PASADENA, CA - PRNewswire-FirstCall - August 24, 2010
-- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (
NYSE:JEC) announced today that
engineers from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
activated its high-tech traffic management system along northbound I-5
in south Seattle.
The active traffic management system, known locally
as Smarter Highways, helps manage congestion in the Seattle region
using dynamic message signs over each lane at one-half mile intervals.
The signs display variable speed limits, lane status and real-time
traffic information so drivers know what is happening ahead and can
adjust their driving accordingly. WSDOT controls the signs to actively
close lanes or slow speeds in advance of congestion or a blocking
incident. This technology is expected to increase roadway efficiency and
safety.
Jacobs assisted WSDOT with overall program management
services, procurement and contract administration during the design and
construction of the signs and the supporting infrastructure, as well as
testing and start-up of the system. With Jacobs' assistance, WSDOT
traffic engineers rigorously tested the Smarter Highways on I-5 for
several months to ensure the complex system of traffic sensors and
electronic signs were ready to activate. The technology will soon be
expanded to SR 520 and I-90 in urban Seattle, as well as the outlying
regions.
Officials estimate the total construction value of the federally funded project to be over $60 million.
Said
Patty Rubstello, WSDOT Systems Engineer, "This is new technology for
Seattle and also for the United States; we know it will be a big change
for drivers."
In making the announcement, Jacobs Group Vice President
Robert Clement stated, "We are pleased to help WSDOT launch this
innovative system to improve driver safety throughout the region. WSDOT
is committed to innovative traffic tools to help solve traffic problems
in Washington, and Jacobs is proud to work together with them on the
Smarter Highways team."
Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional, and construction services.
Any
statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact
are forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based on
management's current estimates and expectations, and currently available
competitive, financial, and economic data, forward-looking statements
are inherently uncertain. We, therefore, caution the reader that there
are a variety of factors that could cause business conditions and
results to differ materially from what is contained in our
forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors
which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our
forward-looking statements please refer to our 2009 Form 10-K, and in
particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk
Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We also
caution the readers of this release that we do not undertake to update
any forward-looking statements made herein.