Call Boxes

General Description:

Call boxes are roadside telephones with a direct line to a local authority such as law enforcement or a 911 dispatch center.  They are typically used on corridors with high capacity, but may also be placed in rural areas with Solar Power.

Effects of Solution:

¨ Increase Passenger Throughput

¨ Increase Roadway Capacity

¨ Manage System Efficiency

¨ Reduce Local Demand

A call box is not a solution in itself, but is a safety related solution.  It may be used in remote locations or along busy corridors.  The proper use of a call box will result in proper management of the system.

Examples of Implementation:

See Additional Resources section for more information.

Cost/Financial Information:

Source: Source: United States Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems ITS Benefits, Costs and Lessons Learned Databases.  Available at http://www.benefitcost.its.dot.gov (Cost/financial information is estimated, and will vary based on size and scope of project, number of units, etc.)

	Capital Cost	Operating Cost
Call Box	$4-6K	$.7K

Additional Resources:

Bay Area (San Francisco, CA) Call Box Program web page:

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/services/call_boxes/

Pennsylvania Turnpike Cellular Call Box Project web page:

http://www.paturnpike.com/tools/newsletters/summer00/page04.htm

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