2013 Final Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Report
Barron County
Traffic Committee
Committee Overview
Coordinate with Local and State Law Enforcement to ensure an efficient and safe flow of traffic in the local traffic area but also extending out to the State Highway system.
Committee Responsibilitities
Provide for a safe and speedy traffic flow into and out of the FTD Show Parking area throughout the time of the show.
Coordinate with Local and State Law Enforcement to create a plan for the safe and efficient evacuation of the show site in the event of inclement weather or other disaster.
Help to coordinate the response of Law Enforcement, EMS,and Local Fire department in the event of a emergency.
Committee Structure
Karl Varness: Executive Committee Liaison
Al Schutz and Dan Fitzgerald: Co- Chair
Chris Fitzgerald Barron County Sheriff
The main responsibility was to make sure of even traffic flow in and out of FTD show. This was completed by establishing a excellent working relationship with the Sheriff's Dept.
Budget:
Projected Budget: Actual Budget
Sheriff Dept: $11,000.00 $39870.00 (Due to extra shifts)
Sheriff Dept Donated - $13,987.00
$25,996 Paid by Farm Tech
Highway Dept: $ 8,000.00 $11,000.00 (Extra Signs)
Security: $ 7,500.00 $3,600.00 (Fire Dept)
Signs: $ 3,000.00 $1,500.00
Food and Water (personnel) $1,000.00 $ 500.00
Equipment Rental: $ 2,500.00 $ 0
Misc: $1,000.00 $ 0
Total: $34,000.00 $ 41,096.00
Timeline
3 Years:
Appointed the Co- Chairs
Began attending all FTD shows to observe traffic flow.
2 Years:
Began coordination with the Barron County Sheriff Dept and Wisconsin State Patrol.
Began coordination with the Wisconsin DOT.
Began coordination with the local EMS and Fire departments.
Began working on a Traffic Plan to accommodate the expected traffic on our local grid.
Began working with parking committee.
1 Year:
Schedule the use of Command Vehicle.
Make individual assignments according to the Traffic Plan.
Inventoried all the available FTD signs and ordered missing signs.
Drew up maps outlining traffic routes with necessary signs for traffic flow.
Established the Exhibitors Windshield Tag system to be used to route exhibitors to their appropriate placement.
Determined the schedule for sign placement.
12 Weeks:
Organized a neighborhood social event at Dallas Lutheran Church to inform residents and business of traffic plans and answers question on road closers and other FDT concerns.
6 Weeks:
Establish a Signage Schedule.
Installed all signs according to the Traffic Plan. Cover signs until day of show.
Tested the local traffic grid by driving the entire route to confirm proper signage. This was done by members of the Traffic and Executive Committee and members of the Sheriff Departments.
Made numerous field adjustments to the Traffic and Signage Plan based on input from the Test Drives.
During the show:
Each morning the Traffic Committee attended the Sheriff's Department briefing at 7:00 A.M. to make plans for the day and give out assignments.
We felt the Sheriff's Department did a excellent job coordinating and controlling the traffic flow on the local grid surrounding the Show.
On the first day some changes were made based on the morning flow of traffic.
The Sheriff’s Department suggested changes to the entrances of the Parking lots to accommodate higher traffic flow.
The Sheriff's Department moved Officers into the Parking lots to help with Traffic flow inside the lots.
On Wednesday and Thursday mornings the Sheriff's Department initiated a double lane-one way system on west bound Highway A to eliminate back up into Dallas Wisconsin.
On Wednesday and Thursday morning the Sheriff's Department initiated a double lane-one way system on east bound Highway A to eliminate a back up to Highway 25.
Safety:
There were no major safety incidents.
Law Enforcement provided a consistent, solid, and responsive presence.
The Governor's visit was well planned and coordinated. Execution by Law Enforcement was flawless.
EMS teams handled the two incidents without problem.
We had two lost children who were quickly reunited with their parents.
Local Fire Departments:
The local Fire departments of Ridgeland, Barron, Dallas, Prairie Farm and Cumberland covered nighttime site security for the weeks running up to the Show and for 3 nights after the show.
All the Fire Departments used FTD APVs for the night time security duties and also used the Sheriffs Department Command vehicle as a base station.
Darly Inc, of Chippewa Falls donated a mini-pumper with personnel for fire protection during the entire show.
WITC donated a full sized Pumper for Fire Protection.
The local fire departments of Ridgeland, Chetek, Barron ,Almena and Cumberland provided APVs from their department for usage during the show by EMS and Fire personnel.
Equipment Needed:
Sheriff Department radios: 2 Co-Chairs
FTD radios: 4 Sheriff's Officers (2) Co- Chairs (2)
APVs 6 Sheriff's Officers (4) Co Chairs (2)
Volunteers
The committee members of the traffic committee was the Sheriff, 2 co-chair and our Executive Liaison.
All members attended all meetings and worked the entire show from opening to closing. . Email was used to communicate with all members with follow up phone calls if detailed information was needed.
Training:
APV training was completed by all committee members and Sheriff's Personnel.
Committee members that had not taken APV training were not allowed to drive the APVs
Additional thoughts for a successful Farm Technology Days show
There was some confusion about the responsibility for signage placement between the Sign committee and Traffic Committee. The Traffic Committee took over the task very late in the process. This task included designing the signage according to the Traffic Plan, setting it in place, and confirming the design with actual drives along the routes. Sign placement is critical to having good traffic flow. Traffic sign placement should be the responsibility of the Traffic group.
We suggest a tow truck be on call for the duration of the Show. We had a number of stuck vehicles due to wet conditions and key lock outs.
Communication and rapid mobility are critical to making appropriate responses to changing traffic flow. APVs are more appropriate to this committee than golf carts. You must be able to see or know what is happening in order to make a appropriate response.
During the last 6-8 weeks staffing changes were made to make sure traffic flowed in and out of lots. Sheriff Dept staff were taken off the ground patrol and placed in traffic intersections or parking area to peak times.
Staffing of ground patrol can be done with 4 -5 officers as we allowed officers to come to the command post area during the down time and walked the grounds also.
Put a majority of Law Enforcement on the traffic routes