Skip to main content

Caltrans sets sights on Swarco McCain signage

CMS 800 signs replace CMS 700 series, jointly developed with California agency
By Adam Hill April 18, 2023 Read time: 1 min
Travel times, incident notifications: road users need them (© Iofoto | Dreamstime.com)

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has renewed a deal for Swarco McCain's variable message signs (VMS).

The McCain CMS 800 signs replace the CMS 700 series, jointly developed with Caltrans, and are NEMA TS4-compliant.

Dean Campbell, Caltrans chief at the Office of Systems Development, says: "The CMS 800 signs increase the message contrast and visibility, which helps effectively communicate safety information for all road travellers.”

The full-colour LED displays are available outside California, adds Justin Sigel, director of signs at Swarco McCain.

The CMS 800 features Swarco's patented Precision Optics lens technology and integrated surface-mount 3-in-1 RGB LEDs, which provide exceptional visibility, the firm says - and the 110/120 VAC, 60 Hz internal power supply means exceptionally low energy consumption and low operational costs.

"The CMS 800 has the lowest total cost of ownership, thanks to extremely low power consumption and interchangeable field service assemblies," Sigel suggests.

Related Content

  • October 19, 2022
    Reading gets message from Swarco
    Traffic management in the UK town has improved since VMS installation, council says
  • July 30, 2025
    Swarco McCain will show how to simplify complex traffic challenges

    Swarco McCain is heading to Atlanta to showcase its latest innovations and demonstrate how the company helps agencies simplify complex traffic challenges through open, scalable, and interoperable solutions.

    Visitors are invited to explore the MyCity Solution Suite – Swarco McCain’s powerful traffic management platform designed to provide engineers with system-wide visibility and control. MyCity integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure, enabling smarter, faster decision-making for real-time operations and long-term planning.

  • February 2, 2012
    Variable message signs continue to deliver travel information
    Arguably the 'face' of ITS, variable message signs are far from being a passing solution
  • February 18, 2014
    Caltrans develops remote remedy for ailing VMS
    A remote diagnostic system for variable message signs keeps Caltrans staff safer and makes them more efficient. District 12 of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) maintains roads in Orange County including 292 route miles of freeway lanes and 240 directional miles of full-time high occupancy vehicle or carpool lanes. All of these lanes are controlled from the district’s transportation management centre (TMC) using a network of 58 variable message signs (VMS) positioned alongside or abo