In Fort Worth, the Stormwater Management Division is undertaking a high-tech approach to keep drivers safe during flooding situations. The city's Transportation & Public Works Department recently announced a pilot initiative that will directly warn drivers of flooded road crossings, aiming to quickly redirect them from potential danger. This system is designed to work in tandem with the already deployed high-water infrastructures like flashers and signage, enhancing public safety during storm events.
The new initiative aims to swiftly notify drivers using real-time data from the city's high-water warning system—specifically during active rain events. It plans to specially equip four different locations, notorious for their hazardous overtopping, with tools to send alerts directly to vehicles. According to an announcement by the City of Fort Worth, the chosen sites are based on past incidents of flooding and include East Long Avenue, Old Granbury Road, Oak Grove Road S., and Trinity Boulevard.
When it comes to what the drivers will see, the notifications are straightforward. Vehicles approaching the flooded areas will receive alerts saying "Flooding Ahead Turn Around Don't Drown," and those attempting to enter the flooded zone from a side turn will be informed with either "Road Flooded at Right Turn" or "Road Flooded at Left Turn." These messages are critical, as Fort Worth has seen fatalities resulting from drivers disregarding road conditions and attempting to navigate through hazardous floods.
The alerts are dispensed through the HAAS Alert system, a platform previously utilized for cautioning drivers about nearby emergency vehicles. It operates in concert with navigation apps like Waze and Apple Maps, as well as infotainment systems in certain Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Volkswagen vehicles. The system currently supports specific models, but HAAS has ambitions to soon expand its reach across additional applications and vehicle brands. Each of these locations is equipped at a cost of about $550, with $500 of that being an annual operational expense, according to the City of Fort Worth. The pilot's length will pivot on rainfall patterns, as this variable frequency will allow a substantial evaluation of the technology's effectiveness.
