Mobility - Incident Response - WisDOT MAPSS Performance Improvement Program

WisDOT MAPSS - Mobility - Incident Response - Delivering transportation choices that result in efficient trips and no unexpected delays.

Prompt clearance of traffic incidents on our Interstate system helps to restore mobility, reduces the risk of secondary incidents, and minimizes the economic impact of congestion. The new goal is to clear 90% of all intermediate incidents in less than two hours, and 80% of all major incidents in less than four hours.

• Intermediate - Any incident that partially blocks highway lanes and/or a service ramp. Target incident clearance time is less than 2 hours.
• Major - Any incident blocking all lanes in one or both directions and/or a system ramp. Target incident clearance time is less than 4 hours.

Incidents on the interstate and state highway system can range from minor property damage to serious traffic crashes. This measure focuses on the amount of time it takes to clear such incidents to restore safe traffic flow. Intermediate traffic incidents typically affect travel lanes and usually require traffic control on the scene to divert road users past the blockage. Major traffic incidents usually involve hazardous material (HAZMAT) spills, overturned tractor-trailers, fatalities, multiple vehicles, and/or other natural or manmade disasters. Major incidents can result in closing all or part of a roadway. Restoring the roadway to full operation as quickly as possible helps reduce secondary incidents, minimize delay for people and freight, and decreases the associated economic impact of traffic delays.

Incident clearance times may be affected by: incident location, the time required to respond, limited access for emergency responders in construction zones, time of day, weather conditions and complexity of the incident.

Training and technology are two major factors. A strong focus on training through WisDOT’s Traffic Incident Management Enhancement (TIME) program is critical to continued improvement. In 2024, Wisconsin met the national goal of training 60% of first responders by 2025. These trainings are vital to creating shared understanding of coordinated, multi-agency efforts, and the department will continue to leverage technology to increase accessibility of training opportunities. To learn more about these efforts, visit wisconsindot.gov/time. Additionally, advancements in field technologies continue to create positive impacts. The Wisconsin State Patrol increased use of unmanned aerial systems to keep officers further from live traffic and minimize impacts to traffic flow. A debris removal system was purchased to expedite the removal of debris from some high-volume freeways.