Page 27 - On The Move - Volume 17, Issue 4

As many are aware, there are certainly a variety of real-time, crowd-sourced
apps available out there which can lend some help to navigating daily traffic
issues. But there’s an enhanced comfort level that comes with having a ded-
icated traffic team on the job. WSB’s team knows the area. They know the
roads like the backs of their hands and can anticipate alternates to help mo-
torists avoid the jams. They have a real passion for guiding Atlanta’s drivers
during their daily commute.

When asked if he had a magic wand he could wave to fix Atlanta’s traffic
woes, Doug Turnbull replied, “I would just want to make drivers more cour-
teous and aware of themselves and each other. That would eliminate a lot of
issues we see out there.”

Doug Turnbull, WSB Triple Team Traffic

Another member of WSB’s traffic team, Doug Turnbull, began his career as an
intern with the organization, after graduating high school in 2004. He, too,
was brought on board by Captain Herb, after his mother had emailed him
about Doug’s interest in broadcasting. “He invited me for a tour, took me
up in the SkyCopter, and made me an intern in the same day. I never left!”

Anyone who has spent any length of time living in the Atlanta area knows
that the traffic problems we all face are due to complex issues. It
isn’t simply the volume of vehicles on the roadways that cause
the congestion. Issues such as the general layout of the roads,
expansion, and the accompanying construction all complicate
the commute each and every day. WSB works closely with
the Georgia Department of Transportation on traffic re-
porting, as well as offering insight into problem areas
which can help GDOT’s leadership when it comes to
developing plans for traffic improvement projects.
“We have a really good relationship with the
GDOT leadership, including Commissioner Rus-
sell McMurry, and we have a great dialogue
with them when traffic problems arise,” Smilin' Mark McKay, WSB Triple Team Traffic
explained Doug. “They are very responsive
when we notice problems.”
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