Current Program Activities Report
July 2017
This report has been updated and summarizes recent activity of selected programs within the Office of Operations. The revisions reflect program titles that are consistent throughout the Office of Operations. For additional information about these or other activities, contact the program manager noted in each section. In addition, more information may be available on the Office of Operations' Web site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov. This report will be updated semi-annually.
A listing of the Office of Operations' publications is listed at: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publications.htm.Table of Contents
Programs
- Accelerating Implementation of Operations & ITS Technologies and Strategies Deployment
- Active Transportation and Demand Management
- Arterial Management / Traffic Signal Operations
- Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight
- Congestion Pricing
- Freight Data and Analysis
- Freight Infrastructure
- Freight Operations and Technology
- Freight Professional Development
- Operations and Freight Performance Measurement and Management
- Organizing and Planning for Operations
- Real-Time Transportation Information
- Road Weather Management
- Traffic Analysis Tools
- Traffic Control (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
- Traffic Incident and Events Management
- Work Zone Management
Office of Operations Program Activities Report
Accelerating Implementation of Operations & ITS Technologies and Strategies Deployment
- Facilitating Integrated ITS Deployment Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/int_its_deployment
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
ITS Standards Verification — FHWA is working with the Joint Program Office to upgrade the Center-to-center (C2C) ITS Standards Reference Implementation (RI) to include the Device Emulation and 1201(Real-Time Systems Management Information Program) Reporting capability. The RI is a tool used to verify that a deployed system is conformant to the ITS C2C Traffic Management Data Dictionary Standard Version 3.0 (TMDDv3) Standard. |
April 2017 |
Software / Technical Resource |
|
Connected Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Deployment Guidance — V2I efforts are the main thrust of the Office of Operations Connected Vehicle involvement. The current initiative is to develop and distribute deployment guidance for State and local jurisdictions. An additional initiative is to supply technical support tools and products. Once available these will be used in education and outreach efforts. |
Ongoing |
Guidance Document and technical support packages |
|
V2I Deployment Guidance & Products — A "living" document that will provide lessons learned and guidance to public agencies that elect to deploy V2I technologies. The document will include references to associated products and will be updated periodically to reflect the most current information. |
Early 2016 |
Publication |
|
V2I Deployment Coalition — A V2I Deployment Coalition was established to foster broader stakeholder participation from system owners/ operators, public safety groups, professional associations, equipment manufactures, and academia; coordinate the current and upcoming Connected Vehicle deployment programs and initiatives; and disseminate educational and advisory information. HOP facilitates, supports, and participates in Coalition meetings and activities. |
Ongoing |
Facilitation and Support |
Active Transportation and Demand Management
- Active Transportation and Demand Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/atdm/index.htm
- Corridor Traffic Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/program_areas/corridor_traffic_mgmt.htm
- Freeway Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/index.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) Trajectory Level Validation — Develop a methodology for enabling detailed trajectory level simulation tool validation. Develop a computational engine that allows the methodology to be demonstrated, and demonstrate the methodology in a Proof of Concept application. |
May 2016 |
Publication — Guidance Training |
|
Active Traffic Management (ATM) Implementation and Operations Guide — Develop a Guide and accompanying brochure on implementing and operating ATM systems, and deliver a national webinar. |
September 2017 |
Publication — Guidance Training |
|
Linking Traffic Management and Travel Demand Management Description — This project will showcase innovative and successful examples of traffic management and travel demand management approaches being coupled to support planned and unplanned events and other real-time situations. The project will also leverage the Traffic Management Capability Maturity Framework and Travel Demand Management Desk Reference to develop a Self-Assessment framework for Traffic – Travel Demand Management integration in a region. |
September 2019 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Subject/Project: Dynamic Shoulder Use Triggers — Dynamic shoulder use (DSU) enables shoulders to be open for travel beyond fixed (or static) time periods (e.g., weekday peak periods). Dynamic shoulders could be opened based on prevailing and predicted conditions to accommodate special events, seasonal activities, incidents, or other events that trigger heavy congestion. This project will continue to support FHWA in providing guidance to agencies in implementing part-time shoulder use by providing a synthesis of current practices and developing a high-level decision support matrix, look-up table, or process that agencies can use to make dynamic shoulder use decisions and to share the results through conferences and webinars. |
September 2019 |
Publication — Guidance, Workshops |
|
Advanced Parking Pricing and Management — Help cities throughout the country learn from the successful SFpark Urban Partnership Project that uses demand-based pricing of on-street and municipal parking to eliminate the need to circle for parking (which is estimated to be responsible for 30 percent of city congestion). This three-phase project includes: (1) the creation of "Contemporary Approaches to Parking Pricing: A Primer;" (2) the development of technical specifications and documentation, along with lessons learned, of the strategies used to implement SFpark; and (3) conducting of regional workshops by FHWA focused on lessons learned and their applicability to specific local challenges. Products associated with Phases 1 and 2 are being shared with parking managers interested in applying demand-based parking pricing strategies in their own cities, with outreach focused on members of the International Parking Institute, and through FHWA's Phase 3 workshops. | Phase 1, completed 2012; Phase 2, completed 2014; Phase 3 had 9 of a total of 11 workshops completed in 2015, with the remaining 2 work-shops to be completed by June 2016. |
Publication — Guidance Training |
|
Development of a Guide on Part-time Shoulder Use and Share Results — Present best practices and guidance for agencies in planning, evaluating, designing, operating, and maintaining part-time freeway shoulder use projects. The guide is part of a larger effort under Performance-Based Practical Design for TSMO that resulted in primers, case studies, and workshops. Part-time shoulder Use workshops and technical assistance are continuing. |
May 2017 |
Publication - Technical |
|
Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Stakeholder Workshops — Workshops will be held to advance the research, deployment, and evaluation of ICM. Topics – Concept of Operations; Requirements; Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation; and Evaluation. |
Ongoing. Workshops are as requested |
Workshop |
|
Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Evaluation of Demonstration Projects — ICM deployments in Dallas, Texas and San Diego, California. Schedule: Evaluation |
FY2017 winding down |
Research and Guidance |
|
Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Evaluation of Demonstration Projects — Comprehensive evaluation of ICM deployments in Dallas, Texas and San Diego, California. |
FY2017 winding down |
Research and Guidance |
|
Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) — Knowledge technology transfer of AMS necessary to implement ICM. |
Ongoing. As requested |
Research, Guidance and Workshops |
|
Integrated Corridor Management Planning (associated with Planning for Operations program) — Knowledge technology transfer necessary to plan for (e.g., vision) future ICM corridors. |
Ongoing |
Publication — Technical |
|
Integrated Corridor Management – ICM Grants — Oversight of award of grant money to 13 ICM sites for pre-implementation of activities. |
FY2016 grants are expected to run for 2 years. |
Oversight |
|
Transportation Management Center Pooled Fund Study — The goal of the Transportation Management Center (TMC) Pooled-Fund Study (PFS) (SPR-2(207)) is to assemble regional, local, and State transportation management agencies and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to (1) identify human-centered and operational issues that are common among TMC operators and managers; (2) suggest approaches to addressing identified issues; (3) initiate and monitor projects intended to address identified issues; (4) provide guidance and recommendations and disseminate results; (5) provide leadership and coordinate with others with TMC interests; and (6) promote and facilitate technology transfer related to TMC issues nationally. |
Ongoing |
Publication — Technical |
|
High Occupancy Vehicle/Managed Use Lane Pooled Fund Study — Ongoing research program that is selected by the 10 participating states. Current research on:
|
Ongoing |
Publication — Technical |
Arterial Management / Traffic Signal Operations
- Arterial Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/arterial_mgmt
- Traffic Bottlenecks Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/bn/index.htm
- Access Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/access_mgmt/index.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) Systems Engineering Guidance and Support — The Every Day Counts (EDC) Initiative achieved the goal of mainstreaming the implementation of Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT). ASCT is a tool, when appropriately applied, enhances that capability of an agency to implement the strategy of coordinated traffic signal operation. The Model Systems Engineering guidance for ASCT provides a systematic process for aligning operational objectives, resource constraints and operational needs to guide the selection and procurement of ASCT. Several resources are available in addition to the Model Systems Engineering Guidance including training, technical assistance and peer-to-peer support. Visit the Arterial Management Web site for information on how to access these resources. |
Update Pending, (Spring 2016) |
Publication, Outreach, Training, Technical Assistance, Peer-to-Peer |
|
National Traffic Signal Management and Operations Curriculum — Four new National Highway Institute (NHI) courses are available. The courses focus on an objectives and performance based approach to traffic signal design, operation and maintenance. A framework of Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Tactics (GOST) is used to align operations activities with achievement of good basic service. The Courses include:
|
Available |
Training — classroom |
|
Regional Traffic Signal Program Review (Process Review) — The FHWA Resource Center Operations Technical Service Team has conducted Regional Traffic Signal Operations Reviews in over 20 metropolitan regions. The objective of the program is to improve regional consistency in traffic signal management across jurisdictional boundaries, leverage regional expertise to improve operations and maintenance practices, improve training, outreach and maximize resources. |
|
||
Model Systems Engineering Guide for Traffic Signal Systems — Provides a systematic approach to articulate operations objectives and needs to support the design, implementation and procurement of traffic signal systems. |
Pending Spring 2016 |
Publication — Technical |
|
Traffic Signal Management Plan Guidance — Traffic Signal Management Plans document the strategic alignment of traffic signal maintenance, design, and operations activities to support operations and maintenance budgets and capital planning. It provides step-by-step instructions for documenting current activities, relating them to the agency's goals and transportation objectives, to demonstrate how the activities of all staff involved support those objectives. |
Pending January 2016 |
Publication — Technical |
|
Traffic Signal Benchmarking and State of the Practice Report — The objective of this effort is to benchmark traffic signal infrastructure and to capture organizational and workforce trends, technology implementation, and current practices involved in traffic signal management, operation and maintenance. This effort is an extension of previous National Traffic Signal Report Cards completed in 2005, 2007 and 2011. |
Pending Fall 2016 |
Publication — Technical |
|
Localized Bottleneck Reduction Program Guidance — The purpose of the program is to bring attention to mitigating local, operationally influenced bottleneck locations; e.g., lane drops, merge areas, poorly functioning signals, ramp metering, and peak hour shoulder use. This program seeks to address these problem areas in the short term, and hopefully using less structurally-intensive means, as opposed to waiting for a more expensive mega project or corridor sized improvement. In short, this program is to local, spot improvements, as tolling and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are to corridors, and as urban partnerships are to regional solutions. In Fiscal Year 2013 we will continue to bring the message to the state agencies and Metropolitan Planning Organizations through our one-day Bottleneck "summits". |
Fiscal Year 2017 TO will be to publish V4 of guidance |
|
|
Access Management (AM) — Is no longer a fully developed program within the Office of Operations. However, we remain engaged at the national level through continued participation on national committees and panels, such as the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Access Management Committee, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program panels as they relate to this topic. |
Fiscal Year 2017 TO will be to update the NHI AM course |
|
Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight
- Truck Size and Weight Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study |
Publication — Technical |
||
Compilation of Existing State Truck Size and Weight Limit Laws |
Publication — Technical |
||
Special Permits During National Emergencies — Refer to Map-21 Addendum Section 1511 |
Ongoing |
Research & Guidance |
|
Pilot Car Escort Vehicle Driver Training and Certification — This document summarizes the results of extensive research, review, and analysis of existing pilot/ escort vehicle operator (P/EVO) training materials, laws and rules relevant to P/EVOs, and case studies and other information focused on the movement of oversize loads. Learning how to be a P/ EVO is similar to most other professions—individuals learn how to do the job primarily by doing it, but they must start with a basic understanding of how things work. The purpose of this document is to concisely present basic principles of pilot/escort operations. It is not possible to include detailed aspects of these operations, just as it is not possible to make highly specific laws and rules, not only because of the substantial differences among States with respect to pilot/escort operations, but also because of the seemingly infinite variety of oversize loads themselves. The outcome of this work will improve safety on the national highways as well contribute to infrastructure preservation (e.g. bridge damage avoidance). |
October 2016 |
Publications |
|
Best Practice in State Oversize/Overweight Permitting — This work will address the Government Accountability Office (GAO) final report, "Transportation Safety: Federal Highway Administration Should Conduct Research to Determine Best Practices in Permitting Oversize Vehicles," GA0-15-236. Activities will include a review on states' oversize- and overweight-permitting practices, including automated vehicle routing and escort driver certification, to identify areas of best practice and share the results with states. This will be a new start next quarter in CY2016. |
November 2017 |
Publication |
|
Virtual Weigh Station/e-Permitting, Universal Truck Identifier, WIM/NIST Handbook #44 Project and Damage Assessment Exchange — The Office of Operations has completed a number of research projects advancing the state-of-the-art in truck size and weight. The "Concept of Operations Plan" for the "Virtual Weigh Station/Electronic Permitting" (VWS/e-Permitting) project was completed in 2009. Several work products were produced in 2011 on this project: "Final Architecture for VWS/e-Permitting", a "Data Model", a "Best Practice Report" and a "Business Case for VWS/e-Permitting" were all completed this past year. A "Concept of Operations and Research Findings on Universal Electronic Truck Identifier Report" was completed in 2011. These two projects have been integrated into work being conducted under the Smart Roadside Project supported through DOT's ITS Strategic Research Program. Work continues on integrating Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) technology into NIST's Handbook #44, a project designed to support using mainline WIM devices for truck weight screening and enforcement decision support. The Work Group for the project was convened in 2011 and a Work Group Chairman elected. Language to be used in amending Handbook #44 is currently in development. It is anticipated that the amendment material will be completed and submitted to the national Conference on Weights and Measures for their Annual Meeting in July, 2013. The Pavement Damage Assessment Tool (PaveDAT) was completed in 2010. The tool was developed with technical support provided by pavement experts in FHWA's Office of Infrastructure and Turner Fairbank's Highway Research Center. Beta testing was completed by a few states and the Tool has recently been supported through on-site training. Strategies for deployment of PaveDAT are currently being developed. |
Ongoing |
Publication — Technical |
|
Emergency Route Working Group — In December 2015, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST) Act which provides long-term surface transportation funding was enacted. Section 5502 of the (FAST) Act requires the Department of Transportation to create an Emergency Route Working Group (ERWG). The purpose of the ERWG is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on best practices for expeditious State approval of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery. The Department is established the ERWG through the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), doing so enables us to consult with outside groups for advice in developing a report on best practices and will ensure Congress and the general public remain informed of the purpose, membership, and activities of the advisory group. |
Ongoing |
Advisory Committee |
Congestion Pricing
- Congestion Pricing Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/congestionpricing/index.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Demand Based Pricing — Mainstream demand based pricing and expand public acceptance of demand based pricing. Identify the metropolitan areas (top 30 metro areas in annual congestion) that have no demand-based pricing projects and target them for outreach from FHWA Division Offices to find out who is considering but has not implemented so they can be offered marketing assistance. |
Angela Fogle (Jacobs) |
Ongoing |
Outreach, technical assistance and host deliberative forums |
Congestion Pricing Workshops — Staff has completed two of three congestion pricing workshops. |
Angela Fogle (Jacobs) |
Ongoing |
Complete by 2017 |
Pay-as-you-drive Insurance (PAYD) — The Brookings Institution estimates that this important strategy would spur an 8 percent voluntary reduction in driving, yielding $50-60 billion in net social benefits. This effort will support researchers and practitioners with knowledge in actuarial and driver behavior research in the development of pricing models to offer such insurance. A company that improves the fit of its pricing models (defined by how well prices match actual risks for payout of claims) can offer more competitive rates that vary substantially based on mileage and can also bolster its profitability. The products developed from this effort will not only help companies' price PAYD insurance, but they will also provide the needed analytical support to facilitate State regulatory approval of such insurance. |
2016 |
Publication |
Freight Data and Analysis
- Analysis, Data, and System Performance Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) — Initial products based on version 4 of the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF4) are now available. FAF4 utilizes data from the 2012 Commodity Flow Survey and other sources. FAF4 maps have not yet been released. Comprehensive data sets and maps for FAF3.4, based on the 2007 Commodity Flow Survey, are available. Data available includes estimates of freight tonnage and value by commodity type, mode, origin, and destination for 2007, 2009, and 2015–2040 in 5 year increments. Maps available include national, State, and regional freight maps, including highway-based freight flows for 2007 and estimates for 2040. Work is being completed on an assessment of data quality for national estimates, evaluate models used to disaggregate regional flows to smaller geography, evaluating network assignment techniques, and establishing error estimates for FAF3 regional and network databases. |
Ongoing |
Publication — Technical |
|
Freight & Economics — Training being developed to provide information on the links between freight transportation and the economy and freight transportation cost/benefit analysis. |
Ongoing |
![]() |
|
Freight Quick Facts Report — The Freight Quick Facts Report provides basic information that answers a wide range of freight-related questions, particularly about how the sector is rapidly evolving. For example, the economic recession of 2008 precipitated declines in freight modes used to move consumer goods, although several markets rebounded strongly. The changing energy landscape of the country—from increasing domestic production and declining coal consumption—will continue driving changes in freight demand into the future, particularly for railroads and pipelines. The evolving nature of globalization and trade is reshaping the geography of shipments, placing increased importance on border crossings and gateway infrastructure. These and many other changes to the structure of the economy are happening at the same time that the technology and best practices for moving freight are improving, leading to more efficient, responsive, and sustainable supply chains. |
June 2016 |
![]() |
|
Situational Awareness Briefs — Quarterly Freight Situational Awareness Briefs on emergent freight topics as publications that can assist State, regional and local government officials understanding of freight and goods movement in the US. The briefs will provide concise timely and relevant information and analysis to public sector transportation officials. Two briefs have been published to date: Unanticipated Surges in Freight Movements; and Omni-Channel Retailing. |
June 2017 |
![]() |
Freight Infrastructure
- Freight Infrastructure Web Site:
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/infrastructure/
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
State Freight Advisory Committees |
![]() |
Publication — Guidance |
|
State Freight Plans |
![]() |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Prioritization of Projects to Improve Freight Movement — Refer to MAP-21 Addendum Section 1116 |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Projects of National and Regional Significance — Refer to MAP-21 Addendum Section 1120 |
Ongoing |
![]() |
|
Freight Intermodal Connectors Study — The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition and performance of the nation's freight intermodal connectors. This approach extracts connector data from Federal, State, and local sources to understand the operations of freight connectors relative to the broader freight transportation system. It also includes 18 case studies to perform a deep-dive into planning, stakeholder, and funding elements that are specific to freight intermodal connectors. The results of the study are used to estimate the additional operating costs associated with using freight intermodal connectors due to current pavement and bottleneck conditions. |
Phase 1 Completed April 2017 Phase 2 - Summer 2017 |
Publication |
|
TIGER Discretionary Grant Program — The TIGER Discretionary Grant program provides funding for surface transportation infrastructure via a competitive process. Since 2009, the Secretary of Transportation has awarded nearly $5.1 billion to 421 TIGER projects in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam, including 134 projects to support rural and tribal communities. FHWA is currently administering 215 highway-related projects totaling approximately $2.5 Billion. Information is available at: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/infrastructure/tiger/ -or- www.transportation.gov/tiger. | Ongoing |
![]() |
Freight Operations and Technology
- Technology and Operations Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/technology/
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Border Technology — Over the past ten years FHWA has undertaken several research initiatives aimed at measuring border travel times, border wait time and delay times at major U.S. land border crossings. The focus of this initiative is for the 20 crossings identified in the Beyond the Border action plan between the U.S. and Canada. FHWA is currently leading a research effort that includes three deployments of technology to measure border wait time and delay at selected border crossings. The work will also include a national effort to synthesize the information the three deployments and develop strategies to accomplish widespread implementation and deployment of technology to support the need for accurate and timely border wait time and delay information. |
Tiffany Julien | Ongoing | Partnership / Coalition |
United States/European Commission (EC) Twinning Projects - Innovative Solutions for Improving Freight Movement in Urban Areas — In 2014, USDOT and EC entered into an agreement to initiate a joint research, development, and technology arrangement focused on urban freight. This agreement is intended to facilitate the exchange of information on topics of mutual interest over a three-year period. Unlike other twinning projects that issue joint calls for proposals, the European and American partners are funding their respective research projects independently. The twinning arrangement formally encompasses seven research projects (three U.S. and four European), but information on more than 30 different urban freight projects or initiatives has been shared to date as part of this effort. This initiative has included three internal urban freight roundtables, development of noteworthy practices, panel presentations, webinars, project compendium, and Europe urban freight project site visit. The compendium shares roughly 30 urban freight projects, approximately 20 percent involve entities in the UK, 25 percent involve other European countries, and 70 percent are American. Some of the European projects have locations in both the UK and other European countries. |
Tamiko Burnell | Ongoing | Research |
Off Hours Delivery Pilot Project — FHWA in partnership with the EPA are researching and demonstrating the efficacy of implementing off-hours goods movement and delivery programs in small to medium size urban areas with emerging or growing congestion problems. Moving trucks to off hours is seen as a cost-efficient method of reducing congestion, improving freight flows, and has positive impacts on air quality, environmental justice, sustainability and livability of a city or urban area. FHWA is making grants to cities or regions to implement pilot projects, and is developing basic decision support tools and publications for entities interested in implementing a similar program. |
Tamiko Burnell | On-going | Technical Resource |
Jason's Law Truck Parking Study and National Trucking Parking Coalition — The purpose of Section 1401 of MAP-21, more popularly known as "Jason's Law," was to address the commercial motor vehicle parking shortage at public and private facilities along the National Highway System (NHS). Jason's Law directed the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a survey and a comparative assessment to:
Truck parking problems are a national safety concern. Studies have documented projected growth of truck traffic on the nation's highway system, severe truck parking problems in some regions, a lack of adequate information for truck drivers about parking capacity at existing facilities, and the challenges associated with routing and delivery requirements. With an interest in continuing the dialogue on national truck parking needs beyond the Jason's Law work, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has formed a coalition of stakeholder organizations to help resolve truck parking problems. The four regional meetings will bring together members of the coalition to identify strategies and approaches that address the parking needs of interstate truckers. |
Tiffany Julien | Complete | Publication and Partnership |
Freight Professional Development (FPD)
- Freight Professional Development Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Freight Peer-to-Peer Program and Professional Capacity Building — The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Program is part of the ongoing Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Freight Professional Development (FPD) Program. The program enables State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and local governments to better address freight transportation issues within their jurisdictions. Freight Professional Capacity Building and P2P facilitates information sharing between public sector freight transportation professionals and provides technical assistance on an as-needed basis. By providing an opportunity for public sector staff and leaders to learn from their peers, the P2P Program identifies and expands State and regional noteworthy practices in the freight transportation field and builds relationships, understanding, and cooperation among key stakeholders. Peer exchanges can take the format of meetings, roundtables, and workshops that are designed to accomplish a particular task or effort such as developing a State freight plan, creating a MPO or State freight advisory committee, developing an approach to implementing the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP), implementing improvements in the State truck size and weight program of enforcement, etc. The professional capacity building part of the program includes communication and development of educational and professional development materials/events; educational webinars; research and documentation of noteworthy practices; communication of tools and technical assistance resources; and dissemination of information to promote freight transportation planning and project implementation products and services. |
Ongoing |
Publication — Education |
|
Engaging the Private Sector in Freight Planning — This one-day workshop has been revised with updated content and case study examples and focuses on developing and sustaining relationships, either formally or informally, with key private-sector stakeholders. It reviews strategies and techniques to initiate private-public sector cooperation, identifies key private-sector stakeholders, and suggests ways to improve and sustain communication. Successful approaches employed at several State DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are discussed. Target Audience Staff from State DOTs, MPOs, local jurisdictions, and economic development agencies. By the end of training, participants will be able to:
|
Ongoing |
Training — Classroom |
|
Freight and Land Use Handbook and Workshop — This handbook and workshop provide public and private-sector stakeholders with the tools and resources to assess the impacts of land use decisions on freight movement, and the impacts of freight development and growth on land use planning goals. |
Ongoing |
Publication — Technical |
|
Talking Freight — These monthly seminars provide a convenient and no-cost way for transportation professionals to learn about the latest trends, issues, tools, and noteworthy practices in freight transportation. Through the use of Web conferencing, participants can view the speaker's presentation on their personal computer and hear the audio portion of the presentation by dialing into the assigned teleconference number. Visit the Talking Freight Web site at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm to register for a seminar, get details about upcoming topics, or listen to past seminars. |
Ongoing |
Webinar — External |
Operations and Freight Performance Measurement and Management
- Operations Performance Measurement Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/perf_measurement
- Freight Performance Measurement Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/perform_meas/index.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Freight Performance Measures — The National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) is a vehicle probe-based travel time data set acquired by the FHWA to support its Freight Performance Measures (FPM) and Urban Congestion Report (UCR) programs. The NPMRDS consists of average travel times on the National Highway System (NHS) and on the five-mile radius of arterials at border crossings. This data is also made available to States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to use for their performance management activities under the Transportation Performance Management requirements of MAP-21. This data is used by the Office of Freight Management and Operations for measuring the impacts of freight transportation improvements on the economy, freight performance measures for bottlenecks, border crossing delay, travel time in freight significant corridors, and the freight efficiency index. More information can be found at: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/perform_meas/index.htm |
Ongoing |
Software or Other Technical Resource |
|
Quarterly Urban Congestion Reporting — The Office of Transportation Management uses the National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) to develop performance measures for the 52 largest urban areas in the US. The report is available quarterly and provides congestion trend data for FHWA Leadership and the public. A congestion trends report is developed each year that explains congestion trends for that year. The 2016 Urban Congestion Trends report was available in May 2017. |
Ongoing |
Publication |
Organizing and Planning for Operations
- Planning for Operations Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/plan4ops/index.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Benefit Cost for Management and Tool for Operations Benefit/Cost (TOPS-BC) Decision Support Tool, Desk Reference, and Workshops — This is a long term project to develop and support better sketch planning level decision support tools allowing users to research and conduct high level benefit-cost (BC) analysis. The tool, supported by the desk reference and workshops provide a comprehensive approach to improving the skills of State, regional, and local agencies to conduct benefit-cost analyses for management and operations projects. |
Ongoing |
Software, Desk Reference, Info Briefs, and Workshops |
|
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Business Process Capability Maturity Frameworks (CMF) — Six Operations functional area self-assessment frameworks, tools, and outreach opportunities are available to help agencies and regions advance their operations programs. CMF's are available for Traffic Management, Traffic Signal Management, Special Event Management, Traffic Incident Management, Work Zone Management and Road Weather Management that builds upon the AASHTO Operations Capability Model and Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) L06 results. |
On-going |
Framework Tools and Workshops |
|
Sketch Tools to Support Planning for Operations — This project will update sketch planning methods to estimate the impacts of operational and demand strategies for planning and operations. Sketch planning methods will span data, scenario tools, and working with model outputs. The outcomes of the project will leverage data in the NPMRDS to support performance-based assessments of operating conditions and improvements. The second phase will develop methods to empirically measure a full range of baseline operating conditions, measure conditions following the implementation of operational improvement strategies, and impute the benefits of such strategies and actions in other settings. |
September 2017 |
Guidance documents and workshops |
|
Planning for Operations Workshops that Incorporate Travel Time Reliability — This project will conduct a series of workshops to reflect new methods, emerging practices, and align the material with Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Reliability Data Analysis Tools. |
September 2019 |
Workshops |
|
Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Organizing for Reliability — SHRP2 Organizing for reliability involves a suite of SHRP2 products that provide an approach for State and local agencies to develop a more effective and sustained operations programs. Using a facilitated workshop setting, the process brings together key State DOT staff, external partners and stakeholders to conduct a self-assessment of current and desired capabilities for:
The self-assessment process compares the current agency approach against a maturity scale and a set of manageable incremental benchmarks for improvement as evidenced by current best practice from around the country. At the conclusion of the exercise, several potential short term and long term strategies can be developed through more targeted and robust discussions to develop an implementation plan with specific actionable steps, priorities and timelines. |
Ongoing |
Workshop, Technical Assistance |
|
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Summits — Modeled after the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Regional Operations Forum, TSMO Summits provide State and local agencies with an opportunity to collaborate on key issues to advance TSMO in either a 1,2, or 3-day workshop setting. |
September 2017 |
Workshop |
|
Applying the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) to Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Deployment — The CMM model will be used to provide State and local agencies with a framework to help ensure they are organizationally equipped for V2I deployment. |
December 2017 |
Document |
|
Making the Business Case for Organization Change for Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) — This publication will assist State and local agencies to make the business case for investing the resources need to advance in the CMM levels for each dimension. |
August 2019 |
Document |
|
Organizing for Reliability Case Studies — Based on the findings from the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Organizing for Reliability Initiative, there are several best practices that this task will capture in order to assist State and local agencies in their efforts to advance Transportation Systems Management and Operations. |
September 2018 |
Documents |
|
Concept of Reliability — This publication will provide material for the non-technical audience to understand travel time reliability as well as its significance and impact to the transportation system. |
October 2018 |
Document |
|
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Primers. (1) Smart Cities and (2) Use of Incentives to Influence Travel Choices — This project will develop two primers: one that highlights the role of TSMO in supporting Smart Cities / Connected Citizens and another primer on incentives that will include a compendium of examples in the use of financial and non-financial levers, drawing on behavioral economics, to influence traveler's route, mode, and time of departure. |
May 2018 |
Publications |
|
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Peer to Peer Program — This project serves as a resource to enable practitioners or other experts to travel to visit with peers in other locations to share lessons learned and best practices. |
Sept. 2018 |
Outreach |
|
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Program Plan Primer and Workshops — A guide will be developed to outline a recommended approach for States and local agencies to formally mainstream TSMO plans, processes, and tactics through the development and use of a TSMO Program Plan. Workshops and webinars will follow the development of the primer. |
March 2018 |
Publication, Workshops |
|
Shared Use Mobility Global Benchmarking Study — Conduct a desk review, site visits to Europe, and virtual peer exchanges to identify successful practices and partnerships to advance shared use mobility and to integrate shared use mobility with legacy public transportation operations. |
July 2018 |
Publication, Outreach |
Real-Time Transportation Information
- Real-Time Traveler Information Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/travelinfo
- 511 Travel Information Telephone Services Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/511/index.htm
- Real-Time System Management Information Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/1201/index.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) / 511 Guidance, Lessons Learned and Technical Assistance |
Ongoing |
Outreach Program |
|
Real-Time System Management Information Program — SAFETEA-LU Section 1201 requires Real-Time System Management Information Program in all States; Final Rule in November 2010 codified requirements as 23 CFR Part 511; compliance on all Interstates by November 2014 and on all State-selected routes-of-significance in major metro areas by November 2016; more information on web site at: ops.fhwa.dot.gov/1201. |
November 2016 |
Policy / Regulatory Action |
|
Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs — Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) are one of the tools used by Transportation Management Centers (TMC) to inform motorists of any incidents that occurs on the highways. To this date, 50 of the top 52 metropolitan areas have displayed travel time messages on their DMS during non-incident periods. Because motorists enjoy seeing travel times on these signs, TMCs are starting to display this information more frequently, and many more are planning to implement this program. FHWA encourages all TMCs to post travel time messages on DMS during non-incident periods. Information on guidance, action memorandums and best practices on the topic of "Travel Time Messages on Dynamic Message Signs" are available at ops.fhwa.dot.gov/travelinfo. |
Ongoing |
Outreach Program |
Road Weather Management
- Road Weather Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Every Day Counts (EDC)-4 – Weather-Savvy Roads — Two Road Weather Management strategies are undergoing active deployment under the EDC program: Pathfinder and Integrating Mobile Observations (IMO):
|
December 2018 |
Software or other technical Resource Publication — Technical |
|
Benefit/Cost Analysis (BCA) of Road Weather Management — The Compendium of Road Weather Management (RWM) Benefit-Cost Analysis has been updated to include 10 additional case studies, for a total of 26 RWM BCA case studies pertaining to advisory, control and treatment strategies. Five examples pertain to Road Weather Connected Vehicle applications. Three technical briefs on RWM BCA have been developed and published. |
June 2017 |
Publication — Technical |
|
Weather Data Environment (WxDE) — Under the ITS Connected Vehicle program, there is the recognized need for comprehensive and extensive capture and management of multiple types of data, especially from vehicles, in order to support the full breadth of Connected Vehicle applications. The objective of this effort is to develop a system that integrates, quality checks and disseminates both fixed and mobile road weather data, and makes that data available to others. The WxDE, in its current version, can be accessed at https://wxde.fhwa.dot.gov/ |
December 2017 |
Software or other Technical Resource |
|
Road Weather Observations (MADIS) — Almost all States have installed and continue to use sensors along roads to measure weather and road conditions. Efforts to integrate, quality check and disseminate these observations continue. State DOTs are encouraged to share their observations with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) via their Meteorological Data Ingest System (MADIS; https://madis.ncep.noaa.gov/). FHWA works very closely with NOAA to transition from the Clarus System to MADIS. |
October 2017 |
Software or other technical Resource Publication — Technical |
|
Pavement Friction Characterization — The Road Weather Management Program engaged the Virginia Transportation Technical Institute to conduct a study at the Smart Roads Testbed to ascertain whether pavement friction could be inferred from differential wheel micro-slippage measurements obtained from the vehicles intrinsic systems (wheel pulse counts.) The project was conducted over two phases and a final report was prepared for each; the reports, for phase I and II respectively, are FHWA-JPO-16-359 (https://ntl.bts.gov/lib/61000/61200/61292/FHWA-JPO-16-359.pdf) and FHWA-JPO-16-361 (this report is awaiting publication.) |
July 2017 |
Publication — Technical |
|
Integrated Mobile Observations (IMO) Project — The Road Weather Management Program and the ITS Joint Program Office (JPO) have been working with Michigan, Minnesota, and Nevada DOTs IMO project to incorporate the data from their fleets into the Pikalert and the Weather Data Environment. The data are being used as input to road weather applications developed by the States. The IMO sensors and communication platforms are being streamlined into the Standard Operating Procedures of 23 State DOT's under the EDC-4 program. |
September 2017 |
Software or other Technical Resource Publication — Technical |
|
CAMP-Road Weather Management Program Task — The Road Weather Management Program engaged the CAMP consortium to cooperatively identify a weather-related project of mutual interest and, in the first phase of the project, develop a ConOps for it. Design, development, and testing of the project/application will occur in a later phase, depending on funding. During the first phase, CAMP supported the Road Weather Management Program in obtaining CAN-bus data. A Final Report for this project can be found at https://ntl.bts.gov/lib/61000/61100/61129/FHWA-JPO-16-400.pdf |
October 2016 (Phase 1) |
Publication — Technical |
|
Guidance for Deploying Connected Vehicle Enabled Weather Responsive Traffic Management (WRTM) — This project reviewed existing technologies and practices in collecting and using road weather observations including Connected Vehicle (CV) data for WRTM, reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of road weather messages, and developed guidance for CV-enabled WRTM by transportation agencies (published in March 207). Two State DOT's will be implementing the CV-WRTM guidelines and evaluate its usefulness. |
April 2018 |
Publication — |
|
Integrated Modeling for Roadway Condition Prediction (IMRCP) — A prototype comprehensive travel conditions prediction tool was developed that incorporates transportation and non-transportation data, deterministic and probabilistic forecast data, and measured and reported data. The model ultimately provides a practical tool for State DOTs to support traveler advisories, maintenance, and traffic management decisions at both strategic and tactical levels. The prototype model has been deployed in the Kansas City Metro-area and it is being tested by the Kansas City Scout TMC. |
September 2017 |
Software or other Technical Resource |
|
The Road Weather Management Program and the Connected Vehicle — A project was recently completed to develop and demonstrate a Prototype tool that uses Connected Vehicle data for evaluating the performance of road weather management systems. The tool uses mobile traffic and road-weather observations to evaluate the extent to which transportation agencies are performing weather-related traffic management and maintenance activities. The prototype tool was tested in Minnesota over the 2015/2016 winter season. A Report was produced for this project and it can be found at https://ntl.bts.gov/lib/61000/61100/61112/FHWA-JPO-17-486.pdf |
June 2017 |
Software or other Technical Resource |
|
Deployment of Capability Maturity Framework (CMF) for Road Weather Management — A model and online tool for evaluating capabilities for road weather management were developed, validated and implemented in seven State DOTs. Additional CMF workshops are scheduled in the summer 2017. In addition to helping agencies assess their capabilities, the model identifies strategies or actions to raise those levels. The Road Weather CMF electronic tool has been updated and will be posted in the Summer 2017. |
October 2017 |
Publication and Software or other Technical Resource |
|
Web-based Training Courses on Road Weather Management (RWM) — Three blended web-based courses on RWM are available through the University of Maryland CITE (Consortium for ITS Training and Education) Program. A certificate in RWM is also being offered. The WRTM course was delivered last Fall while the Principles and Tools course will be delivered next Fall. |
November 2017 |
Training — On-Line |
Traffic Analysis Tools
- Traffic Analysis Tools Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficanalysistools
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Workshop on Foundations of Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) — A FHWA sponsored workshop providing participants with a solid grounding in the fundamentals of conducting traffic analyses using DTA techniques, knowledge on the appropriate use of DTA, and an understanding of both strengths and weaknesses inherent in DTA analyses. The workshop has a day and a half format featuring lecture and interactive pen-and-paper class exercise elements. Hands-on computer exercises are NOT an element of the workshop. The workshop is intended to provide participants with the background to make informed decisions regarding the value and challenges of DTA analyses using a broad range of simulation tools. The target audience for the workshop is transportation and community planners within MPOs and local, county and state organizations, transportation engineers, traffic analysts and consultants. |
Ongoing |
Workshop |
|
Update to Volume III: Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation Modeling Software — This project will update the Guidelines in the Traffic Analysis Toolbox for microsimulation to include better calibration and validation techniques, and to incorporate new guidance on the use of simulation. Introducing Cluster Analysis into the process. |
Spring 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Tools for Tactical Decision Making and Advancing Methods for Predicting Performance — The objective of this study is to analyze the approaches and requirements for forecasting transportation conditions and predicting system performance to support real-time performance-based management. The concept is for the TMCs to have a comprehensive view of the transportation system in real time and use that view to predict how the system will behave (i.e., the performance of the transportation system) within, say, the next 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour. If the predicted performance over that time doesn't meet the desired performance target, the TMC operator/manager can pro-actively implement operational strategies/solutions or actions to influence and alter the future performance in a favorable manner to align with the performance objectives/goals. These actions may include providing real-time information about the predicted conditions to travelers, implementing operational strategies such as congestion pricing, parking information/restrictions, hard shoulder use, speed harmonization, ramp metering and control, optimizing traffic signal timing, changing transit frequency, adjusting the mix of transit services, etc. |
Spring 2016 |
Publication — Guidance, |
|
Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM)/Dynamic Mobility Applications (DMA) Simulation Test Bed — The Objective of this study is to create a framework and six simulation testbeds that will allow agencies to evaluate the impacts of implementing ATDM concepts and strategies (dynamic management of the entire trip chain) in their regions; to quantify the general benefits of ATDM for incorporation into our program products (workshops, presentations, guidance documents, etc.); to validate and improve other analytical tools being used today to create the foundation for a more proactive, integrated, performance-driven approach to operations and to enable robust impacts assessment of Dynamic Mobility Applications (DMA) bundles to support future field demonstrations. |
March 2017 |
Research, |
|
Data Analysis Guide — Develop a Guide on data requirements for traffic analysis; how to conduct an experiment design before data is collected, how much data to collect, summarizing and analyzing data (preparing data for analysis),capturing variability and uncertainty in data before conducting analyses, data for calibrating and validating tools, etc. |
Summer 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Traffic Analysis Tools Scoping Guide — Develop a Guide to help traffic engineers/managers effectively coordinate the analysis effort to ensure a cost-effective outcome to the study. The primary component of an effective management plan is the study scope, which defines the objectives, breadth, approach, tools, resources, and time schedule for the study. This study will capture the key components of an overall management plan for achieving a cost-effective analysis. |
Summer 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Transportation System Simulation Manual — The objective of this effort is to create a first Simulation Manual for the evaluation of transportation systems that delivers to the users the concepts, guidelines, and procedures of simulation modeling. This project will develop a draft framework of the manual. The ultimate goal of the manual itself is that it will address at a minimum: the differing scales of modeling; integration of models; model inputs and data formats; data summary and analysis; data storage and model reuse; calibration/validation of simulation; alternative analysis; post processing of model data and interpretation. |
Spring 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2), L04 – Reliability in Simulation Models — This project will implement the L04 methodology in two new locations, Portland and Phoenix. The objectives of this project are to:
|
Summer 2016 |
Research, |
|
L38- Reliability Data and Analysis Tools (L02/L05/L07/L08/C11) — This project is implementing part to this entire bundle in the states of Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Washington. To improve travel-time reliability, transportation agencies need data monitoring, analysis, and planning tools to understand fluctuations in traffic and to identify effective strategies to reduce the variable and uncertain travel times caused by recurring and nonrecurring congestion. Traditionally, analysis tools have focused on average conditions and not the range of travel times and how they vary over time in response to various traffic, roadway, and weather conditions. These tools help transportation agencies better identify and implement strategies to reduce the variability and uncertainty of travel times for commuters and other travelers as well as the freight industry. |
Summer 2016 |
Research, |
|
Reliability Data & Analysis Tools (RDAT) Outreach Program Plan Development — The project will define and describe Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSMO) community groups and other target audiences for RDAT outreach and awareness. Key messages will be defined for these audiences to enable initial assessment and use of RDAT, as well as longer term integration of RDAT into programmatic and corporate decision support systems affecting TSMO programs. An outreach program plan will be a basis for subsequent prospective production of outreach & awareness materials for use in coordination with broader TSMO communication, outreach, and national professional community engagement initiatives. |
October 2018 |
Workshops, Outreach & Awareness Program Plan |
|
Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) Trajectory-Level Validation — The objectives of the project are to collect trajectory level data, develop a process and/or tool for enabling trajectory level AMS tool validation, and making the process/tool publicly available for use by others. |
Summer 2016 |
Research, |
|
Using Empirical Data for Project Post-Deployment Evaluation — Develop methods/techniques for post-deployment evaluation of operational improvements using empirical data. This project will start with the development of an appropriate Experiment Design and data capture so that meaningful benefits could be extracted. A well-planned experiment design should insure that any observable improvement in performance is due to a deployment and not by any other factors that may be present at the same time. It should discount as many effects by confounding factors as possible. When other outside factor are allowed to contribute or contaminate the effect observed, they become threats to the validity of effectiveness evaluations. These are internal threats and are very susceptible to the experiment design. They impede with the researcher's ability to draw valid conclusions concerning the effectiveness of operational improvements that have been deployed. A well-planned experimental design should also insure that the inferences made from the evaluation using a sample can be generalized to cover the population. The threats to this generalization are external threats to the validity of the evaluation. These threats are the cause of inappropriate sampling techniques and are less affected by the experiment design chosen. |
Fall 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) Analytical Methods for Urban Streets — This is a continuation of the ATDM methods that were developed and incorporated into the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) Chapter 35 for Freeways but now looking into Urban Streets and the integration of Freeways and Urban Streets as a network (possibly spread over two years). |
Fall 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Develop Methods for Summarizing and Analyzing Data to Support Transportation Operations Decision-Making — Develop technology that finds regional patterns, trends, etc. and distills meaning from massive, diverse data sets. There is a need to make sense of the plethora of new data – develop technology that finds regional patterns, profiles, trends, etc. and extracts meaning from these massive, diverse data sets (i.e., processing, summarizing, analyzing and integrating this data for the appropriate applications). The goals of this project are to provide a guide on how to collect, store, manage, mine, analyze, and interpret "Big Data" to create valuable intelligence, to support the decisionmaking process. A Framework/Process will be developed that starts with the raw data and ends with Knowledge Discovery. |
Fall 2016 |
Publication — Guidance |
|
Reliability Data & Analysis Tools (RDAT) Outreach Program Plan Development — The project will define and describe Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSMO) community groups and other target audiences for RDAT outreach and awareness. Key messages will be defined for these audiences to enable initial assessment and use of RDAT, as well as longer term integration of RDAT into programmatic and corporate decision support systems affecting TSMO programs. An outreach program plan will be a basis for subsequent prospective production of outreach & awareness materials for use in coordination with broader TSMO communication, outreach, and national professional community engagement initiatives. |
October, 2018 |
Workshops, Outreach & Awareness Program Plan |
Traffic Control (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD))
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Web Site: https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Update of Standard Highway Signs and Markings Publication — The Standard Highway Signs (SHS) and Markings publication provides dimensioned fabrication details for agencies and vendors to produce the signs and markings. The team is updating this publication to add the new and modified signs adopted in the 2009 MUTCD. A Supplement to the 2004 edition of Standard Highway Signs containing 425 of the new sign designs was issued in March 2012. Further development of a new 2013 SHS edition that will include revised and expanded sign design guidelines has been deferred. Work on the new edition is expected to resume in 2016. |
Update Completed / Expanded 2013 Edition ongoing Deferred |
||
Sign and Pavement Markings Retro Reflectivity Rulemaking —A Supplemental Notice of Proposed Amendments was published January 2017 in the Federal Register, proposing revisions to the 2009 MUTCD. The docket comment period ended in June 2017. Comments are being evaluated. |
Deferred; long–term rulemaking activity |
||
Traffic Control Devices Pooled–Fund Study — The experimentation process has been used by jurisdictions for on–road testing and evaluation of innovative traffic control devices. FHWA has established a pooled–fund study for traffic control devices that is intended to provide a quicker way to assess low–risk new traffic control devices and applications. Nineteen States, 3 FHWA Offices, and an association have become members of the pooled–fund, which has completed a variety of projects (many results from which were incorporated into the 2009 MUTCD and more will be considered for the next edition). |
Ongoing |
||
MUTCD Strategic Planning Initiative — The Office of Operations has identified the need for a strategic long term plan for the MUTCD that would define a strategic direction for the MUTCD's future scope, content, and format. Consensus answers to longstanding questions, such as what things are or are not traffic control devices and thus are regulated or not regulated by the MUTCD, need to be developed to guide future decision making. The NCUTCD has taken a leadership role in developing a 20–year vision, prepared under an NCHRP project and adopted at the NCUTCD's January 2015 meeting. The MUTCD Team published a Request for Comments (RFC) to solicit feedback from the public on specific items related to the future of the MUTCD in the Federal Register in December 2015. A summary paper that analyzes the comments that were received is currently being developed. |
Ongoing |
||
Streamlining/Reformatting the MUTCD — In response to concerns from the user community over the growing size and complexity of the MUTCD, the FHWA is planning on streamlining the MUTCD to facilitate more practicable navigation and application by the user. On January 11, 2013, the FHWA published a Request for Comments (Docket ID: FHWA–2012–0118) soliciting input on the option of splitting the material in the MUTCD into two separate documents in the interest of providing a simpler, streamlined MUTCD that would be easier to use, and if it is split, what are some of the potential formats for doing so. Input from the user community showed little support for this concept, but expressed a preference for improving the usability of the MUTCD instead. The results from the Request for Comments will be considered along with information from the MUTCD Strategic Planning Initiative to guide development of the next edition of the MUTCD. |
Ongoing |
||
Next Edition of the MUTCD — The MUTCD needs to be periodically updated to address constantly evolving practices, new research results, and advancing technologies. A Notice of Proposed Amendments (NPA) for a new edition of the MUTCD is currently under development. It is not known at this time when the NPA will be published due to other rulemaking priorities by the Federal government. |
Ongoing |
||
MUTCD Peer–to–Peer (P2P) Program — This ongoing program is available to public sector agencies that need assistance with implementing the provisions of the MUTCD. The program matches a knowledgeable volunteer with the requester. |
Ongoing |
Traffic Incident and Events Management
- Emergency Transportation Operations Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/index.htm
- Traffic Incident Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/about/tim.htm
- Traffic Management for Planned Special Events Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/about/pse.htm
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Managing Travel for Special Events NHI–133099 |
Ongoing |
Training — Classroom |
|
Traffic Incident and Events Management (TIM) Peer–to–Peer (P2P) Program — Due to the high level of interest in P2P collaboration in the Traffic Incident Management & Planned Special Events (TIM/PSE) areas, FHWA established a new TIM/PSE P2P program in 2010 FHWA coordinates an average of four exchanges each fiscal year. The program is patterned after the Work Zone P2P program. Promotional materials developed and printed. |
Ongoing |
Partnership / Coalition |
|
Traffic Incident and Events Management (TIM) Subcommittee, of the Highway Safety Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) — FHWA is building a stronger relationship with the law enforcement community to ensure that traffic incidents are cleared quickly and safely by the three primary on–the–ground responders: law enforcement, transportation, and fire/rescue. FHWA is collaborating with the IACP and has established this TIM Subcommittee as a means to integrate its 4,000+ membership into developing, identifying and using good TIM practices. FHWA plans to partner with the IACP on Performance Measurement and TIM Training activities and Regional Law Enforcement–Transportation meetings in FY17/18. |
Ongoing |
Partnership / Coalition |
|
Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Traffic Incident Responder Training Program — The SHRP 2 L12 project, Improving Traffic Incident Scene Management, now referred to as the National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training, provides a significant move forward in developing a coordinated, multi–discipline training program for all emergency responders and those supporting Traffic Incident and Events Management (TIM) operations. The accelerated delivery of this key, foundational course to all TIM responders was adopted as an Every Day Counts Initiative from FY12–14. The L12 project resulted in a TIM training curriculum that provides responders from the various stakeholder groups with a common set of core competencies that promote a shared understanding of the requirements for achieving the safety of responders and motorists, quick response, and effective communications at traffic incident scenes. Furthermore, the L12 project is generating additional products::
The series of L32 products establishes a foundation for responders to achieve the three objectives of the TIM National Unified Goal (NUG): (1) responder safety; (2) safe, quick clearance; and (3) prompt, reliable, interoperable communications. FHWA expects to assumed implementation responsibilities in 2014 and has incorporated the training into the National Program. Over 250,000 responders have been trained as of April 2017. |
Curriculum Developed |
Training |
|
Executive Leadership Group —Resulting from the 2012 Transportation and Senior Executive Traffic Incident and Events Management (TIM) Summit, FHWA established a group of senior executives from AASHTO, IACP, IAFC, NVFC and TRAA to meet twice a year to discuss policy and leadership issues and gaps that hinder State and local TIM programs. The groups identify actions and each group, plus FHWA lead efforts to develop products or conduct research. FHWA held two metings (December 2012 and July 2013) and one mid–term conference call (October 2013) and a variety of draft products like briefing deck for senior leaders on SHRP2 TIM Responder program, Presidential Directive on TIM, etc. |
Begun FY13 & ongoing |
Leadership Outreach / Coalition Building |
|
Expand National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Network — As a part of the 2012 Trans and PS TIM Summit, the group recommended supporting the TIM Network, the only group consisting of practitioners, and not just association members. FHWA is funding this. Two working groups have been formed to date. (1) improving the TIM Knowledge Management System and (2) Collecting pictures, after –action reports, and other tools to share. |
Begun FY10 & ongoing |
Outreach / Coalition Building |
|
Support the development of a discipline to speak on behalf of transportation in public safety forums — AASHTO and ITE began working on a transportation operations discipline to speak as a unit in TIM meetings, like the fire, law enforcement, EMS, towers, public works and other disciplines. FHWA will continue to work with these groups, especially through the AASHTO SSOM and ITE, to help the new coalition grow. |
Started November 2012 and ongoing |
Leadership National Policy |
|
Explore V2V and V2I technologies & integrate them into National Traffic Incident and Events Management Plans |
FY14 & ongoing |
Policy Institutional Development & Sustainability Professional Capacity Building |
|
Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) L12 and Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Outreach — Conduct 10 Executive Leadership Awareness Meetings with State Police, State Fire Marshall and Big City Police Chiefs on SHRP2 L12 and TIM. Additionally, conduct 4 General TIM webinars and bi–monthly SHRP2 L12 webinars. |
FY12 and ongoing |
Leadership Professional Capacity Building |
|
Knowledge Management System (KMS) Efforts — Coordinate Good Practices, Lessons Learned, Sample Documents, and Tools for KMS on hosted on the Traffic Incident and Events Management Network and NOCoE Web sites. |
FY12 and ongoing |
Professional Capacity Building |
|
"Using Data to Improve Traffic Incident Management" Program — The Using Data to Improve Traffic Incident Management (TIM Data) Every Day Counts-4 (EDC4) Innovation strives to encourage TIM program partners to implement a practice of targeted data collection and analysis that enables performance-based improvements to TIM programs, thereby clearing roadways faster, safer, and with fewer secondary crashes. Thirty-six (36) states have adopted this innovation. Specifically the TIM Data Innovation strives to improve and expand the collection of uniform Traffic Incident Management (TIM) data to estimate the three national TIM performance measures:
|
FY17 and FY18 ongoing |
Institutional Development |
Work Zone Management
- Work Zone Management Web Site: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz
Task | Lead | Complete By | Product or Services |
---|---|---|---|
Work Zone Safety Grants & Clearinghouse — SAFETEA–LU established the FHWA Work Zone Safety Grant Program, which was continued in MAP–21. This effort provides funds to nonprofit and not–for–profit organizations to provide training to prevent and reduce work zone injuries and fatalities. The three grant emphasis areas include:
To date the Work Zone Safety Grants have generated a wealth of products, publications, and training resources. All of these products as well as many other Work Zone materials can be found on the Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse also provides a forum for discussions on a wide variety of work zone topics. More information can be found on the Clearinghouse website at: http://www.workzonesafety.org/. 2011 Grant work has been completed. Work continues on 2013 safety grants. |
April 2017 |
Guidance, field guides, brochures, and training |
|
Work Zone Process Reviews — All State highway agencies receiving Federal–aid funds are required to perform work zone process reviews every two years. These reviews are an opportunity for the agency to reexamine how it is meeting Federal requirements in 23 CFR 630 Subparts J and K in accomplishing work zone safety and mobility management. Work Zone management (WZM) team is working closely with Division offices and State DOTs to ensure these reviews are conducted on time and as envisioned in subpart J. Guidance for Conducting Effective Work Zone Process Reviews has been completed and is available on FHWA's Work Zone Management Web site. | Ongoing |
Technical Assistance |
|
Guidance on Using TMCs for Work Zone Management — This document presents guidance for DOTs to consider how TMC resources (staff, data, and tools) can be used to support all stages of a work zone, providing examples of where these resources are used today. |
January 2016 |
Publication — Technical |
|
Work Zone Capability Maturity Framework Workshops — The concept of using capability maturity frameworks to improve transportation systems management and operations was developed by research conducted under the AASHTO Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2). Workshops are being planned for state DOTs to utilize this framework and assess their current capabilities, determine which areas need the most improvement, and identify high–priority actions to take to improve their capabilities in those areas. |
January 2018 |
Workshops |
|
Every Day Counts (EDC)–3 Smarter Work Zones — Smarter Work Zones (SWZ) is one of the initiatives selected under EDC–3. Work Zone Management (WZM) team is working closely with FHWA Division offices and State DOTs to ensure all implementation goals are achieved and state–of–the–practice is significantly improved. |
January 2017 |
Technical Assistance |
|
State–of–the–Practice Review of Work Zone Project Coordination — This report summarizes the role of Project Coordination (PC) as a strategy to reduce the cumulative impacts of work zones on transportation operations. Though this task was initiated prior to PC being identified as a component of Smarter Work Zones in Every Day Counts (EDC)–3, this report complements those efforts and will serve as a resource for agencies looking to implement PC in their work zone management programs. |
February 2016 |
Technical Assistance |
|
Work Zone Technical Transfer and Outreach — This on–call task coordinates program outreach activities to accomplish goals for improved work zone safety & mobility. Outreach activities include maintaining the Work Zone Management Team Web site (https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz), conducting periodic webinars, development of informational publications, and facilitating information exchange through the Work Zone Peer–to–Peer Program (WZP2P). Revisions to the Work Zone Marketing Plan are underway and are expected to be completed by December 2015. |
Ongoing |
Technical Assistance |
|
Work Zone Intelligent Transportation System Planning Tool — The Work Zone ITS Implementation Guide (FHWA–HOP–14–008) has become a valuable resource for agencies seeking to implement ITS technologies in their work zone management strategies. This tool will enhance the accessibility of this guidance through a semi–automated decision–support–system which will guide users through topics covered in the Guide and provide customized feedback based on user inputs. The first phase of this project, developing the tool architecture, will be completed by January 2017. Development of a tool prototype will follow. |
January 2017 |
Technical Guidance |
|
Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Effectiveness Framework and Pilot — The TMP Framework will provide a set of measures of effectiveness (MOE) for TMP strategy evaluation, categorizations of TMP strategies, description and assessment of available evaluation results and the results of the synthesis pilots. |
April 2016 |
Technical Guidance |
|
Design Build Research for Sharing Best Practices — The task will identify work zone best practices in design–build projects and will develop materials for transportation agencies and design–builders. |
January 2016 |
Guidance, checklists and inspection forms |
|
Develop Targeted Work Zone Engagement Framework and Conduct Outreach Webinar — The goal of this strategic approach is to assist the FHWA with the development of a Targeted Work Zone Engagement Framework and strategic tools that will further assists States in achieving positive results systematically through work zone safety and mobility initiatives that decrease fatalities, reduce crashes, reduce the severity of crashes in work zones, and improve mobility and operations. |
October 2016 |
Webinar and Workshop |
|
Work Zone Data Initiative — Research and Development Strategic Initiative to develop guidance that ensures broad and consistent practice for management of work zone information to support both internal operations and data sharing with third party providers (e.g., Waze). on work zone activity for compatibility across agency workflows and between stakeholders. This includes a state of the practice review, development of concept of operations, data standards, implementation guidance, and pilot implementation of an online research data environment for pilot deployment of agency work zone activity data feeds. | Todd Peterson | Complete State of the Practice review – June 2018 |
Research, Outreach, Technical Guidance |
MAP–21 Addendum
MAP–21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, authorizing funds for Federal–aid Highways, highway safety programs, transit and other purposes, requires the Office of Operations to lead number of actions. These include the following:
- Section 1115 – National Freight Strategic Plan — MAP-21 directed the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan. This process will involve seeking input from States and others in the development of this first-ever plan to identify a range of freight considerations including the existing network; sources of freight congestion; major trade gateways and national freight corridors; best practices for improving the performance of the national network and mitigating impacts on communities; a process for addressing multistate projects and strategies to improve freight intermodal connectivity.
Status: DOT's Office of the Secretary (OST) is directing the work on the National Freight Strategic Plan. Input is being collected from outreach sessions around the nation by members of the Freight Policy Council, and from the National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC), as well as through other mechanisms including State freight plans, reports, surveys and national freight data. OST is compiling suggestions on the scope and content of the Plan, and what level of detail the Plan should contain.
- Section 1115 – Freight Conditions and Performance Report — MAP-21 requires DOT to develop a Freight Transportation Conditions and Performance Report by October 1, 2014, and again every 2 years. The report will contain a description of the conditions and performance of the in the United States. DOT is focused on creating a multi-modal freight conditions and performance report that will provides a comprehensive look at the United States freight system. The output of this report will be used as a key input into the required National Freight Strategic Plan.
Status: The OST has organized teams to develop measures of condition and performance for the freight system, and is soliciting input on what measures would be most useful for shippers, planners, and other users of freight conditions and performance data.
- Section 1115 – Investment Data and Planning Tools — MAP-21 requires DOT to begin development of new tools or improve existing tools to support an outcome-oriented, performance-based approach to evaluate proposed freight-related and other transportation projects, including methodologies for systematic analysis of benefits and costs, and identifying transportation-related model data to assist in making transportation investment decisions and improve existing freight flow data collection efforts.
Status: The OST is tapping into the strength and expertise of offices throughout the Department. As input to the efforts to develop or enhance freight planning tools, FHWA is leveraging current or planned SHRP2, NCFRP, and FHWA research for cost/benefit analysis, project selection process tools, and model elements. The OST is inviting input on which areas of freight analysis would most benefit from improvement in the available tools.
- Section 1115 – Establishment of the National Freight Network — MAP-21 requires the Secretary to establish a National Freight Network to assist States in strategically directing resources toward improved system performance for efficient movement of freight. The National Freight Network will consist of the Primary Freight Network as designated by the Secretary; portions of the Interstate System not designated as part of the Primary Freight Network; and Critical Rural Freight Corridors, designated by the States.
Designation of the Primary Freight Network will be based on measurable and objective data, include up to 27,000 centerline miles and a possible 3,000 additional centerline miles of existing or planned roadways critical to the future efficient movement of goods.
Status: In February 2013, FHWA published a notice in the Federal Register outlining the process for the designation of the National Freight Network and an estimated schedule. The FHWA is undertaking an analysis of the freight network and will publish the results and draft designation of the Primary Freight Network for review and comment in the coming months.
The FHWA is also developing guidance and technical assistance for States to begin the identification of Critical Rural Freight Corridors. Final initial designation of the Primary Freight Network and a request to States to identify Critical Rural Freight Corridors is expected in October 2013 followed by designation of National Freight Network (including Primary Freight Network, the rest of the Interstate system, and the Critical Rural Freight Corridors) by early 2014.
- Section 1116 – Prioritization of Projects to Improve Freight Movement — MAP-21 provided that States may seek a higher Federal share (up to 95 percent) of Federal-aid highway funding for projects that are identified in a State freight plan and can improve the efficiency of freight movement. In order to qualify, the project must be identified in a State freight plan, and the freight plan must meet the statutory requirements as defined in MAP-21.
Status: The FHWA issued implementation guidance for this provision in October 2012 and held a webinar on the subject in March 2013. The first State to qualify for the increased Federal share is Indiana DOT for upgrades to U.S. 31.
- Section 1117 – State Freight Advisory Committees — The MAP-21 directs the Secretary to encourage each State to establish a State Freight Advisory Committee. These advisory committees may consist of public and private sector freight stakeholders, including representatives of ports, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, the freight industry workforce, State transportation departments, and local governments.
Status: Draft implementation guidance for this provision was issued in October 2012. The FHWA is actively working with States to encourage the establishment of advisory committees. A webinar was held in May 2013 and FHWA is promoting its workshop: "Engaging the Private Sector in Freight Planning." Interest in this workshop has increased dramatically since 2012. The workshop is for practitioners addressing freight issues at metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), State departments of transportation, local governments, and economic development agencies. Private sector participation is welcomed and beneficial.
- Section 1118 – State Freight Plans — The MAP-21 directed the Secretary to encourage States to develop statewide freight plans for immediate and long range freight planning and investment. These plans will enhance freight planning at the State and local levels and aid in the development of a comprehensive national freight policy and National Freight Strategic Plan to improve US economic competitiveness. The FHWA approval of State freight plans is only a requirement with respect to qualifying for higher federal match for freight projects.
Status: To date, one State freight plan has been received for review. In October 2012, DOT published draft guidance in the Federal Register regarding State freight plans. Final guidance is expected in the coming months. In addition, FHWA held a Talking Freight webinar in March to address questions by States seeking to develop or revise State freight plans for federal review. "Talking Freight" is a series of technical webinars and dialogues for the public.
- Section 1120 – Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) — The MAP-21 authorized for appropriation in FY 2013 $500 million for PNRS projects and expanded the number of eligible PNRS applicants, reduced the floor on total project costs, and modified evaluation criteria. The MAP-21 also required DOT to develop a Report to Congress on PNRS by October of 2014. The Report will include a list of potential PNRS projects, compiled from a survey of State departments of transportation, and will be accompanied by an analysis of the information collected and recommendations on financing for eligible project costs.
Status: The FHWA published the process for the PNRS survey in the Federal Register in May 2013. The survey will be conducted in the fall of 2013. In addition, OST and FHWA are determining the need for a rulemaking to adjust the eligibility and evaluation criteria of the current PNRS regulations to meet the MAP-21 changes. PNRS was not funded in the FY13 appropriations.
- Section 1203 – National Performance Management Measure for Freight — The MAP-21 requires DOT to establish performance measures and standards for States to use to assess freight movement on the Interstate System. Each State will set performance targets that reflect the freight performance measures. DOT intends to include these measures in the Freight Conditions and Performance Report.
Status: The final rules for performance measures went into effect May 20, 2017. States are required to set performance targets by May 20, 2018 and submit their baseline performance report by October 1, 2018. The first mid-performance period report will be due October 1, 2020. The first end of performance period report will be due October 1, 2022. The FHWA is conducting regional Transportation Performance Management training workshops with State DOTs and MPOs. FHWA is also developing a series of guidance including a Guidebook on Reporting Performance at Freight Bottlenecks for State DOTs and MPOs.
- Section 1401 – Jason's Law Truck Parking Study — The MAP-21 established "Jason's Law" to provide a "national priority on addressing the shortage of long-term parking for commercial motor vehicles on the National Highway System (NHS) to improve the safety of motorized and non-motorized users and for commercial motor vehicle operators." Specifically, MAP-21 Section 1401(c) required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) conduct a survey and comparative assessment in consultation with relevant State motor carrier representatives to:
- Evaluate the capability of [each] State to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation;
- Assess the volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in [each] State; and
- Develop a system of metrics to measure the adequacy of commercial motor vehicle parking facilities in [each] State.
Status: Released by USDOT in August 2015 the "Jason's Law Truck Parking Survey Results and Comparative Analysis" showed most States reported having truck parking shortages. The analysis included a discussion of the factors that can influence truck parking and offers ways to improve the measurement of the truck parking problem, including the collection of data on supply and demand, congestion and safety. As a result of the Survey, a National Coalition on Truck Parking was formed to bring together stakeholders from FHWA, FMCSA, MARAD, AASHTO, American Trucking Association (ATA), Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), and NATSO to advance safe truck parking, including:
- Collaborate to identify opportunities and solutions for truck parking;
- Share information, data and analyses to understand needs and trends in truck parking;
- Encourage partnerships among stakeholders to implement solutions, and;
- Identify opportunities to use programs to implement truck parking.
- Section 1405 – Highway Worker Safety — Directs FHWA to modify section 630.1108(a) of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (the Work Zone Rule, Subpart K: Temporary Traffic Control Devices) to ensure that positive protective measures are used to separate workers on highway construction projects from motorized traffic in all work zones that satisfy certain criteria (e.g., no means of escape such as tunnels and bridges).
Status: The FHWA has initiated development of a rulemaking to make the revisions specified in MAP-21. As part of the rulemaking process FHWA must conduct a cost-benefit analysis to estimate the impact of the revisions. The FHWA has completed the analysis and it is currently being reviewed by the relevant offices within FHWA and OST before further action is taken. Contact Paul Pisano (Paul.Pisano@dot.gov) for more information.
- Section 1511 – Special Permits During National Emergencies — The MAP-21 amends Section 127 of Title 23, USC to allow a State to issue special permits during periods of national emergency to overweight vehicles and loads that can easily be dismantled or divided. Prior to October 1, 2012, Special Permits for vehicles and loads operating in excess of Federal weight limitations on the Interstate System were only available for those loads that were not easily dismantled or divided (non-divisible loads).
Status: On September 24, 2012, FHWA issued guidance on Special Permits authorized by Section 1511. In June 2013, FHWA issued clarifying guidance on Special Permits. The FHWA is also undertaking outreach and sharing of best practices in permitting.
- Section 1512(a) – Tolling — provides a complete replacement for the statutory language of 23 U.S.C. 129(a). The new language makes a number of significant changes to the program, including tolling eligibilities; requirements for tolling agreements; and requiring audits to ensure compliance with requirements on the use of toll revenues.
Status: On July 6, 2012, the President signed into law P.L. 112-141, MAP-21. The Express Lanes Demonstration Program (ELDP) was authorized under Section 1604(b) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); it expired on September 30, 2012. The five tolling agreements that were executed by FHWA and project sponsors under this program will continue in force. Projects for which slots were allocated but still not subject to an agreement should proceed under Section 129.
The Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) was first authorized under the Section 1012(b)(8) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), and was subsequently amended under other laws, most recently in Section 1604(a) of SAFETEA-LU. The MAP-21 does not make any changes to this program. While no additional funds are authorized after Fiscal Year 2012 for the discretionary grant component of this program, FHWA's ability to enter into cooperative agreements for tolling projects under the VPPP will continue in force. Of the 15 slots authorized for this program, seven have been permanently reserved for States that have executed tolling cooperative agreements under the VPPP. [5] The remaining eight slots are currently reserved for State agencies that are undertaking studies or non-toll projects under the program. Once these studies or projects have been completed, these slots will become available for use by any States with eligible tolling projects under the program, at the discretion of the Secretary.
A number of congestion pricing strategies, including HOV to HOT conversion and the construction of priced express lanes, can now be accommodated under the Section 129 general tolling program and the Section 166 HOV/HOT lanes program. The FHWA prefers that the two mainstream programs be used where possible as opposed to the pilot programs. As a result, requests for tolling authority under the VPPP will be limited to situations that cannot be accommodated under the mainstream tolling programs, such as the pricing of existing toll-free facilities without substantial reconstruction of those facilities.
The Interstate System Construction Toll Pilot Program (ISCTPP) was authorized under Section 1604(c) of SAFETEA-LU. To date, only one of the three slots authorized under this program has been reserved [3] and no projects have received final acceptance into the program or executed tolling agreements. The ISCTPP, which expires on August 9, 2015, was not directly affected by MAP-21. However, MAP-21 does amend Section 129 to include the initial construction of any highway, whether on or off the Interstate System, as an eligible activity for tolling. As this pilot program has thus been effectively mainstreamed under the general tolling program, FHWA will no longer be accepting applications for this program. Division Offices should direct project sponsors interested in constructing new Interstate highways, bridges, or tunnels as toll facilities to the requirements under Section 129. Contact Angela Jacobs (Angela.Jacobs@dot.gov) for more information.
- Section 1512(b) – Tolling — Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Interoperability: Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of MAP-21, all toll facilities on the Federal-aid highways shall implement technologies or business practices that provide for the interoperability of electronic toll collection programs.
Status: Continue monitoring developments by the toll industry to achieve ETC Interoperability.
- Section 1411 "FAST" Act – HOV Facilities (23 U.S.C. 166) — Clarifies the operation of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities and provides exceptions to vehicle occupancy requirements. A "public authority" that has jurisdiction over the operation of a HOV facility must establish the occupancy requirements of vehicles operating the facility. Except as provided otherwise in this new section, no fewer than two occupants per vehicle may be required for use of a HOV facility. Motorcycles and bicycles must be allowed to use HOV facilities unless a State certifies that such use would create a safety hazard. Until September 30, 2019, States may permit vehicles certified and labeled as Inherently Low-Emission Vehicles (ILEV), in accordance with Sections 88.311-93 & 88.312-93 of CFR 40, to use HOV facilities. States may also establish exceptions for public transportation vehicles, certified low emission and energy efficient vehicles, High Occupancy Toll (HOT) vehicles, and over-the-road buses. Tolls under this section may be charged on both Interstate and non-Interstate facilities.
To void the need for potential corrective action, States are encouraged to work with their local FHWA Division Office before allowing HOT, alternative fuel, or low emission and energy-efficient vehicles (i.e., hybrid vehicles), that do not meet minimum occupancy requirements, to use HOV facilities. When HOT and low emission and energy-efficient vehicles are allowed to use HOV lanes, States are required to annually certify that operational performance monitoring programs and enforcement programs are in place to ensure HOV facilities are not degraded and are operated in accordance with the restrictions and requirements of 23 U.S.C. 166. Public authorities must limit or discontinue the use of the facility by a sufficient number of HOT and/or low emission and energy-efficient vehicles, if the operation of the facility has degraded. However, the FAST Act included provision that under certain conditions, the public authority may seek a waiver from sanctions, provided the Secretary accedes to certain provisions therein.
Status: On May 24, 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement elements of the SAFETEA-LU Section 1121 (23 U.S.C. 166) to provide exemptions for vehicles certified as low emission and energy-efficient for use in high occupancy vehicle lanes. HOV Program Guidance has been updated with FAST Act inclusions, and was published in 2016. The site is https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/hovguidance/index.htm. As part of the recent passed extensions, the low emission and energy-efficient vehicle exemption provision has been extended through September 30, 2019. Contact Neil Spiller (Neil.Spiller@dot.gov) for more information.
- Section 1519 – Consolidation of Programs — Directs FHWA to carry-out the following four activities safety-related activities: Operation Lifesaver, Work Zone Safety Grants, the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, and the Public Road Safety Clearinghouse.
Status: The Office of Operations is responsible for two of those four programs: Work Zone Safety Grants and the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. Both efforts are currently going through the procurement process; award is anticipated by late FY13 or early FY14. Contact Paul Pisano (Paul.Pisano@dot.gov) for more information.
- Section 1529 – Engineering Judgment — Requires that the Secretary issue guidance to clarify that the standards, guidance, and options for the design and application of traffic control devices provided in the MUTCD should not be considered a substitute for engineering judgment.
Status: A revision was made to the 2009 MUTCD (Final Rule published 5/14/12) that modified the definition of the term "standard", and restored language from the 2003 edition of the MUTCD relating to engineering judgment. The statement "Standard statements shall not be modified or compromised based on engineering judgment or engineering study", was removed from the definition of the term "standard". In addition, the following language was restored under Section 1A.09 of the MUTCD:
"The decision to use a particular device at a particular location should be made on the basis of either an engineering study or the application of engineering judgment. Thus, while this Manual provides Standards, Guidance, and Options for design and applications of traffic control devices, this Manual should not be considered a substitute for engineering judgment. Engineering judgment should be exercised in the selection and application of traffic control devices, as well as in the location and design of roads and streets that the devices complement."
With these revisions to the 2009 MUTCD, the objectives of Section 1529 of MAP-21 are considered satisfied and no further action is required. Contact for more information.
- Section 1539 – Rest Areas — Among other things, Section 1539 allows the installation of signs that acknowledge the sponsorship of rest areas and requires the Secretary to establish criteria for the installation of such signs.
Status: Criteria for both the design and placement of rest area sponsorship acknowledgment signs are currently included in FHWA Order 5160.1 and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The current criteria for sponsorship acknowledgment signs have been assessed to determine if any enhancements may be appropriate. Based on this assessment, substantive revisions to language in FHWA Order 5160.1 concerning acknowledgment signs and plaques are proposed. An update to FHWA Order 5160.1 is anticipated during FY 2013. Contact Kevin Sylvester (Kevin.Sylvester@dot.gov) for more information.
- Section 32801 – Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study — Provisions in MAP-21 require DOT to conduct a study addressing differences in safety risks, infrastructure impacts, and the effect on levels of enforcement between trucks operating at or within federal truck size and weight (TSW) limits and trucks legally operating in excess of Federal limits; comparing and contrasting the potential safety and infrastructure impacts of alternative configurations (including configurations that exceed current Federal TSW limits) to the current Federal TSW law and regulations; and, estimating the effects of freight diversion due to these alternative configurations. A Report is due to Congress by November 15, 2014. The Study includes an extensive public outreach process. Following completion of the technical studies in early 2014 and peer review, DOT will begin drafting a Report to Congress.
Status: In summer 2012, DOT convened a multi-modal "Policy Oversight Group" to help guide the Study. A FHWA Truck Size & Weight Working Group was also created to lay out the scope of the study, manage the schedule, secure the necessary technical expertise, and write the report. The FHWA contracted with CDM Smith in April for technical support. On May 29, 2013, the first Public Input Meeting was held at USDOT in Washington, DC. More than 80 stakeholders attended the event while more than 240 stakeholders and stakeholder groups participated via the webinar service that was offered. This session concentrated on receiving input from stakeholders on the proposed data sets, analytical models and methods that are available and appropriate for use in completing the Study. The FHWA also sought input to identify three additional "alternative configurations" to be included in the Study. Work is currently underway synthesizing the public input, analyzing alternative configurations, developing a list of prior studies to review and scheduling the next public meeting for the fall of 2013.
- Section 32802 – Compilation of Existing State Truck Size and Weight Limit Laws — MAP-21 requires FHWA, within 90 days of enactment, to begin work on the compilation of three "State-by-State lists": (1) A list of National Highway System (NHS) routes that allow trucks to operate over federal size and weight limits; (2) A list of limits in place, on an NHS segment basis, allowing sizes and weights in excess of Federal limits and a description of truck configurations operating under such authority; (3) A list of State laws allowing trucks to exceed federal size and weight limits, including under a non-divisible load permit. A Report to Congress on this work must be completed by October 2014.
Status: The FHWA began work on this provision in the summer of 2012 by consulting with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on approaches for compiling the required information. The FHWA will procure the services of a contractor with extensive expertise in compiling laws and regulations. This work will then be verified by key associations that represent States. Currently, a Request for Information is being prepared to procure contractor services.
- DOT Freight Policy Council
In the fall of 2012, DOT announced the creation of a DOT Freight Policy Council (FPC) to coordinate implementation of MAP-21's freight provisions. This group of senior leaders from DOT's operating administrations and the OST is supported by a multimodal team tasked with implementing MAP-21 freight provisions in a coordinated, multimodal manner. In developing the National Freight Strategic Plan, the FPC will actively solicit the advice and recommendations of State departments of transportation and State freight advisory committees, as well as other Federal agencies and interagency committees.
Status: The DOT FPC continues to meet. Individual members are soliciting input for the National Freight Strategic Plan by conducting forums around the country. In May 2013, the Deputy Secretary participated in a freight roundtable convened by members of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
- National Freight Advisory Committee
The DOT established a (NFAC). The NFAC will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on matters related to freight transportation in the United States, including (1) implementation of the freight transportation requirements of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (P.L. 112-141); (2) establishment of the National Freight Network; (3) development of a National Freight Strategic Plan; (4) development of strategies to help States implement State Freight Advisory Committees and State Freight Plans; (5) development of measures of conditions and performance in freight transportation; (6) development of freight transportation investment, data, and planning tools; and (7) legislative recommendations.
Status: DOT recently announced the selection of members to serve on the NFAC. An initial meeting was held on June 25, 2013 at DOT headquarters in Washington, DC. Subcommittees are currently being formed.
SAFETEA-LU, the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users, authorizing funds for Federal-aid Highways, highway safety programs, transit and other purposes, requires the Office of Operations to lead number of actions. These include the following:
- Section 1201 – Real Time System Management Information Program — Requires the establishment of a real-time system management information program to provide, in all States, the capability to monitor, the traffic and travel conditions of the nation's major highways and to share that information with State and local governments and the traveling public. The purpose of the program is to improve the security of the surface transportation system, to address congestion problems, to support improved response to weather events and surface transportation incidents, and to facilitate national and regional highway traveler information. The program will also identify longer range real-time highway and transit monitoring needs and develop plans and strategies for meeting such needs.
Status: Final Rule was published in November 2010 and codified as 23 CFR Part 511. Interim guidance on data exchange formats to facilitate sharing of program information was published October 2007 in the Federal Register, and a new task is using a system engineering approach to develop guidance to be available in October 2013 for using the Data Exchange Formats. See the Web site at ops.fhwa.dot.gov/1201 for more information.
- Section 6001 – Transportation Planning – Operations — Metropolitan transportation plans shall include operational and management strategies to improve the performance of the existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the safety and mobility of people and goods. The requirement for the inclusion of operational and management strategies must be in place prior to MPO adoption of transportation plans addressing SAFETEA-LU provisions. Congestion Management Processes in Transportation Management Areas (TMAs): there must be "a process that provides for effective management and operation" to address congestion management. Management and Operations Planning Factor: The metropolitan transportation plan shall provide for consideration of projects and strategies that will "(G) promote efficient system management and operations."
Status: Guidebooks for the Congestion Management Process (CMP) and Management & Operations in the MTP were disseminated to the public in May 2008 with an extensive outreach program that was conducted for the remainder of the calendar year that included workshops and numerous presentations provided. As a result of the dialogue that occurred in discussing these documents, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have developed a consolidated guidebook that illustrates how the CMP and M&O provisions working together can provide the legislative basis for advancing an outcome driven, performance based approach to Operations in the metropolitan planning process. This consolidated guidebook, "Advancing Planning for Operations: An Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach — A Guidebook" has been completed with the document available for distribution.
In addition to the completion of the consolidated guidebook, FHWA and FTA have also collaborated in the creation of a Model Transportation Plans Desk Reference document. This Desk Reference document showcases types of outcomes driven Operations Objectives and Operations Focused Performance Measures that MPO organizations can utilize to advance a strategic focus of Operations in their Planning processes. The Model Plan document utilizes the above-mentioned Guidebook as the approach to advance achieving compliance with Section 6001. The Model Plans Desk Reference document has been completed with the document available for distribution. Contact Jim Hunt (Jim.Hunt@dot.gov) for more information.
PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®.