Melissa Ackert, E.I. Florida Department of Transportation Virtual Freight Network (VFN): Using Operations to Move Freight in South Florida Melissa Ackert, E.I. Florida Department of Transportation Anita Vandervalk, P.E. Cambridge Systematics

South Florida Freight and Goods Existing Conditions South Florida is home to several of Florida’s largest international gateways Port Everglades Port Miami Miami International Airport Significant growth in freight volumes are anticipated within an already congested urban area 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Source: South Florida Regional Freight Plan.

South Florida Key Regional Initiatives /Projects to Impact F&G Movement Significant infrastructure investments are underway Port Everglades and Port Miami expansions underway FEC Railway to serve on-port ICTFs and expand logistics capabilities Miami International Airport expanding and improving landside connections Major freeway expansions and operational enhancements under construction (e.g., SR826/SR836 interchange; I-595; I-95) Port Everglades (PEV) Master Plan includes projects to deepen and widen the port channels Source: Port Everglades 2009 Master Plan/Vision Plan Update http://www.broward.org/Port/MasterPlan/Documents/VisionPlan09312010.pdf

Freight and Goods Growth, Example Source: Port Everglades 2009 Master Plan/Vision Plan Update http://www.broward.org/Port/MasterPlan/Documents/VisionPlan09312010.pdf

Overview of the Virtual Freight Network (VFN) VFN is a regional freight-focused dynamic mobility application being developed by public- and private-sector freight stakeholders VFN enhances data sharing among the region’s commercial vehicle operators, freight facilities, shippers/receivers, and existing public- sector ITS infrastructure to improve freight mobility and system performance VFN is being considered for deployment on routes serving as key corridors and connectors providing access to/from major intermodal facilities

Key Objectives of VFN Improve travel time reliability Reduce delay for commercial vehicles moving to/from the region’s key freight facilities Reduce number of empty/unproductive movements Enhance real-time monitoring of system performance and improve effectiveness of mobility applications Improve safety and regulatory compliance of commercial vehicles operating in the region Improve environmental stewardship

Types of Technologies Dynamic Routing Commercial Vehicle Traffic Probes Load-Matching Application Synchronized Signal Timing Virtual Compliance Stations PEV example.

Types of Technologies Dynamic Routing Integrate data from public- (e.g., incidents, work zone, weather) and private-sector sources (e.g., commercial vehicle traffic probes) Make data available to private-sector stakeholders in various formats Provide data in a standardized electronic format that can be integrated directly into current routing and dispatch software Provide automatic data feeds to motor carrier systems Post travel times on variable message signs at the exit of intermodal facilities

Types of Technologies Commercial Vehicle Traffic Probes Commercial vehicles will serve as traffic probes Vehicle location and average speed data will be collected via private- and/or public-sector communication technology Data will be integrated into the region’s traffic management centers Vehicle-specific identifiers will not be stored as part of the probe data collection effort

Types of Technologies Load-Matching Application Limit number of empty/unproductive truck moves in the region by developing and maintaining a web-based load matching application Provide a forum for shippers and receivers to post available loads and an opportunity for commercial vehicles to find a load to haul on their trip back to/from an intermodal facility

Types of Technologies Synchronized Signal Timing Synchronize timing of traffic signals on key arterials around intermodal facilities Give priority to traffic queues with large numbers of commercial vehicles Miami Dade County is in the process of completing installation of an Automated Traffic Signal Synchronization System across the County

Types of Technologies Virtual Compliance Stations Deploy virtual compliance stations at key locations around the region to support: Real-time screening of commercial vehicles for compliance with Federal and state credential, safety, and/or size and weight regulations Possible deployment sites could include: Eller Drive leading to the entrance/exit of the container operation at Port Everglades Port Boulevard leading to the entrance/ exist to the Port or Miami Entrance/exit to FEC Hialeah Rail Yard

Regional Characteristics and Proposed Functionality Operational characteristics: Drayage moves between Port of Miami, Port Everglades and FEC intermodal terminal Access to/from Miami International Airport Access to/from warehouse/distribution facilities from/to region’s freight facilities Proposed VFN Elements: C-TIP functionality to maximize movements among key freight hubs Real-time traveler information to support real-time re-routing of commercial vehicles Use of commercial vehicles as traffic probes to improve accuracy of traveler information Virtual weigh stations will help improve safety and enforcement activities Port Everglades FEC Intermodal Terminal Miami International Airport Port of Miami

Implementing the VFN VFN concept developed in Spring 2010 South Florida stakeholders presented VFN to USDOT at an Intermodal Freight Technology Working Group meeting hosted by Port of Miami in Summer 2010 DMA application submitted to USDOT’s “Call for Ideas” in Fall 2010 USDOT created Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) program FRATIS ConOps and Functional Requirements developed in Spring 2012 Cambridge Systematics selected for prototype testing in South Florida in Fall 2012 Today I am excited to report that implementation of the VFN is moving forward. We have been working closely over the last few years with the USDOT to promote the concept. We did this by hosting a meeting with USDOT in 2010 followed by submittal of our concept in responde to the USDOT’s call for ideas in late 2010. USDOT used ours and other input to develop its Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS). The concops was completed earlier this year. The next phase is to develop a prototype of the system. South Florida was selected as one test bed.

What is USDOT’s Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) Program? Part of the USDOT-RITA ITS “Connected Vehicle” Program “Dynamic Mobility Applications” sub-program Two primary elements Freight Dynamic Traveler Information and Planning Drayage Optimization Current program status Concept of Operations Study completed (June 2012) National Needs Assessment, ConOps, System Requirements, Test Readiness Assessment Development & Limited Testing Phase – Begins 09-2012 So what is FRATIS. It is part of USDOT’s “connected vehicle” program. It consists of dynamic traveler information customized for freight operators, specifically trucking firms and their customers. This includes real time traffic information, queue/incident detection, dynamic routing, and more. It also includes a drayage optimization component designed to help minimize wasted trips including bobtail movements. As I mentioned, the conops was completed earlier this year and the prototyping of the system in three cities is currently underway. This system allows South Florida to move forward with key elements of its VFN in partnership with the federal government.

Three FRATIS Deployments Are under Development  South Florida Virtual Freight Network (VFN) concept designed to provide the region’s freight community with ITS-based solutions to mobility constraints Los Angeles Gateway Cities Technology Plan for Goods Movement provided a blueprint for an end-to-end information support system to improve the efficiency of goods movement in Southern California Dallas Leveraging the Basic Safety Message from the Connected Vehicle program and the FHWA Integrated Corridor Management program The three sites are South Florida, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Each of these cities has undertaken freight mobility and operations projects which helped them compete for these grants. We’ve already given you a detailed overview of the VFN; in Los Angeles, they have been working for a few years to develop a technology plan for goods movement; in Dallas the focus is on the corridor management and integration of key safety messages. These three cities will be used to see how effective FRATIS can be.

What is a FRATIS? Background Available resources have varying coverage and do not always provide freight-specific information Technology is not used consistently by the trucking industry Freight routing, scheduling, and dispatch decisions are sometimes made in an ad-hoc fashion Effectiveness of systems is limited by data availability and data accuracy Lack of real-time data contributes to operational inefficiencies Freight has unique operational characteristics that require different data and methods/timeframes of information delivery U.S. DOT is driving new research to improve freight efficiency and environmental performance With so many systems out there, from private load matching or routing software to regional TMCs, why is FRATIS necessary? Why is USDOT advancing this program? [read bullets]

What are the Benefits of FRATIS? User Needs Survey Results As part of the FRATIS conops, we conducted surveys with trucking companies to help understand their use of technology As you can see, 61 percent of respondents reported use of technology. The top reasons cited were for accident or incident information, weather conditions, travel times, bottlenecks and delay information. Of the remaining 39 percent, key factors limiting their willingness included poor coverage, lack of accuracy, inconsistencies, etc. These surveys and other input were used to help focus the FRATIS conops. Note: USDOT FRATIS National Drayage Survey Results

South Florida FRATIS Development and Test Program Concept This graphic provides a high level overview of the South Florida FRATIS project. The blue illustrates the core of the system – data integration – bringing public and private sources together. The yellow boxes shoe the types of data and sources in South Florida. On the right in the green box you can see how the data will be used to develop and support the FRATIS components.

FRATIS Implementation Activities South Florida freight community is partnering with US DOT to develop and test a prototype FRATIS Trucking companies, railroads, port authorities, MPOs, FDOT districts, industry associations, and more Program focus will be on: Dynamic traveler information Drayage optimization Emergency management response/recovery Kick-off meetings scheduled for early November The South Florida FRATIS brings together USDOT, FDOT, MPOs, two seaports, a railroad, trucking companies and more. Program focus will be on: Dynamic traveler information Drayage optimization Emergency management response/recovery Kick-off meetings scheduled for early November

Contacts & Additional Information Melissa Ackert, E.I. VFN Concept Lead FDOT District 4 Traffic Operations Melissa.Ackert@dot.state.fl.us (954)777- 4156 Randy Butler FRATIS Project Manager USDOT/FHWA Office of Freight Management Randy.Butler@dot.gov (202) 366 - 9215  For more information on USDOT’s program, please visit the Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s (RITA) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office website http://www.its.dot.gov/

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