C-DOT launches technology to help drivers track plows

Colorado Department of Transportation announced Monday it launched new technology to help drivers track snowplows’ locations in time for Monday’s snowstorm.

The technology has been installed in 860 of CDOT’s 970 trucks. Drivers in Denver and Pueblo can track locations right now. People who log on will see no trucks in the Colorado Springs area. CDOT said that’s because the technology has not been installed on its Colorado Springs-area fleet. CDOT plans to have the trackers installed by the end of the month.

Through the Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) system, drivers can see where a plow has been, its average speed and the direction it is headed.

CDOT’s executive director spoke about the benefits of the new technology in a press release sent out Monday.

“One of the most frequent comments and questions that we get from the public is ‘where are the plows’,” said Shailen Bhatt, CDOT executive director. “This tool will help the public understand where we are and how we are working to keep the traveling public safe.”

The technology will also help CDOT maintain its fleet, offering real-time information on how trucks are functioning.

In the future, CDOT hopes to install a one hour button on its snowplow page thatwill show all roads plowed in the past hour.

Here is a link to the site:http://www.cotrip.org/snowplow.htm#/default