SAN ANTONIO – There are over 200 cameras watching the major highways in and around San Antonio. The team at TransGuide keep their eyes on a range of incidents, which include crashes, construction, stalls, or debris on the roads.
The TransGuide offices is located over in the 3500 block of Northwest Loop 410. Last year, the offices went under a complete renovation which includes new work stations, a new floor and a video wall which is 65 feet tall and 9 feet wide.
Under one roof there are several departments that work together to keep drivers informed of what is taking place on the roadways: TxDOT operators, HERO dispatchers, VIA bus dispatchers, city of San Antonio traffic signal operations, and San Antonio police towing dispatch.
John Gianotti is the operations manager and said once an incident is detected, messages are posted on digital message signs. The signs can be seen on major highways like I-10, Loop 410, or Highway 281.
“We can tell them crash is up ahead left lane is closed, right lane is closed, this exit is closed. All kinds of messages that we can relay the public if there is an incident that they need to be aware of,” he said.
TransGuide is instrumental for ‘Your Traffic Authority’ as they relay the issues they are spotting on the roadways.
However the job is not a 9 to 5. Gio Garza has been working with TransGuide for three years. She helped to describe what a typical morning looks like.
“Between lets just say 2 and 4 we get the wrong way drivers, so that’s pretty much what the morning consists of. Then after that, we get the little calm before the storm of the morning rush,” she said.
Gianotti said TransGuide will be adding more cameras north of Highway 281 closer to the county line after the construction wraps up. Drivers can also expect to see more cameras watching over big construction projects like along Loop 1604.
He said it’s an important job to help keep the community safe.
“We’re kind of the eyes and ears for everybody,” Gianotti said.