Winter Operations Project Plows Through Snow-Related Gridlock

On this week’s blog, while IBTTA is holding its 83^rd Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Dublin, Ireland, I am pleased to share with you another international tolling success story.

You know that winter maintenance is a central part of your operations plan when it involves a network of national multimedia and emergency coordination centers, nine control rooms, 168 snow service depots, nearly 2,000 specialized vehicles, and more than 5,200 employees.

That’s why it was so important for Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A, to launch its Effectiveness and Efficiency in Winter Operations Project in 2011, a three-year effort to reduce congestion and gridlock due to snowfall by 90%.

The €4-million project eliminated all snow-related gridlock, cut snow-related congestion by 93%, saved 75% on winter maintenance costs, and earned IBTTA’s 2014 Toll Excellence Award for Toll Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering.

In February 2012, when Italy received its heaviest snowfall in a decade, Autostrade per l'Italia kept its whole network open, even though many other main arteries were crippled by snow.

"Every year, we look for something we can do better,” said Assistant Road Coordinator Lorenzo Grosso. “We brainstorm at the end of the season to identify possible improvements. We develop our people skills and bring in experts to study and enhance our operations. We get out on the road when the weather is good to learn more about specific stretches. We know every year will be different, and we want our success to continue."

Click here to download IBTTA’s SmartMove Success Story on Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A’s Effectiveness and Efficiency in Winter Operations Project.