Department of Transportation

Traffic Operations Centers

The New Jersey Department of Transportation's (NJDOT) Traffic Operations Centers (TOC) represent the nerve centers for all transportation operations in the state. The job of the TOC is to manage the flow of traffic on the highways and provide a coordinated response for traffic incidents statewide. Annually, there are approximately 7,000 or 20 incidents per day. The total incident duration in New Jersey has declined from an average of 2.75 hours in 1995 to approximately 43 minutes in 2015.

NJDOT currently operates two high-tech Traffic Operations Centers:
  • Traffic Operations Center North - part of the Statewide Traffic Management Center (STMC) in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Coverage is provided to the northern region counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.
  • Traffic Operations Center South (TOC-South) in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Coverage is provided to the southern region counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.
traffic operations center map graphic
The TOC responsibilities include:
  • Monitor and operate NJDOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology including more than 250 traffic cameras, more than 125 existing permanent Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), more than 300 remote computerized traffic signals and participation in the activation of Amber Alert/Silver Alert programs with the New Jersey State Police (NJSP).
  • Manage the flow of traffic on the highways and provide coordinated response for traffic incidents statewide through detection, verification, response and recovery.
  • Once an incident is detected and verified, collect and disseminate traffic condition information to motorists, radio traffic services, media outlets, etc.
  • Use DMS to display messages to inform motorists about traffic delays as a result of an incident and provide appropriate detour routes if applicable.
  • Ensure that New Jersey's traveler information system, 511NJ, has updated messages for motorists about an incident and/or emergency.
  • Routinely check ITS (cameras, traffic control systems, etc.) to monitor the incident scene and keep motorists updated about delays.
  • Monitor traffic control systems and modify signal timings as necessary to assist with the flow of traffic.
  • Provide support and an array of response activities for unplanned lane closures (such as incidents and emergencies) to minimize the traffic impacts for the motorists.
  • Ensure that a Safety Service Patrol (SSP) driver has been dispatched to an incident scene.
Traffic Operations Center North
Traffic Operations Center North, a part of the STMC in Woodbridge, provides for a seamless transportation system through a 24/7 Operations Center jointly operated by NJDOT, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and the NJSP. These agencies share a common command floor to facilitate a faster and more comprehensive response to any situation that may impede the free flow of traffic. The STMC serves four functions:
  • Normal NJDOT daytime operations for the northern part of the state (4 am - 8:30 pm, 7 days a week).
  • Evening/weekend operations for the entire NJDOT transportation system (8:30 pm - 4 am, 7 days a week).
  • Operations for the entire NJTA transportation system.
  • Coordination of any major traffic event that could impact both a toll road and/or a state jurisdiction highway.

Coverage is provided to the northern region counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.

safety service patrol vehicle photo
The command center floor
of the STMC in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
Traffic Operations Center South
TOC-South is open 16.5 hours a day (4 am to 8:30 pm), Monday through Friday, overseeing the day to day traffic into and out of the Philadelphia area as well as along the New Jersey Shore. TOC-South monitors conditions on all state roadways in the region, on the multiple bridges crossing the Delaware River into and out of Pennsylvania and coordinates in real time with the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which operates the Atlantic City Expressway.

Coverage is provided to the southern region counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.

traffic operations center south photo
The video wall at the TOC-South in Cherry Hill, New Jersey


Last updated date: October 15, 2020 2:23 PM