Pathfinder conference shares best practices
in travel alerts for motorists

Our mission at ITD is to provide mobility while enhancing safety on the roads, so ITD Emergency Management coordinator Neal Murphy attended the Pathfinder conference in Salt Lake City last week to share best practices in alerting drivers to developing or changing weather conditions and messaging via electronic signs.

The conferencealso was attended by Idaho State Communications. Utah Dept. of Transportation (UDOT) hosted the event, with participation from key players within other departments of transportation, the National Weather Service, private-sector weather providers, Emergency managers, and local agencies.

"It was a very diverse group from around the country sharing their stories and plans to increase their Pathfinder programs," Murphy explained.

"Our goal was to better understand the importance of notifying the traveling public of a weather event before it happens, the use of DMS messaging, and how we can change a driver's commuting habits," he added.

UDOT has been on the leading edge of these initiatives since first they were implemented during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Published 07-06-18