The goal of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT’s) Gateway Guide program is to relieve congestion and improve safety. Gateway Guide works around the clock and is made up of many state-of-the-art devices that, when combined, serve as a powerful tool for relieving traffic congestion and improving safety. This ultimately helps MoDOT manage the region’s transportation system more effectively. The program utilizes real-time traffic information to help reduce traffic delays caused by incidents, work zones and the rising number of vehicles on the highways. It provides this information in several formats for drivers -primarily by web, telephone or overhead message signs. The information and camera images are also shared with the media to use during traffic reports. With MoDOT’s Gateway Guide, you get better information for smarter travel.

How does MoDOT’s Gateway Guide work for you?

• Traffic sensors provide information on traffic speed and volume on the highways.

• Closed-circuit cameras provide live video of area highways to pinpoint incidents.

• Dynamic Message Signs inform motorists of highway travel times, any incidents ahead, lane blockages and closures, and child abduction alerts.

• MoDOT’s Transportation Management Center shares traffic information and live video with local media.

• The www.gatewayguide.com web site provides highway traffic speeds, incident information, work zone information, and live traffic camera images.

• The St. Louis Traveler Information resources provide information on traffic conditions on interstate highways in St. Louis City and County, as well as St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin counties. It reports information on crashes and lane closures.

• Motorist Assist and Emergency Response crews patrol St. Louis metro area interstates in search of lane obstructions caused by disabled vehicles, debris and car crashes.

• *55 cellular calls are routed to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for immediate response to incidents.

• Coordinated signals move traffic along area roadways better.

• Transportation Management Center specialists use advanced software to observe and manage traffic on area roadways.

Why does St. Louis need MoDOT’s Gateway Guide?

The Gateway Guide program better manages the growing amount of traffic on Missouri roadways. By using these resources, MoDOT can maximize the use of the region’s existing road system and minimize the effect of incidents on area roadways. Take a look at how incidents can tangle traffic:

• Approximately 60 percent of congestion is caused by incidents.

• During peak traffic hours, one minute of lane blockage can cause about 4 minutes of congestion.

• A vehicle on the shoulder of the road reduces the capacity of the closest lane by 20 percent

Gateway Guide operators monitor nearly 80 percent of the interstate highways in the St. Louis region. This allows them to identify possible problem areas and dispatch response crews quickly.

• Removing incidents from the roadway reduces secondary crashes.

MoDOT’s Gateway Guide program not only helps relieve congestion, it also helps reduce air pollution. Since idling or unmoving vehicles and their emissions are one of the leading sources of air pollution, reducing traffic congestion will help reduce air pollution and positively impact the region’s air quality.