Houston Transtar

Houston Transtar is a government agency that uses a range of resources to monitor traffic and help keep roadways safe. They are a collaborative partnership between the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Harris County, the City of Houston, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. Houston Transtar

The TranStar website features an impressive amount of data, including maps, weather reports, traffic alerts, and road condition updates. In addition to the website, the city has installed more than 1,000 cameras to monitor traffic and provide real-time maps. As well, the city has a dedicated media room and a staff that can bunk during local emergencies. Its motto is "Safe and efficient travel."

Aside from providing real-time map updates, the site has a "TranStar" link that allows users to view cameras outside of Houston. According to a press release, the website saw a 29.3 percent increase in traffic volume in 2016. The website is the brainchild of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which helped develop the facility in the early 1990s.

Houston TranStar has a number of advantages over its competitors. For example, it's one of the largest monitoring systems in the nation, providing data on the Katy Freeway and Beltway 8. Besides that, the system's benefit-cost ratio is a staggering 9.9. Not only does the system monitor the Katy Freeway and the Beltway 8 (which are considered to be two of the busiest freeways in the U.S.), but the organization also manages traffic on the Fort Bend Toll Road. Additionally, it monitors IH-10 Katy and East, as well as the IH-610 Loop.

The TranStar website has a number of other useful features, such as a "State" and "Region" tab. There are also several cameras that are located at several different locations, from the Houston metroplex to the Galveston and Bolivar islands. While the website is an effective way to find out what's going on in Houston, the app is even more convenient, with the ability to view incidents almost instantly. Also, if you're stuck in traffic, the app provides speed and travel time information from roadway sensors. Moreover, the Traffic Houston app features a "Show My Maps" feature that makes it possible to check on an incident before heading out on the road.

Another nice touch is Houston Transtar's "Traffic Cameras" tab. You can select from several different locations, including the city's major intersections. Similarly, the "Streets" tab allows you to view cameras at particular intersections. The app's other features include construction schedules and other relevant information. Moreover, it has a feature that lets users see the number of drivers on certain roads. Finally, it has a feature that lets you know if the street is closed. With all these tools in hand, you can be sure that you'll never miss an important event, and you won't have to leave home without the necessary information. One of the best parts of this smartphone app is that it can provide the real-time data that you need, in order to make an informed decision on your next move.