Also known as the MacVicar Freeway, Interstate 235 conveys travelers through downtown Des Moines and connects Interstates 35 and 80. As part of the Iowa I-235 and Statewide ITS Integration project, Castle Rock Consultants are integrating I-235 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), and automated traffic/travel time reporting for 511 and internet pages into Iowa CARS.

Linkages between CARS and Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) will provide an automated mechanism and a decision support option for controlling DMS signs from within the CARS system. Iowa DOT will be able to make decisions regarding the content and posting of DMS messages remotely. Signs on different sections of I-235 may be visualized from a central CARS interface and programmed to have individual messages relevant to their location.

CARS automated travel time reporting along I-235 will allow direct transfer to 511 phone systems, LPFM stations, dynamic message signs, and internet pages. Data from the travel time reports will be combined into normal, slow, or stop and go traffic messages for I-235 travelers. The travel time reports will also be used to generate color coded traffic maps for the Iowa public access internet page.

The overall design for the I-235 CCTV system will consist of a series of motion and still-frame CCTV cameras located throughout the metro area. A central controller software suite will communicate with these cameras and regularly generate images from each camera. The images will be incorporated into the CARS, and users will be able to click camera icons on the CARS map and have access to specific traffic images.

For more information on I-235, please contact: