DMS

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the US is installing new Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology at the Port Aransas ferry crossing near Corpus Christi in order to ease congestion.

The new technology helps calculate ferry wait times and displays the information on variable message boards at key decision-making points using signals emitted by the Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-enabled devices, helping drivers commuting to Mustang Island and Port Aransas.

Texas Transportation Commission commissioner Jeff Moseley said: "Giving drivers accurate information on wait times allows them to make more informed decisions about continuing on their current path or taking an optional route during peak travel times."

The sensors help drivers make informed decisions about whether they should take an alternate route to the island through the city of Corpus Christi through the JFK Causeway.

Nearly 2.2 million people use the Port Aransas ferry every year.

"Giving drivers accurate information on wait times allows them to make more informed decisions."

Following the deployment of the technology at the Port Aransas ferry crossing, TxDOT plans to bring this technology to the Bolivar ferry crossing near Galveston.

Similar technology is already in operation along the I-35 corridor in Waco where wait times resulting from construction zones are calculated and displayed.

The technology is also being trialed for drivers at the international border crossing in El Paso, where wait times for commercial vehicles are being calculated for truckers.

Image: The new technology helps calculate ferry wait times and displays the information on variable message boards. Photo: courtesy of Texas Department of Transportation.