NDOT seeks hybrid staffing for traffic management center as federal reauthorization remains unsettled

Deputy Director Bossberg told the State Highway Commission at its May 22 meeting in Gearing that the Nebraska Department of Transportation is negotiating with outside vendors to staff a newly rebranded traffic management center on a hybrid model and is closely tracking federal surface-transportation reauthorization.

Bossberg said NDOT consolidated multiple district operations into a single operations center several years ago and recently rebranded that facility as a traffic management center to reflect a shift toward proactive traffic monitoring and incident management. ‘‘We monitor cameras, RWIS weather devices and changeable message signs, and that center helps us respond to incidents and push traveler information,’’ he said.

He said the center currently is staffed by NDOT employees but 24/7 coverage is increasingly difficult to maintain on NDOT’s current wage scale. ‘‘We received proposals from outside vendors and are negotiating a hybrid staffing model,’’ Bossberg said, explaining the department hopes to combine in-house and vendor staffing to maintain round‑the‑clock operations.

Bossberg also briefed commissioners on the federal funding outlook. He said the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expires Sept. 30 and that a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposal had been released that morning. He said the committee’s action shows movement but warned that ‘‘there’s a lot more action” needed before a full reauthorization is final and that a complete new highway bill by September appeared unlikely.

Why it matters: a durable federal authorization and predictable multiyear funding underpin state planning for large projects and maintenance programs. NDOT’s shift to a traffic management center with hybrid staffing would affect how the department monitors highways, notifies travelers of hazards and staffs incident response around the clock. Bossberg said NDOT will continue reporting back to the commission as vendor negotiations proceed.

Next steps: commissioners heard the update and moved on to district presentations; Bossberg did not put a formal proposal to the commission during this meeting.