Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies
Table of Contents

Making the Connection: Advancing Traffic Incident Management in Transportation Planning

4. Information Resources for Planners on TIM

There are several knowledge resources available that can help transportation planners gain a better understanding of TIM needs, priorities, and partners. There are also resources that can be used by planners to support inter-agency TIM program development through a standard assessment, toolbox, sample agreements, and TIM plans. This section provides a guide to resources that will provide planners with more detail on TIM and will provide additional ideas on how to take the next steps.

Federal Highway Administration Traffic Incident Management Website
(https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/about/tim.htm)

This is a helpful initial resource to browse for basic as well as more in-depth information on TIM from a transportation point of view. It provides fundamental information on what is TIM and who is involved in TIM. It also contains links to several general, easy-to-understand handbooks on TIM from FHWA:

2010 Traffic Incident Management Handbook Update
(https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/publications/timhandbook/index.htm)

This includes the latest advances in TIM programs and practices across the country and offers insights into innovations in TIM tools and technologies. It also contains links to interagency agreements for TIM. The handbook includes these sections:

  • Introduction: Overview of Traffic Incident Management
  • TIM Strategic Program Elements: Programmatic structure and institutional coordination necessary for a successful TIM program.
  • TIM Tactical Program Elements: Full range of on-scene operations.
  • TIM Support Program Elements: Communications and technical aspects of successful TIM programs.
  • A quick resource guide titled, "Want to Know More," follows each chapter and directs readers to supplemental information associated with the specific chapter content.

Best Practices in Traffic Incident Management
(https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop10050/index.htm)

This report will give planners a good understanding of the challenges encountered by TIM professionals and practices for overcoming them. It describes task-specific and cross-cutting challenges commonly encountered by TIM responders and novel and effective strategies for overcoming these issues and challenges (i.e., best practices). Cross-cutting challenges of interest to planners include interagency coordination and communication, technology procurement and deployment, and performance measurement.

Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation for Traffic Incident Management Applications
(https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12045/index.htm)

This publication provides more advanced material for planners looking to predict what the impacts of TIM strategies will be at the planning stage of project development and to monitor the effects of TIM programs. It provides a synthesis of analysis, modeling, and simulation methods for incident impacts. The focus is on the effects of incidents on congestion and reliability as well as secondary incidents, for the purpose of estimating TIM benefits and evaluating programs and proposed strategies.

National Unified Goal (NUG) from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition
(http://ntimc.transportation.org/Pages/NationalUnifiedGoal%28NUG%29.aspx)

The National Unified Goal (NUG) consists of the following three major goals, which are supported by 18 strategies:

  • Responder safety
  • Safe, quick clearance, and
  • Prompt, reliable, interoperable communications.

The NUG was developed through a consensus process by representatives of the major national organizations representing the many disciplines that respond to traffic incidents and is being implemented through State, regional and local traffic incident management partnerships. The website listed above provides information and outreach materials on the NUG.

Traffic Incident Management Self Assessment
(https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/preparedness/tim/self.htm)

The purpose of the Traffic Incident Management Self Assessment is to provide a formal process for State and local transportation, public safety, and private sector partners to collaboratively assess their traffic incident management programs and identify opportunities for improvement. The assessment provides a tool that MPOs can use to bring together TIM partners in the region to evaluate the current components of a coordinated TIM program in the area and identify areas for additional effort.

The I-95 Corridor Coalition Quick Clearance Document Library
(http://www.i95coalition.org/i95/Training/QuickClearanceWorkshop/tabid/188/Default.aspx)

The I-95 Corridor Coalition's website contains many TIM resources, but one of the most relevant resources for transportation planners is the selection of Quick Clearance Documents available from the web address above. It contains a collection of interagency agreements, plans, and policy documents contributed by State and local agencies. Also available from that page is the Quick Clearance Toolkit that offers policymakers and practitioners a roadmap for developing a TIM program.

The TIM Network
(http://timnetwork.org/)

The TIM Network is a professional network of individuals from across the country who are interested in connecting with other TIM professionals from multiple disciplines and staying up-to-date with efforts to advance TIM.