Emergency Transportation Operations
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Major Program Initiatives

About > Major Program Initiatives
  • Traffic Incident Management Self Assessment - The purpose of the Traffic Incident Management Self Assessment (TIM SA) is to provide a formal process for State and local transportation, public safety and private sector partners to enable the to assess their traffic incident management programs and identify opportunities for improvement collaboratively.
  • Traffic Incident Management Performance Measures - Evaluation metrics provide the necessary feedback to traffic incident management responders to allow them to improve performance. Equally important, they provide decision makers with the data to demonstrate the value of traffic incident management activities and justify their related expenditures.
  • Quick Clearance - Quick Clearance Policies are high-level commitments among agencies that recognize that quick clearance of traffic incidents is a matter of urgency for reasons of public safety, mobility, economy and the environment. Quick Clearance Laws, designed to protect the safety of motorists and responders who operate on the highways, have proven to be effective tools in reducing congestion and enhancing public safety.
  • Incident Command System - The Incident Command System (ICS), long familiar to public safety responders, is the heart of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) required by the Department of Homeland Security for the management of all hazards. ICS provides the framework for command, control, and coordination of resources at the scene of the emergency. An objective-based system, it emphasizes common terminology, integrated communications systems, and comprehensive resource management.
  • Integrated Communications - Careful planning for incident response will not achieve the desired results if communication among agencies, responders, and the public does not occur. Communication, and the technology to facilitate it, is a critical part of traffic incident management.
  • Planned Special Events Traffic Management - Planned special events cause congestion and unexpected delays to travelers by increasing traffic demand or reducing roadway capacity (e.g., street closures for parades). These delays are unlike congestion caused by routine traffic during daily peak travel periods. The frequency and severity of these delays resulting from these disruptions are increasing significantly in both metropolitan and rural areas.

Now Available

  • Traffic Incident Management Systems Report - The U.S. Fire Administration and the US DOT developed this report working in partnership with the International Fire Service Training Association. This report provides technical guidance and training programs in traffic management for fire and emergency service providers.
  • The "Simplified Guide to the Incident Command System for Transportation Professionals" (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-06-004) is now available electronically (HTML, PDF 2.2MB). This document describes the Incident Command System (ICS) in the context of its application to highway incidents and also discusses the broader relationship to the National Incident Management System (NIMS). To obtain copies of other documents relating to Traffic Incident Management (TIM), please refer to the TIM Publications web page.

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