Best Practice in Smart Motorways Operations
Austroads 2022 | page 10
Table 2.2 below provides an example showing the possible hours of operation for different scales of
operational needs.
Table 2.2: Example levels of service for varying scales of operations
Scale Level of Service
Occasional Special Event and/or Major Incident Response
Peak Peak period coverage (8 hrs/5 days a week) – for example 6 to 10 am and 3 to 7 pm
Daytime Short weekday coverage (12 hrs/5 days a week) – for example 7 am till 7 pm
Daytime Plus Long weekday coverage (16 hrs/5 days a week) – for example 6 am to 10 pm
Continuous Coverage Continuous coverage (24 hrs/7 days a week)
Source: Adapted from ACT traffic management centre feasibility study (Roads ACT with ARRB 2009)
TMCs can also be established to support one or more than one type of motorway operations. For example,
motorway, arterial and local road operations (such as traffic signals) may operate from the same TMC.
Larger TMCs have also integrated other activities such as tunnel management, public transport operations
and special event management.
TMC teams are usually focussed on motorway operations, but they may also be responsible for other
transport operations within the jurisdiction.
For example, the Transport for NSW TMC has different teams to monitor and manage the state road network
operations as well as to coordinate aspects of public transport operations (bus, rail, and ferry networks)
during peak commuter travel times, special events and unplanned incidents.
Motorway operations can be grouped differently. Some jurisdictions across Australia and New Zealand may
have all operations managed from a single TMC (typically in a single organisation e.g. Transport for NSW
TMC). Other jurisdictions may manage their operations in separate TMCs (possibly for multiple agencies)
requiring a higher level of coordination or integration.
2.2.3 TMC Collaboration
In a number of locations, different jurisdictions have collaborated to either work from the same TMC or to
work together to form a single joint operation (possibly within an established shared facility). Joint operations
can be effective when motorways, state highways and local roads are run by different jurisdictions or
organisations.
For example, experienced police may directly collaborate with incident management planners to share
lessons learned across a range of incident types. In comparison, the Auckland Transport Operations Centre
(ATOC) is a joint operation that involves Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (motorways and state highways)
and Auckland Transport (local roads).
2.2.4 Relationships between Different TMCs
Other specialised traffic control centres can complement TMCs, such as toll road control centres, control
rooms for major tunnels and private motorway TMCs. Communications are essential to delivering successful
operations and coordination, between any specialised centre and the principal TMC.
In South Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, privately held motorways are managed by their private
asset owner/operators. On these private motorways, the primary role of the transport agency TMC is one of
coordination to ensure efficient traffic management across the wider road network throughout the state.
© Austroads Ltd 2022 | This material is not to be used for commercial training purposes, unless approved by Austroads