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The Hub of the Smart Motorway

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Wellington's Transport Operations Centre (WTOC) is where operators monitor the motorway network, helping road users have a safe and enjoyable journey while at the same time helping them make smarter travel choices before or during their journeys.

Wellington's Transport Operations Centre (WTOC) is where people monitor the motorway network. This helps road users have a safe and enjoyable journey. 

WTOC

WTOC operators monitor and manage a considerable proportion of the country’s state highway and regional roading network providing accurate, real time travel information and advice. They work with NZTA partners like emergency services to manage incidents. WTOC has a special focus on Wellington’s smart motorway – the region’s busiest section of road.

WTOC’s role on the smart motorway 

The smart motorway system includes a range of operating procedures that ensure events are managed correctly and consistently. The procedures set out the steps operators must take to manage a range of situations, for example when someone stops in an emergency stopping area or when roadworks are happening on the motorway. 

While setting the speed limit on the smart motorway is automated, WTOC operators monitor the motorway through the network of cameras and detectors to ensure incidents are cleared as quickly as possible to keep people safe and traffic flowing. They set the messages that appear on the electronic variable message signs, and use the lane control signs (the Red X or arrow) to direct traffic on which lane to use. 

WTOC’s other roles 

As well as managing the smart motorway, WTOC also monitors and manages: 

  • 8000km of state highway from the Desert Road to Bluff (excluding Christchurch City) 
  • nearly 200 cameras across the region 
  • more than 50 electronic variable message signs 
  • 46 sets of traffic lights in Wellington City, plus five in Whanganui and New Plymouth, and three in Nelson
  • more than 130 sets of traffic lights in partnership with Wellington City Council 
  • air quality in Wellington’s Arras, Terrace and Mount Victoria tunnels. 

WTOC also serves another valuable purpose; it is a major civil defence and emergency management hub for Wellington, the lower and central North Island. From a breakdown to an earthquake, the WTOC is at the centre of keeping the public informed and safe.

WTOC

WTOC operators monitor and manage a lot of the country’s state highway and regional roading network. They provide accurate, real time travel information and advice and work with NZTA partners like emergency services to manage incidents. WTOC has a special focus on Wellington’s smart motorway – the region’s busiest section of road.

WTOC’s role on the smart motorway 

WTOC operators monitor the motorway through a network of cameras and detectors. This makes sure incidents are cleared as quickly as possible. They also:

  • set the messages that appear on the electronic variable message signs 
  • use the lane control signs (the red X or green arrow) to direct traffic on which lane to use. 

WTOC’s other roles 

WTOC also monitors and manages: 

  • 8000 kilometres of state highway
  • nearly 200 cameras  
  • more than 50 electronic variable message signs 
  • 46 sets of traffic lights in Wellington City, plus five in Whanganui and New Plymouth, and three in Nelson
  • more than 130 sets of traffic lights 
  • air quality in Wellington’s Arras, Terrace and Mount Victoria tunnels. 

Civil Defence

WTOC is also a major civil defence and emergency management hub for Wellington and the lower and central North Island. 

Māori keywords: 
   
   
   
   
   
   
Samoan keywords: 
 feso'ota'iga  connection
 tulaga ogatotonu  hub, centre
 ia saogalemu, leai se faafitauli  to be safe, risk-free
 Ueligitone  Wellington
 taavale  vehicles
 fa'atulagaina/fa'atapenaina  organise
 ta'ita'i/tagata aveave operator (of a machine or device)
Tongan keywords: 
 fehokotaki (verb), fehokotaki'anga (connection point)  connection
 feitu'u fakataha'anga  hub, centre
 malu  to be safe, risk-free
 Uelingatoni  Wellington
 Me'alele  vehicles
 fakama'opo'opofokotu'ut u'u lelei  organise
 tokotaha fai fakahinohino operator (of a machine or device)
Cook Islands Maori keywords: 
 itiki'anga  connection
 are uipa'anga  hub, centre
 meitaki   to be good or safe
 Vereniteni  Wellington
 tu kaveinga  vehicles
 akatere  organise
 aka operator (of a machine or device)
Niuean keywords: 
 matutaki  connection
 falepauaki/uho  hub, centre
 faka haohao/tokaga, ua fakahanoa  to be safe, risk-free
 Ueligitoni  Wellington
 tau peleo afi  vehicles
 fakatokatoka  organise
 tagata gahua operator (of a machine or device)

Watch this video from the Memorial Park field trip for more of an idea of how WTOC works.

Watch this video from the Memorial Park field trip for more of an idea of how WTOC works.



WTOC monitors and manages a large part of the country’s state highways and regional roads. Image: LEARNZ.

WTOC operators monitor the motorway through a network of cameras and detectors. Image: LEARNZ.

WTOC has a special focus on Wellington’s smart motorway – the region’s busiest section of road. Image: LEARNZ.