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Traffic Incident Management Cost Management and Cost Recovery Primer

Chapter 1. TIM Overview

TIM consists of a planned and coordinated multi-disciplinary process to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that traffic flow may be restored as safely and quickly as possible. Effective TIM reduces the duration and impacts of traffic incidents and improves the safety of motorists, crash victims and emergency responders. A "good" TIM program is one in which responders go home every time, roadways are blocked for the minimum amount of time, and secondary crashes are reduced or eliminated. Sometimes TIM is used interchangeably with the term "transportation operations" or "traffic operations"; however, at a transportation agency, TIM is just one component of an overall transportation operations program or may even be part of the maintenance division. From a national perspective, TIM consists of four primary areas: legislation, policies, training, and outreach.

Regardless of where the responsibility for TIM lies within transportation agencies, operations managers increasingly look upon TIM as a transportation operations solution that promotes more efficient use of the existing roadway infrastructure. However, at agencies that are asked to assume the responsibilities of TIM costs, reduced funding levels continue to limit their ability to execute programs effectively.

TIM Programs can typically be divided into strategic activities, tactical activities, and support activities, as shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2 – The Anatomy of a TIM Program
TIM Strategic Activities TIM Tactical Activities TIM Support Activities
  • Staffing/Resourcing
  • TIM Teams
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Training
  • Vehicle Purchases
  • System Deployment
  • Software Deployment
  • Asset Purchases
  • Asset Typing
  • Resource Typing
  • Strategic Planning
  • Agency Notification
  • Resource Dispatch
  • Scene Setup
  • Device Activations
  • Traffic Diversions
  • Queue Monitoring
  • Investigative Procedures
  • Victim Extrication and Transport
  • Vehicle Clearance
  • HAZMAT Mitigation
  • Vehicle/Equipment Repairs
  • Traffic Management Center Operations
  • Infrastructure Repairs
  • Data Collection
  • Data Integration
  • Data Sharing
  • Traveler Information
  • After Action Reviews
  • Cost Management
  • Cost Recovery

TIM Programs

An effective TIM program cannot be planned or executed by any single agency or discipline alone. This understanding led to the creation of goals and objectives through the National Unified Goal (NUG), developed by FHWA, AASHTO, the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC), and other Government and industry representatives in 2004.

TIM Goals and Objectives

IM program goals and objectives as documented in the NUG include three overarching goals:

  • Responder Safety
  • Safe, Quick Clearance
  • Prompt, Reliable Interoperable Communications

Each of these goals is supported by cross-cutting strategies or objectives that help to define strategic, tactical, and supporting actions for TIM programs. Table 3 below shows each of the NUG cross-cutting strategies along with considerations for cost management and cost recovery. This examination of the NUG shows that there are many opportunities to manage and possibly recover the costs associated with TIM, and relating these expenses to performance during incidents can better capture the full scope of strategic costs. The key to an effective TIM cost management and cost recovery program is tying these goals to performance measures and an overall performance index.

Table 3 – Sources of Costs Associated with the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management
  TIM Cost Categories
Strategy Plans and Procedures Coordination Equipment Technology Training
TIM Partnerships and Programs Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination     Costs are for training
Multidisciplinary NIMS and TIM Training Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination     Costs are for training
Goals for Performance and Progress Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination   Costs are for technology Costs are for training
TIM Technology Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination   Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Effective TIM Policies Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination     Costs are for training
Awareness and Education Partnerships Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination   Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Recommended Practices for Responder Safety Costs are for plans and procedures   Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Move Over/Slow Down Laws Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology  
Driver Training and Awareness   Costs are for coordination   Costs are for technology  
Multidisciplinary TIM Procedures Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Multidisciplinary Communications Practices and Procedures Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Response and Clearance Time Goals Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination      
24/7 Availability Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment    
Prompt, Reliable Responder Notification Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Interoperable Voice and Data Networks Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Broadband Emergency Communications Systems Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Prompt, Reliable Traveler Information Systems Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination Costs are for equipment Costs are for technology Costs are for training
Partnerships with News Media and Information Providers Costs are for plans and procedures Costs are for coordination   Costs are for technology Costs are for training

This examination of the NUG shows that there are many opportunities to manage and possibly recover the costs associated with TIM. The key to an effective TIM cost management and cost recovery program is tying these goals to performance measures and an overall performance index.

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