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2008 Freeway and Tollway Operations Conference:
Tour Descriptions

Several technical tours and recreational tours will be offered during the conference. Read more about each tour, scheduled and tentative, below.

In order to schedule and provide proper access to the most requested tours, please fill out the online Tour Preferences form. This form is designed to show your interest. You are NOT signing up for these events.

Technical Tours

View the tentative schedule for scheduling information.

  • SMART SunGuide TMC – Fort Lauderdale
  • Florida's Turnpike Enterprise TMC – Pompano Beach
  • Palm Beach County ITMS – West Palm Beach
  • Palm Beach County Vista Center TMC – West Palm Beach
  • SunPass Customer Service Center – Boca Raton
  • Florida International University ITS Lab – Miami
  • SunGuide TMC – Miami
  • '95 Express Lanes' – A Regional Congestion Mitigation Project Underway!
SMART SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC) – Fort Lauderdale

The SMART SunGuide TMC is a 24-hour facility run by FDOT District 4 and the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division. The TMC monitors freeways and major arterial routes with 45 closed circuit TV cameras, 67 speed sensors, traffic signal control devices and a fleet of Road Ranger Service Patrol vehicles. In coordination with local law enforcement and fire rescue, TMC operators identify incidents, disabled vehicles and other interruptions to traffic with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment. Information from the TMC is currently displayed on 31 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and on the region's 5-1-1 Advanced Traveler Information Service. For real-time traffic conditions or information about the SMART SunGuide TMC, please visit www.smartsunguide.com/.

Florida's Turnpike Enterprise Transportation Management Center (TMC) – Pompano Beach

Originally constructed in 1957, Florida's Turnpike system now encompasses tolled highway in South, Central, and West Central Florida. The TMC located in Pompano Beach (near Fort Lauderdale) is a 24-hour facility and is one of two facilities that manage traffic conditions along Florida's Turnpike system. Florida's Turnpike has rapidly expanded its ITS program to include over 325 miles of fiber optic network that is used for supporting 317 CCTV traffic cameras, 28 DMS, 10 HAR, vehicle detection devices, as well as the Turnpike's SunPass electronic toll collection program. The TMC is responsible for working closely with the Florida Highway Patrol to initiate and monitor the highly-innovative Rapid Incident Scene Clearance program, an incentive based partnership Florida's Turnpike has with the towing industry to quickly clear and reopen the highway after major incidents.

Palm Beach County Interim Traffic Management System (ITMS) – West Palm Beach

The Palm Beach County ITMS is a comprehensive traffic and incident management system designed to address the traffic impacts of the interstate 95 reconstruction and Tri-Rail double-track expansion throughout Palm Beach County. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 and Federal Highway Administration sponsor the project. The mission of ITMS is to provide effective incident management and traveler information within the I-95 corridor between Boca Raton and Jupiter. ITMS began operations in July 2003 and is now a 24/7/365 operation. A staff of fourteen (14) operators and supervisors coordinate all incident management and information dissemination. The operation center contains six workstations, a rear-projection video wall, server room, conference room, reception area and 24x7 support facilities.

SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC) – Miami

The District 6 SunGuide TMC is located at 1000 NW 111 Avenue, Miami, Florida. It was officially dedicated and opened on June 25, 2004. The SunGuide TMC is a 32,000 square foot facility featuring a multi-screen wall and eight console workstations where staff monitor and control closed-circuit television cameras, dynamic message signs, and vehicle detectors, and dispatch Road Rangers to clear accidents, remove debris, and assist stranded motorists. The Florida Highway Patrol, collocated in the facility, operates 18 workstations on the second floor. The SunGuide ITS TMC is a secured facility with closed-circuit television cameras set up to view the building's exterior as well as inside hallways and restricted areas (card entry access to sensitive rooms). An ID badge system provides separate control for the FDOT and FHP personnel. The building was designed to sustain the impact of a major hurricane and has a diesel emergency generator and an uninterruptible power system supported with batteries for continuous operation during power outages.

SunPass Customer Service Center – Boca Raton

SunPass, the State of Florida's prepaid, electronic tolling program, began in 1999. It has since grown by leaps and bounds, selling its three-millionth transponder in April, 2007. SunPass customers enjoy the ease and convenience of electronic tolling as well as access to the Turnpike's ever growing network of SunPass-only toll lanes, ramps and interchanges which process traffic at a faster rate, reducing congestion and associated traffic tie ups. SunPass customers also save an average of 25 percent on tolls at most toll plazas.

Florida International University ITS Lab – Miami

The Lehman Center for Transportation Research (LCTR) at Florida International University (FIU) was established in 1993 in honor of Congressman Bill Lehman and his tireless efforts to make South Florida a better place. Located in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, LCTR is committed to conducting research and training to improve transportation mobility and safety, and educating a multidisciplinary workforce to plan, manage, and implement transportation systems. LCTR is the only transportation center of its kind in South Florida—home to more than a third of Florida's 16 million populations. Since its inception, LCTR has conducted numerous research projects in the areas of public transportation, GIS, transportation demand modeling, land use planning, intelligent transportation systems, transportation safety, traffic simulation, and transportation databases. The Center currently has an active staff of over 20 full-time researchers and over 20 graduate and undergraduate research assistants. With over 50 graduate students, the educational program is currently the largest in the State of Florida and one of the largest in the nation.

'95 Express Lanes' – A Regional Congestion Mitigation Project Underway!

In an effort to provide new and enhanced mobility options for motorists and transit users in the region, The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning a Pilot Project to provide Managed Lanes on Interstate 95 (I-95), from I-395 in Miami-Dade County, to I-595 in Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale). The I-95 Managed Lanes Pilot reflects a growing national trend where urban areas are converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes into HOT (High Occupancy Toll) facilities; and is to be called '95 Express'. The 95 Express lanes will have variable congestion pricing, or tolls, that fluctuate with increased congestion so that an operating speed of 50 MPH can be maintained. Transit (buses) and registered high occupancy vehicles with three or more people (HOV-3) could use the 95 Express lanes at no cost. Additionally, all other vehicles will be allowed to enter the 95 Express lanes by paying a toll with the use of SunPass—South Florida's Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. During your visit to South Florida for the 2008 Freeway and Tollway Operations Conference, this project should be underway; however it is not part of the technical tours. If you are interested in more information on this project, use the following link for regular updates – www.95express.com – and be on the lookout for project progress while you're participating in the 2008 FTOC Technical Tours.

Recreational Tours

The following recreational tours are not scheduled, at this time. Please, use the online Tour Preferences form to express your interest in them.

Costs listed below are APPROXIMATE and will vary depending on the number of participants. The estimated cost includes your transportation to/from the event. Meals/snacks are NOT included, unless specified. These activities will be open to your spouse, guests, and children.

  • Field Trips
    • Miami's South Beach
    • Fort Lauderdale's Beach Place
    • Sawgrass Mills Shopping Mall
  • Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruises
  • Butterfly World
  • Everglades Day Safari
  • Daily Fishing Tours
  • Billie Swamp Safari
  • Sawgrass Recreation Park
  • Miami Seaquarium
  • Monkey Jungle
Field Trips

Conference staff will have transportation arranged for off-site field trips to Miami's South Beach, Fort Lauderdale's Beach Place and Sawgrass Mills shopping mall. A $10 per person fee will provide bus pick up at the hotel at 9:00 a.m., transportation to the destination, pick up at the destination at 1:00 p.m., and return trip to the hotel.

Miami's South Beach

Miami Vice with actor Don Johnson became a hit television show, and around the same time a photographer ventured onto the top of one of Ocean Drive's Art Deco hotels for a Calvin Klein "Obsession" photo shoot. Both events helped renew interest in South Beach and it soon became the destination of choice for fashion shoots and films. Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Marisa Tomei, Angelica Houston, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Woods, Jamie Lee Curtis, Whitney Houston, Kevin Costner and Sean Connery have all appeared in films shot in Miami in recent years. Fashion and commercial photo shoots are commonplace throughout South Beach.
http://www.visitsouthbeachonline.com/
Cost: $10 per person

Fort Lauderdale's Beach Place

The City's award-winning wavewall and signature beachfront promenade highlight Fort Lauderdale's world famous coastline, which is punctuated by an array of shops, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and entertainment venues. Beachgoers can participate in a wide range of activities from boating, wind surfing, jet skiing and volleyball to snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and rollerblading. Or, if relaxation is what you desire, simply sit back, unwind and enjoy breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue supervises the two miles of continuous public beach from the South Beach Picnic Area up to and including the beach in front of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. In the guarded areas of the beach, there are 15 year-round, permanently staffed lifeguard towers spaced between 200 and 400 yards apart. There are also as many as 10 temporary-auxiliary stands that are used during the peak season, special events and holidays.
http://www.ci.ftlaud.fl.us/beach/index.htm
Cost: $10 per person

Sawgrass Mills Shopping Mall

Sawgrass Mills, Florida's largest retail & entertainment center, features more than 350 name-brand stores and outlets like Nordstrom Rack, The Gap Outlet, OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Nordstrom Rack; full-service restaurants like Cheesecake Factory; cinemas and high quality entertainment venues.
http://www.simon.com/mall/mall_info.aspx?ID=1262
Cost: $10 per person

Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruises

A Fort Lauderdale tradition for more than 65 years, the world-famous Jungle Queen Riverboat provides a dinner cruise along the historic New River and Intracoastal Waterway in the "Venice of America."
http://www.junglequeen.com/
Estimated Cost: Adults $55, Children 3-11 $40

Butterfly World

Beauty abounds at Butterfly World, the largest live butterfly exhibit in the world and first show-place of its kind in the western hemisphere. Stroll with wonder through a world where thousands of live, exotic butterflies fly around you in a lush, three-acre rainforest paradise.
http://www.butterflyworld.com/
Estimated Cost: Adults $42, Children 3-11 $36

Everglades Day Safari

Highly trained guides escort you deep into the Everglades. The Eco-Safari is the only full-day tour into this magnificent area which includes a 50 minute airboat ride through the River of Grass, nature drive and walk in Big Cypress Preserve, great Southern lunch and 90 minute conventional boat ride into Everglades Park and Florida Bay.
http://www.ecosafari.com/
Estimated Cost: Adults $155, Children under 12 $120

Daily Fishing Tours

Catch fish and have fun aboard the Catch My Drift drift fishing boat, the largest and most comfortable fishing boat in Fort Lauderdale.
http://fishheadquarters.com/
Estimated Cost: $50 per person

Billie Swamp Safari

Swamp buggy eco-tours and airboat adventure tours depart daily for the only authentic Seminole adventure of a lifetime. Travel high above the Everglades to explore the natural Florida of hundreds of years ago and learn about its rich history, abundant wildlife and delicately balanced eco-system. You'll spot alligators, egrets, hogs, and other native animals as well as American buffalo and exotic game such as eland from Africa and deer from Europe.
http://www.seminoletribe.com/safari/
Estimated Cost: Swamp Buggy Eco-Tour: Adults $45, Children 4-12 $35

Sawgrass Recreation Park

Feel the excitement and learn the history of Florida's most remarkable treasure of the Everglades. As one of the rare subtropical ecosystems, the Everglades holds spectacular mysteries. Renew your spirit as you glide across miles of river at speeds up to 35 mph, and get up close and personal with native wildlife, many of whom are endangered in this fragile environment. This once in a lifetime adventure will create lasting memories as you discover the secrets of this untamed wilderness the Seminoles called home.
http://www.evergladestours.com/
Estimated Cost: Standard Airboat Tour: Adults $41, Children 4-12 $30

Miami Seaquarium

On a 38-acre tropical paradise with spectacular skyline views lies a South Florida attraction like no other. Welcome to Miami Seaquarium®, a place where dolphins walk on water and killer whales fly through the air. Where sea lions delight children of all ages and endangered sea turtles and manatees find a safe haven. Enjoy a world-class marine-life entertainment park with eight different marine animal shows and astonishing daily presentations. Miami Seaquarium® is a place of inspiration, education—and fun!
http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/
Estimated Cost: Adults $52, Children 3-9 $45

Monkey Jungle

"Where humans are caged and monkeys run wild." Escape on a jungle safari. Explore the wilds of South America, Asia and Africa. Witness crab-eating monkeys diving for treats. Delve into the lush, tropical Amazonian rainforest filled with hundreds of exotic monkeys. Enjoy the antics at the Ape Encounter and so much more.
http://www.monkeyjungle.com
Estimated Cost: Adults $46, Children 3-9 $40

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