NYSDOT Provides Travel-Time Destination Information On Two Major Suffolk County Roadways

ALBANY, NY (11/26/2013)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced that travel time information is available on two major Suffolk County roadways -- County Road (CR) 97/Nichols Road and CR 83/Patchogue-Mount Sinai Road in the Town of Brookhaven. Just in time for Thanksgiving weekend heavy holiday traffic, travel times to key destinations are being displayed on electronic message signs to help motorists plan their trips and avoid delays. This new inter-governmental, technology sharing initiative between the state and the county meets the goals of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Drivers First program to prioritize the convenience of motorists.

"Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership, we're giving drivers the information they need to get to their destinations safely and efficiently," Commissioner Joan McDonald said, "Travel time information keeps motorists informed, assists them in planning their trips and enables many to avoid traffic delays. At NYSDOT, we continue to look for ways we can collaborate with local government. We are pleased to partner with Suffolk County on this important initiative."

"Travel time information is tremendously helpful to Suffolk County's drivers and is another example of how Governor Cuomo's Drivers First program keeps motorists moving," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. "I thank Governor Cuomo and Commissioner McDonald for their hard work in making sure this system is up and running in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, helping our residents avoid travel delays and better plan their travels."

NYSDOT has installed detectors and monitors that allow average traveling times between common destinations to be displayed on five, strategically placed electronic information signs along the Nichols Road and Patchogue-Mount Sinai Road corridors. This is the first state travel time information system on a county roadway. An average of 80,925 drivers travel on CR 97/Nichols Road daily and an average of 52,571 drivers travel on CR 83/ Patchogue-Mt. Sinai Road daily.

Travel time averages are updated every minute on five electronic message signs at the following locations:

• Northbound CR 97/Nichols Road just north of the Long Island Expressway (LIE).

• Southbound CR 97/Nichols Road north of NY Route 347.

• Southbound CR 97/Nichols Road south of Hawkins Avenue.

• Northbound CR 83/Patchogue-Mt. Sinai Road in the northeast quadrant of the LIE interchange.

• Southbound CR 83/Patchogue-Mt. Sinai Road south of NY Route 25A.

Travel times for multiple destinations are displayed on each sign.

Average travel times on both roadways are calculated based on information generated by highway sensors monitored by INFORM, Long Island's transportation management and information system. In Nassau and Suffolk counties, travel time information also is available on the Long Island Expressway, the Northern State Parkway, the Southern State Parkway, the Wantagh State Parkway, the Meadowbrook State Parkway and NY Route 347.