1. Regional Operations Forum Setting the Stage
Accelerating solutions for highway safety, renewal, reliability, and capacity
Regional Operations Forum
Setting the Stage

2. The Promise of Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSM&O)
“We promise travelers and shippers that we will manage traffic and incidents as well as provide timely and accurate travel information so that they can make informed decisions to minimize their unexpected delay and improve the safety of their travel.”

3. When We Talk About TSM&O….
Many hear “system operations” and think we are referring to just the traffic management center and the field equipment that it monitors and controls. That is definitely a key part of TSMO, but TSMO is much bigger.

4. Transportation System Management & Operations
TSMO includes those activities that you, your agency and your partners do
To respond to events and impacts on the transportation network — like major incidents, weather events, large scale planned events, and work zones…. And it also includes the tools, systems and the partners that are critical to those strategies.

5. Transportation System Management & Operations
TSMO also refers to the traffic management and operations that we do on a day-to-day basis, including the systems, tools and partnerships

6. Supporting Better TSM&O
System maintenance
Partnerships
Training and capacity building
Project planning
Internal/external coordination
There are a lot of aspects to TSMO that might not be readily apparent, but are critical to improved system operations and management.
How we maintain the tools and systems we use for operations
The partnerships we have (formal as well as informal)
Whether or not we are providing the right level of training and skill-set building
How agencies plan and program projects, and where TSMO is in that process
And how we coordinate — internally, externally, and with the traveling public
These are all aspects that need to be considered when we are talking about the overarching needs of an effective TSM&O program.

7. The challenge: Working within legacy context
Feature
Legacy organization
TSM&O
Mission Alignment
Conventional CE culture/missions
New, competes with legacy
Performance Accountably
On time, budget, standards
System performance in customer terms
Focus
Project schedule in months
Real-time response (24 x 7)
Core Competencies
Defined via tradition, training
Not well-defined, limited schooling
Unit Organization
By stages in project
By requirements of ConOps
Responsibility/
Authority
Clear
Often forced into legacy -silo champion - dependent
Partnerships
Contracted – based on State standards
Collaboration among independent entities
 SMO is relatively new
The Legacy organization is built around legacy mission Highway planning/engineering/construction/Planning/preliminary engineering/environmental clearance/PSE/Final design/Constructions/oversight
It is useful to recognize key differences from the legacy programs because they are what generates many of the key organizational issues
Can you think of other key differences?
Ask for volunteers

8. TSM&O must respond to both “office” and “real-time” functions
Key:
Some TSM&O functions are similar to those supporting the other agency missions related to infrastructure improvement and maintenance — planning, programming, project development, etc
They take place in the office, 9 to 5, are well understood technical specialties
Other TSM&O functions take place in real time (at least certain aspects):
24x7
In the field
Reactive to situation monitoring
In relationship to other non-DOT players
Dependent on performance measurement of some kind to have any idea of how well you are doing
Real time activities make special demands on organization in terms of 24x7 staffing, authority, collaboration

9. Regional Operations Forums: The Genesis
Product of the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2)
Targeted, short-term research program authorized by Congress
Strategic focus area on congestion reduction through improved travel time reliability
Two main objectives
Strengthen TSM&O practice by disseminating TSM&O knowledge including SHRP 2 Reliability program products
Develop a community of practice by creating a network of a large number of practitioners
Curriculum development and five pilot sessions

10. A Preview of the Week

11. Agenda Philosophy Balance Both soft and hard topics
Learn from each other
Sessions designed to foster discussion
Group sessions to apply what you’ve learned
Evolve
From planning orientation to bread and butter strategies to more advanced strategies
Network
Seating arrangements, breaks, meals, free time

12. How We Hope You’ll Benefit
Understand the importance and value of a management and operational focus within your agency
Know how to plan, program and organize for systems management & operations
More effectively use a management and operations perspective in identifying and implementing cost effective solutions
Measure the performance of the operations of your transportation network
Work with a peer network to share ideas/information, learn from the activities of others, and work together more effectively
Apply the results of the SHRP 2 Reliability research and other nationwide systems management and operations efforts