New York is a recognized leader in the application of ITS technologies and practices.  Technical tours at the 15th World Congress will enable you to experience New York’s most innovative ITS systems.  Tours will be offered Monday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Nov. 20 and will depart from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  Tickets for technical tours are not included in any registration packages – tickets for these items can be purchased separately on the registration form. 

TRANSCOM COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Monday, November 17, 1:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sixteen transportation agencies in the New York / New Jersey / Connecticut region coordinate through TRANSCOM during major regional incidents and construction projects, using a range of jointly developed Intelligent Transportation Systems. 

LOWER MANHATTAN REBUILDS
Monday, November 17, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Includes construction of the World Trade Center Memorial, The Freedom Tower, new transit facilities and new ITS Infrastructure.

LINCOLN TUNNEL EXCLUSIVES BUS LANE & PORT AUTHORITY BUS TERMINAL COMBINED
Tuesday, November 18, 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Ride through the Lincoln Tunnel Exclusive Bus Lane – one of the busiest and most productive high-occupancy lanes in the world – and then tour the world’s busiest bus terminal. 

GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
Monday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

This tour will give visitors a chance to experience the history of luxury train travel and marvel at the eternally beautiful Beaux Arts architecture that has made Grand Central Terminal a worl-renowned landmark. Highlights include the restored benches and beautiful floral artwork in the Customer Waiting Area, the acoustically mysterious “Whispering Corner,” and the seven secrets of Grand Central revealed. And, of course, the piece de resistance: the Main Concourse and its celestial ceiling! Casual dress and comfortable walking shoes recommended.

A behind-the-scenes tour of Grand Central Terminal, New York City’s grand, celebrated train station, will include historic views and a look at the Metro-North rail control center.

NEW YORK CITY JOINT TRAFFIC TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT CENTER
Monday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The tour or the recently constructed New York City Joint Transportation Management Center will focus on around-the-clock coordination and communication among the New York City Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Transportation, New York City Police Department, and other transportation partners in the metropolitan area to manage daily transportation incidents and reduce congestion on some of the busiest expressways in the world. 

HUDSON VALLEY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER
Thursday, November 20, 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The tour of the Hudson Valley Traffic Management Center will include the facility in general, details of the operation floor’s workstations and the video wall and electronics room. 

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INFORM TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER
Wednesday, November 19, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The tour of the INFORM Transportation Management Center will consist of a presentation regarding the evolution of INFORM Operations over the last 20 years, and tour of the TMC facility.  In addition, as part of the trip to and from the INFORM elements of the New York State Department of Transportation’s Long Island VII test bed installation will be demonstrated on the tour bus.

NEW JERSEY STATEWIDE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER IN WOODBRIDGE
Tuesday, November 18, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Statewide Transportation Management Center (STMC) is a 24/7 Operations Center jointly operated and staffed by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey State Police.  Co-location affords simple and effective “statewide” coordination of traffic incidents and emergencies in an interoperable manner.  Each of the agencies manages their own roadways from the STMC, but is supported by a technology base that shares information and video across agency boundaries. Using the latest technology which leverages legacy applications, this center provides more accurate and timely information to the motorists.  This new center became operational in April 2008.