Traffic Management Center Supervisor, John Arias, and his team start their day bright and early, monitoring traffic using CCTV cameras and effectively managing traffic flow during car crashes. Their goal is to enhance overall traffic conditions for a smoother commute.
Get to know John and how he ended up working at the Traffic Management Center!
Tell us more about what you do at the Traffic Management Center.
Daily, our team manages significant traffic crashes and critical incidents across the valley. With our over 1,100 CCTV cameras around the valley, we have the incredible ability to be the eyes from the sky in locating incidents, identifying hazards, providing incident updates, and helping coordinate supporting resources between allied partners.
Being able to connect to over 1,600 intersections' traffic signals, we can adjust traffic patterns that help minimize traffic flow toward major traffic incidents while maximizing the ability of drivers to drive away and around major incidents while helping emergency responders manage the incident site.
We provide a focus on public notification through the use of our freeway Dynamic Messaging Signs (DMS) and Active Traffic Management (ATM) systems as well as social media and even direct notifications on Waze, which feeds traffic closures/crash and incidents to the public on navigation Apps. We also work with our transit and paratransit departments to notify them of incidents or special events so they can coordinate the rerouting of buses and notifications to our riders.
Working at the Traffic Management Center seems very high stress. How have your previous professional experiences helped you oversee the Traffic Management Center?
Before joining the RTC team, I retired from the Nevada Highway Patrol as a Lieutenant, serving as the Commander for Traffic Operations, Southern Nevada Commercial Operations, and Rural Operations. In my tenure, I managed major critical incidents in Southern Nevada and coordinated with all regional agencies in unified command operations. My passion for Traffic Incident Management (TIM) led me to be one of the state's first Master Instructors in TIM where I instructed across agencies and disciplines regarding traffic management and safety. With this experience, I gained so much respect for all emergency responders' duties and the extreme value of joint collaboration.
As the Traffic Management Supervisor, I can continue to grow these partnerships while directly being involved with new emerging Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies. Thanks to our coordination with allied agencies, we are leading the way to the future of smart cities and safer roadways.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love problem-solving complex challenges. My favorite part about my job is working with creative, knowledgeable, solution-focused professionals who make a daily difference in helping keep our families and communities safe. From our TMC technicians to our phenomenal signal, maintenance teams, and our future-focused management team, it is exciting to be part of a team of impactful problem solvers.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to get into engineering or similar related fields?
This is an excellent career if you enjoy challenges, have creativity, and are purpose-driven. We have three primary goals 1) to keep people safe, 2) to help people experience reliable travel times, and 3) to minimize the impacts of coordinated or uncoordinated events. These goals may sound simple, but they require high problem-solving skills, value in partnerships, and a relentless dedication to making a difference.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just a quote- “The day before something is a breakthrough, it's just a crazy idea.” Why not be part of a crazy team that makes things happen?
Did you know that you can reach out directly to John’s team to report any issues related to traffic signal timing? Simply send an email to [email protected] or call 702-901-8400.
