Citation

Takigawa S. Calif. Transp. J. 2005; 1(2): 20-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, CalTrans Public Affairs Office)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes the Caltrans Highway Information Network (CHIN), a service coordinated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) that provides weather and road condition information. In particular, the article focuses on the use of the CHIN system during the series of powerful storms that hit Central and Southern California in the winter of 2004-2005. This period’s rough weather, which saw a record of one million calls for CHIN, was efficiently moderated by the quick access that users received from the information system. CHIN has its around-the-clock 10-person staff located at the Caltrans Headquarters Maintenance Communication Center in Sacramento, California. CHIN provided up-to-date highway conditions to its users, while simultaneously collecting information and posting it on the Caltrans website for other users to access. The storms, which incurred nearly $130 million in damages, were at least somewhat more tolerable for California highway users by virtue of the CHIN system.