No matter where you are on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) or when you’re traveling, you’re never alone. That’s thanks to the dozens of dedicated dispatchers who commit to safety and continuously keep an eye on what’s going on across all 565+ miles of PA Turnpike roadways from the PA Turnpike’s Traffic Operations Center.
It’s why the PA Turnpike recognizes those who work every day to ensure the safe travel of the 550,000 daily customers across the PA Turnpike system during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed nationally every second week of April.
“Everything we do at the PA Turnpike evolves around safety, and among those on the front lines are our dispatchers and supervisors at the Traffic Operations Center who are the voice of calm that our customers hear when they are in need of help along the roadway,” said PA Turnpike COO Craig Shuey. “We are grateful to these dedicated professionals who work around the clock to provide a safe driving experience for our customers and are always willing to go above and beyond the normal call of duty to help our customers.”
The Traffic Operations Center furthers the PA Turnpike’s commitment to safety. The 36-member staff of the Turnpike Operations Center (TOC) in Middletown plays a critical role in the PA Turnpike’s commitment to safety and continuously keeps an eye on activities across all 565+ miles of Turnpike roadways. These dispatchers monitor roadway conditions, construction status and weather conditions, answer calls, and coordinate with first responders and emergency services from the TOC, which also serves as the center for all PA Turnpike Incident Management activities.
Anyone traveling the PA Turnpike can dial *11 (or 1-800-332-3880) to phone for emergency assistance or report incidents. Calls go directly to the TOC where PA Turnpike dispatchers and Pennsylvania State Police are on duty 24 hours a day, every day. The PA Turnpike staff dispatches appropriate emergency personnel to the scene.
The GEICO Safety Patrol includes a fleet of dedicated Pennsylvania Turnpike personnel who report to the scene, provide traffic control and can request first responder services for drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The GEICO Safety Patrol assisted in more than 42,000 incidents in 2025, in addition to their routine patrols. Team members have supported life-saving measures on the roadway during emergencies, support drivers during winter storms, and help the occasional four-legged friends who wander off.
The PA Turnpike now offers a real-time text messaging service to keep travelers informed during unexpected traffic delays. While at a complete stop in a location where it is safe to remain stationary, Customers can simply text “info” to 47676 using hands-free technology or through a passenger in your vehicle to get automated updates every 15 to 20 minutes until the backlog clears.
