Executive Session MPO Leadership April 21, 2005 Association for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) Under a Grant from the Federal Highway Administration An Overview of Transportation Systems Management What’s It All About?

4/18/05 2 Session Purpose Share with MPO leadership emerging thinking with respect to transportation systems management and operations (TSM&O) and its incorporation into the investment decision-making process

4/18/05 3 Regional Concerns Economic growth/sustainability Security Public safety Congestion Sprawl Environment (e.g., air and water) …..And everyone is faced with budget constraints, decreased funding, and rising expectations

4/18/05 4 Transportation Aspects of Regional Concerns Commuter congestion Traffic incidents Goods movement Special events Homeland security Emergency response and management Modal choices Work zones Weather Growing congestion is a front page story!

4/18/05 5 Concerns Possibilities Move traffic smoothly and safely Keep travelers informed Facilitate passenger mode choices Move goods efficiently Detect and clear incidents quickly Evacuate large populations effectively Coordinate construction projects Consistently across jurisdictional boundaries

4/18/05 6 Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) includes: Traffic Incident Management Travel Information Services (for roadways and for transit) Freeway Management Automatic Vehicle Location for Transit Traffic Signal Coordination Work Zone Traffic Management Roadway Weather Information Electronic Payment (for transit, parking, tolling) Freight Management (ports and transfer areas) Applied individually or in combination

4/18/05 7 Incidents Special Events Weather Work Zones Why Is TSM&O Important? To take back as much of the road as we can ! Capacity Recurring congestion TSM & O

4/18/05 8 TSM&O Addresses Regional Concerns TSM&O Strategies Traffic incident management Traveler information services Freeway management Traffic signal management Transit priority systems Work zone traffic management Road weather management Electronic payment services Freight management Special events planning TSM&O Strategies Traffic incident management Traveler information services Freeway management Traffic signal management Transit priority systems Work zone traffic management Road weather management Electronic payment services Freight management Special events planning Transportation Concerns Commuter congestion Traffic incidents Goods movement Special events Homeland security Emergency response & management Modal choices Work zones Weather Transportation Concerns Commuter congestion Traffic incidents Goods movement Special events Homeland security Emergency response & management Modal choices Work zones Weather

4/18/05 9 The Reauthorization of TEA-21 will likely: Place greater importance on TSM&O to help mitigate congestion, improve safety and security, and improve mobility Recognize and encourage greater collaboration and coordination on a regional scale to maximize the benefits of TSM&O initiatives

4/18/05 10 Essentials for Moving to 21 st Century TSM&O The application of advanced technologies Unprecedented levels of collaboration and coordination within a region

4/18/05 11 What Does “Unprecedented levels of collaboration and coordination within a region” mean? Regional partnerships among managers with responsibility for day-to-day transportation operations Stronger and better linkages between planners and operations managers.

4/18/05 12 Implications for Regional Planning Traditional Planning Process Elected/appointed officials Collective regional plan development Long-term planning focus Near-term project funding Projects of local and regional significance Historical trends Planning Influenced by TSM&O “Operations thinking” influences vision Decisions engage operations managers Operations/capital mix optimized Performance measures reflect objectives Regional performance informs planning Improving regional transportation system performance

4/18/05 13 Implications for Transportation Operations Typical “O&M” Jurisdictional/Agency focused Maintenance oriented Peak-period focused Limited real-time information Targeted coordination for specific events Output-based measures Regional TSM&O Regional cross-jurisdictional, multi- agency, multi-modal system Real-time information sharing 24/7 to support operations decisions Deliberate and sustained collaboration and coordination Customer-focused performance measures Improving regional transportation system performance

4/18/05 14 Implications for Linkages between Planning and Operations Typical Interactions between Planning and Operations Operating agencies often “at the table” but focused on projects Specific projects Major special events Post 9-11 emergency response planning ITS regional architecture development Opportunities that Advance Regional TSM&O Regional ITS architecture Performance measures Data collection and sharing Regional TSM&O projects Funding/resource sharing Regional forums for collaboration Congestion management systems Improving regional transportation system performance

4/18/05 15 Successful Linkages Means… Operations data archived for transportation planning Long-range transportation plan reflects regional operations Planning analysis tools evaluate operations projects Traffic engineering agencies deliberately share information about traffic conditions with the planning agency A group is established to continuously collaborate, plan, and advance regional TSM&O activities e.g., signal coordination. Maintain and sustain for the long-term

4/18/05 16 Where Are We Headed? “A Cultural Shift” Local Transportation Planning and Investment Decision- making Local Jurisdictions Transportation Operations and Maintenance Representation and awareness State Transportation Planning and Investment Decision- making State DOT Regional Transportation Planning and Investment Decision- making Linkage Regional Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations “O&M”

4/18/05 17 New services -- not new roads “Looking forward to the next 100 years, the focus is not construction, maintenance and operations. It's operations, maintenance and construction.” Virginia Transportation Commissioner Philip A. Shucet “Build a road when you have to. Make sure you've tried everything else.” Virginia State Senator Marty Williams Daily Press (Hampton Roads, VA)

4/18/05 18 Success Story: The Washington State Traffic Incident Response Team A coalition transportation, police, fire and emergency response agencies. Collaboration is continuous to develop and improve response planning Plan addresses detection, response, investigation, re- routing traffic, and clearance. Most major traffic incidents are cleared in less than 2 hours

4/18/05 19 Success Story: The Southeast Michigan Snow and Ice Management (SEMSIM) Partnership Four jurisdictions work together on winter road maintenance Collaboration facilitates information and resource sharing Decisions are made locally Common purchasing Standard use of ITS Jurisdictions save money

4/18/05 20 What’s In It For The Region? Some Tangible Benefits Facilitation of information and data sharing Technology upgrades and compatibility Savings in procurement Faster response time Extended hours of service/operation Expanded service area coverage New funding opportunities Coordinated operations

4/18/05 21 Opportunities to Build Success A traffic incident management committee A regional traffic signal coordination task force A CMS coordinating group A regional ITS architecture committee An emergency response coordinating group A regional traveler information working group A work zone traffic management team Involves operations managers and planners from State, transit, local agencies, and MPO

4/18/05 22 The “Cultural Shift” – Making It Happen! Build on current collaborative activities that are occurring in the region Leverage opportunities available through existing efforts Exploit opportunities to link planning and operations Develop a regional concept for transportation operations

4/18/05 23 Essential Themes Regional perspective builds relationships for the future Focus on “making the systems work better” not just on reacting to problems Holistic thinking – bring operations thinking into the regional planning process Sustain and build upon existing regional partnerships that may cross jurisdictional, functional, and public/private sector boundaries

4/18/05 24 For More Information: Contacts FHWA’s Joint Operations and Planning Program:    FHWA Resource Center: Planning & Operations Technical Service Team    

4/18/05 25 Useful Publications “Getting More By Working Together – Opportunities for Linking Planning and Operations” “Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration and Coordination – A Primer for Working Together to Improve Transportation Safety, Reliability, and Security” E-Copy available at:   Hard copy available upon request from FHWA

4/18/05 26 Workshops and Training “Advancing Transportation System Management and Operations” Executive session available now 1-day NHI course available in April 2005