Some Tips for Monitoring Road Conditions

[nosoup4u]

NJ Transit System:
Transit Supervisors call in the road conditions on a regular basis:
TGID 200-2 & 200-3
Many Bus Drivers call in conditions as well:
monitor any of the 4xx-x & 5xx-x groups

NJSP System:
Aside from the Patrol & DOT talkgroups, BPU units are discussing Road Conditions, Flooding and power outages on 41008 (P25)

 

[mondaro]

What does BPU stand for ?

Thanks

 

[DSYCUTTER]

I would guess Board of Public Utilities.

 

[fineshot1]

For the local snow/ice conditions I sometimes listen to the local taxi cabs in town as they are always complaining of the bad road conditions to their dispatcher.

 

[Analogrules]

NJ Transit Buses

Someone mentioned NJ Transit buses, so I'm curious about something. I have heard various NJ Transit Bus Operators/dispatchers use 867.9625, 867.9875, 868.4625, 868.4875, 866.4625, 866.4875, 866.9875, 867.4625, and 867.4875. From Union County, the above frequencies are heard very weak. However, I have heard much stronger signals from where I live on 856 - 860.4875 and 856 - 860.2375 MHz. Is there a particular plan on how each of these frequencies are supposed to be used? What is the main frequency that those warning announcements are transmitted on? Which buses use which channels?

Additional note: I've heard the Port Authority dispatcher help the drivers determine the gate numbers they are supposed to arrive and depart at on 452.325 in the past. Not sure if it's still being used this way.

 

[Analogrules]

Pkway and Trnpike Road Service Freq's

I confirmed hearing the Parkway Road Service on 857.0375 and 858.0375. They are also licensed on 858.0875 and 858.0375, however nothing was heard on those. Do they have a special frequency for their tow trucks on the parkway? I believe the Turnpike's Towing Frequency is 453.875 MHz and Road Crews on 159.180. Are the DOT still using their licensed 47 MHz frequencies? I'm asking because I didn't hear any activity on them.

N2ZGE (Ben)

 

[Joseph11]

Parkway Operations 1 is 858.0875 MHz R (PL 151.4 Hz) and Parkway Maintenance 1 is 857.0875 MHz R (PL 151.4 Hz). It looks like Parkway Operations 2 is 858.0375 MHz R (PL 151.4 Hz) and Parkway Maintenance 2 is 857.0375 MHz R (PL 151.4 Hz).

I have confirmed Parkway Operations 1 and Parkway Maintenance 1 confirmed. They are wrong in the RR Database as well as an earlier posting in this forum.

 

[GM]

47 MHz is still alive and well in NJ; it's sporadically used though. Mostly used as ops for the plows to communicate to the DOT yard. You won't hear much unless your "on top of the signal."

 

[mondaro]

Here at my shack we monitor the Turnpike, Parkway and NJDOT along with local and county road crews.

The very best is the Turnpike at the top of the hour they give a storm status report for each district from south to north, however do to turnpike radio problems this year here in northern nj I am only hearing from central nj to the north.

On low band NJDOT freqs you will hear locally the trucks transmitting to each other.

In Northern NJ the best for monitoring the short list.

Turnpike
Parkway
NJDOT 800 trunked system - Supervisors
Essex County Road Department
Union County Road Department

If you live in the Morris County, they do a good job with reporting road condtions.