Communicating TSMO
Strong leadership support, and collaboration among a range of partners, can help agencies effectively deploy Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO). TSMO typically involves integrating a range of strategies, technologies, data, and partnerships, and a mindset to determine the best way to optimize the mobility and reliability of the existing system with limited resources. This approach integrates TSMO throughout agency processes and includes involvement from other units such as planning and design and other programs such as safety and construction. It also engages external partners such as metropolitan planning organizations, local agencies, and incident responders.
Effective ongoing communication about TSMO can help operations champions and staff gain leadership support, and increase buy-in and collaboration with other units and programs within the DOT and with external partners. TSMO communication and outreach can also increase support from legislators and the public.
Communication about TSMO may include:
- Explaining what TSMO is and its benefits
- Making the business case for TSMO solutions
- Explaining how TSMO can support agency goals and good stewardship of public resources
- Highlighting the benefits and impact of operations on the broader organization
- Establishing linkages to the efforts of other DOT units and partners
- Sharing TSMO success stories
Links to performance monitoring and management can also be useful to gaining leadership and decision-maker support, as well as that of partners.
OTHER RESOURCES
- Business Case Primer: Communicating the Value of TSMO: Tips for developing compelling and effective messaging about why TSMO is an important part of any DOT's mission.
- CEO Briefing Book on Effective Operations Improvement Strategies (HTML, PDF 1.7 MB): Project success stories from the implementation of operational improvements for a range of state and regional contexts across the United States.
- Does Travel Time Reliability Matter? Outreach material dedicated to communicating the importance of travel time reliability and TSMO to a non-technical audience.
- Mainstreaming TSMO: An article from FHWA's Public Roads magazine that highlights how State DOTs are building effective TSMO programs with the support of SHRP2 products.
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Organizing for TSMO Peer Exchange (HTML, PDF 1.8MB): Report from 2020 FHWA peer exchange where TSMO leaders from 15 organizations shared their agencies' experiences in advancing TSMO programs. The event included four focused sessions: organizational improvements, collaboration and partnerships, making the business case and branding for TSMO, and priority issues for further exploration.
Presentation Materials: Presentations geared toward chief executive officers (CEOs) and senior managers of State DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) about the value of mainstreaming TSMO as a core mission, business practice, and investment priority in their organizations and regionally.
- TSMO in Action (HTML, PDF 2MB): Overview of TSMO strategies through recent deployments showing how TSMO can help with freeway and arterial management, traffic incidents, road weather conditions, planned special events, and others.
- Examples:
- Case Study: Changing the Culture Towards TSMO in State Departments of Transportation (HTML, PDF 1.9MB)
- Michigan DOT TSMO website: Provides 5 business cases for TSMO tailored to different audiences
- Minnesota DOT TSMO Strategic Plan: Makes the case for TSMO in Minnesota and describes their TSMO goals and objectives
- Ohio DOT TSMO website: Includes a video explaining TSMO and case studies
- Pennsylvania DOT Strategic Framework for TSMO: Includes sections on what is TSMO and why TSMO
- Texas DOT TSMO Overview Flyer
- Texas DOT TSMO Frequently Asked Questions
- Washington State DOT TSMO website: Explains its TSMO approach and specific TSMO strategies and concepts
- Why Signal Retiming: Green Light Lincoln Program and Metroplan Orlando Corridor Retiming Factsheet
- Videos
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - TSMO Overview with New Hampshire DOT (2022)
- Georgia DOT Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program (CHAMP) – overview (2017), first year (2018)
- Iowa DOT - TSMO (2016)
- Iowa DOT - Traffic Management Center (2018)
- FHWA – Does Travel Time Reliability Matter? (2020)
- FHWA - Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) (2020)
- FHWA – Active Transportation and Demand Management (2014)
- Illinois Tollway - SmartRoad on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (2017)
- New Hampshire DOT - TSMO and Traffic Incident Management (TIM) (2018)
- New Jersey DOT - TSMO and TIM
- Nevada DOT - Freeway Service Patrol (2018)
- Ohio DOT - What is TSMO?
- Tennessee DOT - TSMO (2018)
- Virginia DOT - Transportation Operation Center (2018)
- Washington State DOT – TSMO Implementation in Washington State (2020)
