Two Million Calls Logged to Traveler Information Service

7 July 1998

Two Million Calls Logged to Traveler Information Service

    CINCINNATI--July 7, 1998--The regional traffic management system for the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area, ARTIMIS, recently logged the 2 millionth call to its traveler advisory service known as SmarTraveler(R). Calls to ARTIMIS (Advanced Regional Traffic Interactive Management and Information System) have helped travelers plan their trip, avoid traffic jams, and alleviate the number of calls usually received by police after an accident is broadcast over the radio.
    "In the last 10 months alone, the average number of calls per month to SmarTraveler(R) has doubled from 50,000 to more than 100,000," said Scott Evans, TRW program manager for ARTIMIS. "This is further evidence of the value ARTIMIS offers the traveling public and demonstrates the confidence level the citizens have in the system."
    The goals of the ARTIMIS system, which began in 1995, are to improve traffic flow, reduce air pollution, reduce congestion from interstate reconstruction projects, and increase motorist safety.
    Available as a free call from cellular or land-line phones by dialing 211, the system provides up-to-the minute, route specific traffic conditions and construction information about freeways in the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky region. Since June 1995 when the traveler advisory service was launched as part of the ARTIMIS system, there has been a steady growth in caller frequency.
    Kentucky Transportation Secretary James Codell praises the teamwork of several local and national agencies: "ARTIMIS has already proved to be an efficient and effective Intelligent Transportation System. It's made the difference in the smooth flow of traffic during several recent interstate incidents. ARTIMIS can and does significantly reduce travel time for local motorists during unforeseen delays."
    The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, the Federal Highway Administration, and the city of Cincinnati have formed a partnership in June 1993 to implement the ARTIMIS program. SmartRoute Systems of Cambridge, Mass., provides the SmarTrveler(R) service under contract to TRW. TRW is the prime contractor responsible for developing and managing the system.
    TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services for the automotive, space and defense, and information technology markets worldwide. The company's sales in 1997 were approximately $12 billion (including the recent BDM acquisition). The company's news releases are available through TRW's corporate web site (http://www.trw.com/).