Overview
The Coordinated Highways Action Response Team (CHART) is a program that manages real-time roadway operations throughout the state of Maryland using Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) tools and devices, and interagency coordination. CHART represents Maryland’s Statewide ITS and operations program. It is spearheaded by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), but is a joint effort of SHA, the Maryland State Police (MSP), and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies.
The CHART program consists of a Traffic Management Center (TMC) Operations Division that includes a Statewide Operations Center (SOC) and supporting Traffic Operations Centers (TOCs) strategically located throughout the state; each TOC is responsible for managing different sections of roadway. Each CHART Operations Center is staffed by Highway Operations Technicians (HOTs) who use ITS devices (cameras, vehicle detectors, weather sensors, electronic message signs, etc.) to monitor traffic conditions, respond to incidents, disseminate information to travelers, coordinate among stakeholder agencies, etc., in order to improve mobility and safety on the roadway.