VDOT Safety Service in Spotsy/Stafford no longer on VSP radios?

[djm]

I know it's nothing new for other parts of the state, but it appears the Safety Service Patrol units on I-95 in Spotsy and Stafford cos. are no longer on the VSP patrol frequencies, and possibly not on STARS at all. This past weekend I heard troopers make requests for Culpeper dispatch to contact SSP for motorists, debris, etc. I didn't hear the corresponding traffic despite monitoring all VSP channels on nearby towers in the Fredericksburg area. In the past, I'd hear SSP units acknowledging VSP units "direct."

 

[fredva]

Check talk group 5080 on STARS for SSP units. I remember in the past, I would hear SSP units radio the VSP dispatcher about what they were doing, then if I was monitoring all the STARS talk groups, I would hear them say the same thing to "Stafford Control." I can't say for sure what TG that was on, but 5080 is a strong possibility. They may have decided to just have one dispatcher for SSP, and keep the VSP talk groups free for VSP, especially if the VSP units had an emergency situation.

 

[djm]

Thanks for the tip. Alas, I can't park on TG 5080 because I'm using an old GRECOM PSR-800 and haven't figured out how to do that without the software. To clarify, searching all of the STARS frequencies yields no SSP traffic.

 

[fredva]

Thanks for the tip. Alas, I can't park on TG 5080 because I'm using an old GRECOM PSR-800 and haven't figured out how to do that without the software. To clarify, searching all of the STARS frequencies yields no SSP traffic.

Ok, when you said you were monitoring all the VSP channels, I thought that you meant you were monitoring ONLY the VSP talkgroups, and not talkgroups for other services. Lately when I've been driving, I've been monitoring STARS conventionally on the Thornburg and Edgehill towers, and I've been hearing SSP units. However, I know a lot of them are in the Richmond district. I don't know if I'm still picking up Culpeper district SSP units.

 

[djm]

Yeah, after reading your initial response I saw that I wasn't as clear as I wanted to be. Thanks for the follow-up.

/// BREAK /// I appreciate any reports on whether the Fredericksburg area SSP moved to another TG, system or frequency. Just curious.

Cheers.

 

[TJX400]

VDOT SSP utilizes their own talkgroups on the STARS system. All of their SSP trucks are equipped with a STARS radio. To my knowledge, they have never used VSP talkgroups, but I could be wrong.

 

[KC4ASF]

The greater Fredericksburg area SSP units are numbered 9##. They are all on the STARS system. Actually the 9## folks go clear to the beltway. South of Fredericksburg uses 4##.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Data base shows

5080

13d8

D

DOT Tac 9

Tac 9 (Safety Service Patrol - Northern Virginia/Fredericksburg)

I have heard them many times on here driving up and down 95 from DC to RVA

 

[fredva]

I heard an SSP unit at the 142 mile marker (in Stafford) talking on 5080 this afternoon.

 

[Listener1440]

As I have driven through Virginia I have picked up hits from VDOT Tac talk groups. Just a thought.

 

[djm]

Thanks all!

 

[N4VKF]

"Stafford Control" is staffed at certain times. The SSP dispatchers and I believe the truck operators are privately contracted employees of AECOM. The Stafford Control I believe is at the Stafford eoc building.

 

[KB4KTH]

I know it's nothing new for other parts of the state, but it appears the Safety Service Patrol units on I-95 in Spotsy and Stafford cos. are no longer on the VSP patrol frequencies, and possibly not on STARS at all. This past weekend I heard troopers make requests for Culpeper dispatch to contact SSP for motorists, debris, etc. I didn't hear the corresponding traffic despite monitoring all VSP channels on nearby towers in the Fredericksburg area. In the past, I'd hear SSP units acknowledging VSP units "direct."

Does anybody know what frequency VDOT might be using on portables when they are flagging track?