Daily Fun
09/30/2026 · Fort Oglethorpe
The Three-Breath Buffer That Keeps Your Day From Driving You
Before you answer the annoying email, open the news, or say yes on autopilot, try creating a tiny pause. Three deliberate breaths can give you back the choice you thought you’d lost.
The Bird That Keeps Singing: Emily Dickinson’s Small, Stubborn Hope
Emily Dickinson gives hope feathers, a perch, and one remarkable habit: it sings without asking for anything in return. Read this tiny poem today when you need courage that doesn’t make a speech.
09/30/2026
Seneca on the Trouble We Invent Before Anything Happens
A Roman philosopher had a sharp diagnosis for modern anxiety: the mind is often more inventive in anticipation than reality ever gets the chance to be.
09/30/2026
The National Ear: Washington Keeps Betting on the Last Minute
Congress still treats deadlines like personality tests, while families and employers absorb the cost of political theater. Meanwhile, regulators and courts keep writing the rules that will shape the next decade.
09/30/2026
The Museum Audio Guide Deserves a Standing Ovation
Forget the blockbuster exhibition for a moment. The most underrated performer in any museum is the little plastic rectangle whispering historical gossip directly into your ear.
09/30/2026
Lanesboro, Minnesota: The Bike Trail Town That Forgot to Be Boring
Follow the Root River into southeastern Minnesota for limestone bluffs, a walkable main street, and a breakfast plate that justifies the entire drive. Lanesboro is small enough to understand in one afternoon and strange enough to keep you poking around until dinner.
09/30/2026
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Announcements
View allCHAMP - Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program
Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program (CHAMP) Safety is Georgia DOT’s number one priority. CHAMP is critical to enhancing safety for the traveling public and responders. CHAMP is Georgia DOT’s roadside assistance and maintenance program covering interstates outside of Metro Atlanta (except I-59 and I-24). This program is an integral part of our goal to provide safe and maintained roadways, support emergency responders and assist motorists outside of the HERO covered area in Metro Atlanta. Georgia DOT HERO and CHAMP Sponsorship with GEICO Overview Need Assistance: Motorists can reach CHAMP by calling 5-1-1. Hours of Operation: Available 24/7. Patrol 16 hours. On-call 8 hours. Patrol Routes: Interstates (except I-59 & I-24) outside of Metro Atlanta. View Brochure Program Info 26 Monitored routes outside metro Atlanta 80 Active Operators 981 Miles of patrol routes 164,529 Total assists performed NOTE: CHAMP is not a part of the HERO program. Route Map Download Map Helpful Resources 511 - Free Travel Info Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) Move Over Law Rest Areas & Welcome Centers Transportation Funding Act Services Roadway Maintenance CHAMP provides quick response to the following maintenance issues: Major Maintenance Bridge/roadway damage Down signs Missing roadway markings Traffic signal malfunction Commercial vehicle crashes and spills Minor Maintenance Vegetation Blocked drainage Debris removal (including abandoned or disabled vehicles) Motorist Assistance CHAMPs assist motorists, when feasible, and if they are not dispatched to a major highway and the motorist is safely off the road. incident enhances roadway safety by providing motorist assistance and temporary traffic control, which helps to reduce secondary incidents and increases responder safety. Emergency Response CHAMP serves as an on-scene incident responders, providing roadway clearance and traffic control and traveler information. Other Services Detect, verify reports and provide all necessary assistance with traffic incidents to ensure safe and quick clearance on interstates outside of HERO territory and on non-interstate state routes within 10 miles on either side of interstates when requested. Provide assistance to motorist needing help on interstates, when feasible Assist the Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies as needed in a support role (interstate and non-interstate state routes within within 10 miles). Safely and expeditiously remove debris and minor non-hazardous spills from highways Assist with removing and/or tagging abandoned vehicles or other incidents Maintain and /or improve safe and efficient traffic flow Identify, verify and report maintenance issues and/or property damage to infrastructure FAQs What is CHAMP? CHAMP, the Coordinated Highway Assistance and Maintenance Program, is Georgia DOT’s new roadside assistance and maintenance program covering Georgia interstates outside of Metro Atlanta, except for I-59 and I-24. What are the key functions of CHAMP CHAMP’s has three primary functions: roadway maintenance, motorist assistance and emergency response. Provide quick response to maintenance issues and enhance proactive major maintenance by providing immediate district notification about bridge/roadway damage, signs down, markings missing, signal malfunction, commercial vehicle crashes and spills and other major maintenance concerns. Provide immediate resolution for minor maintenance needs such as vegetation issues, blocked drainage and debris removal (including abandoned or disabled vehicles). Offer motorist assistance and temporary traffic control, which helps to reduce secondary incidents and increase responder safety. As an on-scene incident responder, assist with emergency response and provide roadway clearance and coordinate long-term traffic control and traveler information. Detect, verify, report and provide assistance on traffic incidents to ensure safe, quick clearance on interstates outside of Metro Atlanta AND on non-interstate state routes within 10 miles on either side of interstates, when requested. Maintain and/or improve safe and efficient traffic flow. Assist the Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies. Identify, verify and report maintenance issues and/or property damage to infrastructure to GDOT, TMC and District staff. What areas will CHAMP operators patrol? CHAMP operators will partol 16 interstate routes (except I-24 and I-59) outside of Metro Atlanta. Operators will also cover non-interstate state routes within 10 miles on either side of interstates. View Coverage Map How many CHAMP equipment trucks are there? The program includes 51 trucks equipped with push bumpers, message boards and other traffic control devices. What are the hours of operation CHAMP operators will patrol interstates outside of Metro Atlanta (except I-24 and I-59) for 16 hours a day and be on-call the remaining 8 hours - 7 days / week. Each CHAMP operator patrols an average 50-mile section of the interstate during an 8-hour shift How many staff members are a part of the CHAMP program? The program includes 48 full time CHAMP operators, 18 full time dispatchers, 3 managers and 3 supervisors. How is CHAMP funded? The Transportation Funding Act of 2015 funds CHAMP. How is CHAMP different from the HERO program? CHAMPs handle maintenance issues, support incident responders and assist motorists on 16 interstates outside Metro Atlanta (except I-24 and I-59). Can I tip CHAMP operators if they assist me? No. CHAMP is a service of the Georgia DOT. Operators will not accept tips or payment for services from the public. What top 4 priorities do CHAMPs address? Lane blocking Shoulder blocking Routine maintenance Motorists requiring routine assistance. How to contact CHAMP? Dial 5-1-1 for a CHAMP. CHAMP Jobs Interested in joining the CHAMP team? Search for job opportunities. Begin Search
Traffic Signals: Optimization, Outage Reporting - GDOT
Under the SigOps program, the Office of Traffic Operations works closely with state and local traffic engineers to optimize traffic signals across the state. Using the latest technology and signal timing methodology, the SigOps team monitors and optimizes traffic flow to provide a more efficient and safer commute for the public. SigOps focuses on two primary areas: Signal Optimization Georgia DOT provides a multi-jurisdictional, cutting-edge signal optimization with the goal of improving traffic flow and reducing vehicle emissions through improved signal timing. Signal Operations Georgia DOT provides operational and maintenance support for traffic signals statewide. Report Traffic Signal Outage Call 5-1-1 to report a traffic signal outage in your area. View 511 By the Numbers 9,000+ total traffic signals statewide 100% of GDOT maintained traffic signals communicate with the GDOT network 6,000+ of 9,000+ traffic signals statewide are operated on GDOT's state route system 8,000+ of traffic signals communicate with GDOT's network Other Program Areas Performance Measures Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) The ATSPM software is open-source software that GDOT has adopted and modified for their use. ATSPM show real-time and historical functionality at signalized intersections. SigOps Metrics MARK was developed, based on open-source code, to track signal performance measures such as throughput, arrivals on the green, queue spillback rate, split failures, and travel time metrics. Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) RITIS is an automated data fusion and dissemination system that provides an enhanced transportation network view for overall traffic system performance and trends as well as perform bottleneck and trend analyses for new signals. Technology and Innovation Connected Vehicles Coming Soon Qualified Products List (QPL 48) A listing of Traffic Signal & ITS Equipment prepared in accordance with the Office of Traffic Operations Standard Operating Policy 42 (SOP 42). Qualified Products List (QPL) Requirements A list of requirements for Georgia DOT’s current QPLs. Engineering Traffic Signal Design Guidelines Access traffic signal standard operating guidelines Ramp Meters The Ramp Meter Program was implemented to alleviate congestion and emphasize motorist safety. Ramp Meters are traffic signal devices located on entrance ramps to the freeway. They regulate the frequency of vehicles entering the flow of traffic on a freeway. The meters work similar to traffic signals with a red and green light. All vehicles must stop when the light is red. Vehicles are only permitted to move onto the freeway when the signal turns green. Benefits Reduced congestion on the freeway Decreased fuel consumption Maintain steadier flow on the interstate Increase freeway speeds Flashing Yellow Lights Georgia DOT is now installing four-section Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) signals across the state. This traffic signal includes a flashing yellow arrow that means drivers can turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians (oncoming traffic still has the green light). How it Works? The new signals are easier to understand because it uses an arrow to display the type of left turn movement allowed. Here’s what the various arrows mean: Solid Green Ok to turn left; oncoming traffic must stop Flashing Yellow Ok to turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians Solid Yellow Prepare to stop or clear intersection before solid red arrow appears Solid Red STOP - no turn allowed Criteria The following criteria is used to help select appropriate locations: Intersections where traffic congestion is a recurring problem. Most “eligible” intersections have standard “dog house” 5-section traffic signal - drivers make “permissive left.” Most “eligible” intersections have high traffic volumes and accident rates. NOTE: Flashing Yellow Arrows is the preferred left turn treatment for all new signal upgrades. If the traffic signal has a malfunction the left turn will flash red. As with all signalized intersections, a flashing red is treated as a stop condition and flashing yellow is treated as proceed with caution. If all indications at an intersection are flashing red or the intersection is dark it should be treated as a four-way stop. Benefits Flashing Yellow Arrows are just one of Georgia DOT’s operational improvements that are cost-effective, proven, innovative and safe. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) encourages the use of Flashing Yellow Arrows. Based on FHWA guidance, Georgia DOT policy now identifies Flashing Yellow Arrows as the preferred intersection traffic signal. FHWA studies found that flashing yellow arrows: Help reduce left turn crashes by 35% Move more traffic through an intersection, easing traffic congestion Reduce vehicle idling and air pollution Reduced pollution NOTE: Drivers made fewer mistakes with the new Flashing Yellow Arrows than with traditional left-turn arrow signals. Flashing Yellow Arrows Georgia DOT is now installing four-section Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) signals across the state. This traffic signal includes a flashing yellow arrow that means drivers can turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians (oncoming traffic still has the green light).
Historical Plans
Historical Plans In order to serve you in a more efficient manner, we have completed a massive project to convert all of our historical plans into electronic format to provide easier access to plans through the web. This project is basically complete with all construction plans on-line, and all as-built plans coming on-line in the near future. Please be patient with us as this process continues. As a result of this work, we now offer the ability to locate the plans on your own from the web or to submit an electronic request for assistance. Research Request Form Please contact the following Georgia DOT representative to submit questions or comments specific to the Environmental Procedures Complete Research Request Form
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