March 2009 Permitting Over Sized Loads In Texas Ray Hutchinson Motor Carrier Division, TxDOT

MCD Update on

Agenda  TxDOT Mission & Goals  MCD Overview  The Situation - OS/OW Challenges  TxPROS as a solution  Q & A

The TxDOT Mission To work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods

The TxDOT Goals  Reducing Congestion  Improving Air Quality  Enhancing Safety  Expanding Economic Opportunity  Increase the Value of Transportation Assets

MCD Overview  MCD Responsibilities – FY08 Activity  Motor Carrier Operating Authority 46,000+ Active Carriers 46,000+ Active Carriers 320,000+ Vehicles 320,000+ Vehicles 100,000 Insurance Filings 100,000 Insurance Filings  Consumer Protection/Mediation 140,000 Public Assistance Calls 140,000 Public Assistance Calls  Investigations and Enforcement 1,700+ Motor Carrier Investigations 1,700+ Motor Carrier Investigations  Oversize/Overweight Permits 580,415 Permits Issued 580,415 Permits Issued

OS/OW Mission Permitting and routing of Oversize and Overweight loads on Texas State Highways in a manner that: Permitting and routing of Oversize and Overweight loads on Texas State Highways in a manner that:  Protects the traveling public  Protects the infrastructure  Protects the load

The Situation  Simply put – Texas is just plain Big  #2 in population – 24 million and growing by 500,000 a year (6 cities in the top 25)  #2 in size - 268,680 sq. miles  Largest highway system in the nation  300,000+ centerline miles (80k on-system)  50,000 bridges (over 8,000 not over water)  20 million registered vehicles with over 140 million vehicle miles driven daily

OS/OW Challenges Volume Growth Trend

Super Heavy Permits

OS/OW Challenges  Industry Needs/Impact:  Growth and maintenance of industry infrastructure dependent upon timely, reliable OS/OW transport  Permitting delays costly $$$ to industry – potentially $1 million+ per day  Service Level Capability:  Unable to meet industry demands (volume vs. resources)  Turnaround time (90/90 Goal vs. 90/300 or more reality)  Staffing Challenge (turnover and training)

OS/OW Challenges  Restrictions:  Impact (currently 1,500+ active) Isolated Knowledge Isolated Knowledge Compounded impacts Compounded impacts Validity Validity  Risks: Communications – Interpretation in a multi- link relay Communications – Interpretation in a multi- link relay Delays in effect on routing (time lag of up to 12 days ) Delays in effect on routing (time lag of up to 12 days ) Manual Mapping Process (92 page map) = Potential Errors Manual Mapping Process (92 page map) = Potential Errors Emergency Situations – No way to identify active permits affected Emergency Situations – No way to identify active permits affected

OS/OW Challenges  Limited Information / Reporting Capability  OS/OW Traffic Patterns  Impact Analysis of Restrictions On Industry (extended routes) On Industry (extended routes) On TxDOT Infrastructure On TxDOT Infrastructure

Meeting the Challenges  Strategic Focus on Priorities  Streamline Processes  Improve Hiring, Training, & Retention  Internal/External Outreach & Education  Increased Admin. Enforcement Authority  Technology & Online Services  MCCS, CPS, CMS, eWFM, & TxPROS

TxPROS as a Solution TxPROS Texas Permit Routing Optimization System Using integrated GIS mapping and real-time restriction management, TxPROS will provide automated routing and route validation assistance along with extensive data capture to enable GIS, detail and statistical reporting Using integrated GIS mapping and real-time restriction management, TxPROS will provide automated routing and route validation assistance along with extensive data capture to enable GIS, detail and statistical reporting

Major Features  Mapping  Utilizing Tele-Atlas’ state wide, geo-coded data supplemented with conflated TxDOT data from Bridge, Construction (PAV), and TPP Divisions, TxPROS creates an integrated GIS map suitable for routing decisions.

Major Features  Restrictions Management  Utilizing the GIS mapping system, allows for real-time, web-based updates to permanent, temporary and directive restrictions affecting OS/OW routing  Provides for immediate impact on new Permit applications  Reviews new and changed restrictions against active permits and alerts carriers if re- routing is needed  Variable input capabilities  Completed testing prototype software in a “Pilot Area” of 5 Districts

Add Start

Major Features  Routing  TxPROS provides “true” automated routing capability Origin to destination points Origin to destination points Via point(s) requests Via point(s) requests Specific route request validation WITH alternative routing where needed Specific route request validation WITH alternative routing where needed  Prototype software evaluation in Pilot Area Completed, next is state-wide

Major Features  Reporting - With all routes being captured in detail, TxPROS reporting tools facilitate:  Fixed reporting (periodic/AR)  Ad hoc or query style that can be by: Load type, Load type, Size (H/W/L), and/or Size (H/W/L), and/or Weight for: Weight for: Selected road segments Selected road segments Bridges Bridges  Analysis of restrictions impact  Currently testing prototype

Service Levels  Self Issue Capability  Within Set “envelope” size  7 by 24 service (matching industry needs)  Reduction in Permit Office Work load Allows re-assignment of Permit Officers to larger, more complex loads and specialty permits Allows re-assignment of Permit Officers to larger, more complex loads and specialty permits  Automated Routing assistance to PO  Assistance in routing difficult, large, long routes  Ultimate result: Significant improvement in “turn-around” time for the industry and better service to TxDOT internal customers

Service Levels  Better understanding, by Districts, of the compound effect of restrictions:  Better restrictions management = better route options  Safety Impacts - Improvements  Immediate impact of restrictions on new permits  Assessment of impact on existing permits  Alerts to both MCD & Carrier of potential dangers Provides level of awareness of risks previously impossible to achieve Provides level of awareness of risks previously impossible to achieve  Ultimate result: Enhanced mission capability – protect, protect, protect

Next Steps  Compilation of prototype evaluations from the pilot area  Evaluation of recommended modifications and enhancements  Programming of approved changes  Expansion of map features and current restrictions to state wide  Performance and acceptance testing  Training/marketing  Roll out (current contract 12/09)

TxPROS TxPROS will bring a new era to Oversize Overweight routing in Texas providing more timely and safely routed permits to the industry while better serving our mission and supporting TxDOT’s goals. TxPROS will bring a new era to Oversize Overweight routing in Texas providing more timely and safely routed permits to the industry while better serving our mission and supporting TxDOT’s goals.

Q & A

Routing Texas into the future