑ton straight rotator and a MOT truck with traffic control supplies). He also described incentives paid to contractors that arrive and clear roadways quickly.
He highlighted technology used to speed response and situational awareness: pole‑mounted PTZ cameras and cameras mounted on Road Ranger vehicles for a bird's‑eye view, and a drone program that can stream live feeds to the Traffic Management Center. Morrison said those tools coupled with training (including train‑the‑trainer classes and Jaws‑of‑Life demonstrations) help the TIM team reduce clearance times and improve responder safety.
