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21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Process for Establishing, Implementing, and Institutionalizing a Traffic Incident Management Performance Measurement Program

Introduction

Intended Audiences

This document is intended for the following audiences:

  • Local, regional, and State transportation agencies.
  • Local, regional, and State law enforcement agencies.
  • Local and regional fire departments.
  • Towing companies.
  • Emergency Medical Services(EMS).
  • Other incident response (IR) organizations.

Traffic incident management (TIM) programs have consistently been faced with significant funding challenges. To help justify TIM programs, the benefits of these programs can be shown using the concept of performance measurement. Performance measurement for TIM programs can demonstrate program accountability, process efficiency, and improvements over time; improve communications amongst partners; and support future planning. In addition, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) requires the establishment of a performance- and outcome-based program in which states invest resources in projects that collectively make progress toward the achievement of national performance goals.

The purpose of this document is to provide a user friendly, easy-to-apply process for establishing, implementing, and institutionalizing a local, regional, or State program for TIM performance measurement. The process presented here is based on approaches, practices, techniques, and technologies that have been or can be applied to support a successful TIM performance measures program.

Organization

The process presented in this document includes the following six steps:

Step 1: Review traffic incident management performance measures, definitions, and data requirements.

Step 1 presents, defines, and identifies the data elements necessary to calculate the three key traffic incident management (TIM) performance measures, as well as a number of other TIM performance measures.

Step 2: Determine what data are available.

Step 2 discusses the most common sources of data for TIM performance measurement, the advantages and disadvantages of each type of data source, and other potential data sources. This step also includes a Checklist of Data Elements for use in determining what data are available for TIM performance measurement.

Step 3: Collect and manage data.

In Step 3, the collection and management of TIM performance data are discussed in terms of example practices used by various agencies. The data elements being collected by these agencies are linked to the Checklist of Data Elements discussed in Step 2. Data collection via traffic management/operations centers, freeway service patrols (FSP), incident response (IR) teams, police computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, and statewide crash reports is discussed and illustrated. In addition, practices for overcoming challenges associated with collecting data on secondary crashes are provided. Finally, the management of TIM data, including high-level information on developing a TIM performance measurement database, transferring data between databases, and integrating data, is discussed.

Step 4: Analyze data and report performance.

In Step 4, the analysis and reporting of TIM performance data are discussed, including both aggregate and disaggregate analyses, as well as the benefits of conduction disaggregate analyses. Examples of the analysis of TIM performance trends; advanced analysis/visualization of TIM data; performance reports, dashboards, and scorecards; and internal use and reporting of TIM performance are provided.

Step 5: Engage partners in discussions about traffic incident management performance.

Step 5 discusses the importance of looking for and capitalizing on opportunities to discuss TIM performance measurement with TIM partners, sharing and discussing TIM performance goals and objectives, discussing agency roles and coordination, and seeking to fill data gaps through data sharing and integration.

Step 6: Formalize and/or institutionalize traffic incident management performance measurement.

Step 6 outlines various approaches for formalizing and/or institutionalizing TIM performance measurement at the local, regional, and/or State levels.

Supporting Documentation

National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 07-20: Guidance on the Implementation of TIM Performance Measurement1

This project culminated in a guidance document, which provides the background to the development of the three national TIM performance measures, definitions, data sources, and example analyses. In addition, the guidance provides a database schema, data dictionary, and database scripts for creating a TIM performance measurement database.

Corresponding online traffic incident management performance measurement (TIMPM) tool

In addition to this written guidance document on TIM performance measurement, there is a corresponding online guidance tool—TIMPM—which is available via the TIM Network http://nchrptimpm.timnetwork.org/.

1Pecheux, K and R. Brydia. Guidance on the Implementation of Traffic Incident Management Performance Measurement, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, pending publication.) [Return to Note 1]