Colorado Agencies Open TIM Training Center
While dedicating the facility to all of Colorado's first responders, memorial plaques were presented to the families of CSP Troopers Jaimie Jursevics and Cody Donahue to honor their service and sacrifice on behalf of the residents of Colorado. Both were hit and killed by vehicles during traffic stops on I-25 in Douglas County.
Officials from the Colorado Department of Transportation, Douglas County, Colo., and the Colorado State Patrol held a grand opening of the state's first traffic incident management (TIM) training center on April 5. Located in northern Douglas County, it is just the second such facility in the United States dedicated to providing hands-on training in a realistic and full-scale setting for first responders.
This one replicates a concrete interstate and other highway segments. First responders can use it to hone their skills and get the training they need to safely clear roadway incidents.
"Partnering with Douglas County and the State Patrol is another excellent example of how we can pool our respective resources to improve highway safety," said CDOT Executive Director Michael Lewis. "As our roadways continue to get more crowded, it's imperative that our first responders have the best level of training available. These various partnerships allowed us to build this training center, helping us to meet the traffic challenges of today and tomorrow."
CDOT reported that the $1.5 million center is the first TIM training area constructed with concrete, which requires less maintenance than asphalt. First responders can use it to practice tactics such as pushing, up-righting, and towing vehicles without damaging the pavement and practice tactics and strategies that improve safety and minimize their exposure to traffic hazards. "On behalf of the Board of Douglas County Commissioners, it is our great honor to play a role in the birth of this new TIM training facility, in support of first responders who willingly put themselves in harm's way to protect and serve others," said Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge.
While dedicating the facility to all of Colorado's first responders, memorial plaques were presented to the families of CSP Troopers Jaimie Jursevics and Cody Donahue to honor their service and sacrifice on behalf of the residents of Colorado. Both were hit and killed by vehicles during traffic stops on I-25 in Douglas County.
The country's first full-scale TIM facility was constructed in 2014 in Nashville. According to CDOT, TIM tactics involve the safe, quick clearance of traffic incidents, improving responder and motorist safety, and reducing travel delays following crashes or other incidents.