San Joaquin County Freeway Service Patrol

Description

The Freeway Service Patrol is a free, publicly funded program that provides roadside assistance for disabled vehicles on select congested freeways to reduce traffic congestion. The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) manages the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program of roving tow trucks operating on certain major San Joaquin County highways to alleviate congestion caused by disabled vehicles.  The service aids motorists for common issues such as flat tires, running out of gas, addressing minor mechanical issues and towing to a designated safe location. Dedicated, on-site,  or nearby  towing services reduce the time required to remove vehicles involved in a traffic incident (breakdown or crash) from the roadway. FSP is designed to reduce congestion by rapidly removing disabled vehicles and vehicles involved in minor accidents from the roadway. The San Joaquin Council of Governments manages the program in coordination with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). SJCOG is responsible for contracting with tow service providers for the successful implementation of the program. SJCOG is also responsible for generating local matching funds, preparing annual program budgets, and coordinating service expansions and changes with partner agencies. Caltrans is responsible for the administration of funding, statewide planning, and program coordination. CHP is generally responsible for individual tow operator training and supervision of the day-to-day FSP field operations. Additionally, the CHP is responsible for dispatching FSP vehicles. The goals