Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Program: Major Achievements, Key Findings, and Outlook

Chapter 4. Outlook: Connecting ICM to the Future

Many view ICM as a natural extension of ITS capabilities that focuses on integrating the various pieces. In other words, ICM ties together the various ITS systems for individual networks and agencies. Using this logic, ICM should continue to evolve to encompass new and improved ITS technologies and applications. ICM can also be viewed as an advanced form of transportation systems management and operations (TSMO). As such, regions should consider incorporating ICM into their TSMO plans. A few of the deployment planning grant sites have already done so, in some cases prioritizing ICM investments over other operational needs. The ICM program and FHWA's Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) program share many common features between them. They are both considered active; they both involve monitoring the system, assessing system performance; evaluating and recommending response strategies or dynamic actions; and finally implementing the response plan or dynamic actions. The process is continuous so that minor adjustments can be made as plans are implemented, depending on the reaction of traffic to the implemented response.

Connected vehicle applications, particularly those related to mobility, are clearly within the scope of an ICMS, and the data collected from the connected vehicles can be used as additional data to be fused in the DSS. The ICM concept is also embedded in deployment grant programs such as the ATCMTD program. The ICM program accomplishments and outcomes described in this paper provide a solid foundation for future work in making these connections on a practical level.

Practitioners desire more practical, how-to guidance for planning, implementing, and operating ICM systems. Table 1 provides a listing of current research needs and KTT recommendations. These needs were gathered from the 13 deployment planning grant recipients, the ICM demonstration sites and evaluation report, interviews with ICM developers, and the experience of the authors with the ICM program. The needs and recommendations are not prioritized.

The ICM program has been a cornerstone to the evolution of traffic management programs such as ATDM, ATCMTD, and Mobility on Demand (MOD). The core functionality of the ICMS and the collaboration among an expanded set of corridor and now regional partners has greatly improved the chances of success of current and future mobility management systems. National deployment of ICM is far from complete; however, the program has gained visibility across the country as regions are introduced to the benefits of ICM. Motivation to deploy ICM has been established and embraced among regional mobility managers across the country.

Table 1. ICM research needs and KTT recommendations (based on stakeholder inputs)

Guidance on evolutionary paths for ICM deployment. DSS options and incremental development guidance, business rules, lessons learned, playbooks, and examples. Improving DSS response and strategy activation times. Further DSS improvements including more robust transit strategies/Mobility on Demand (MOD)/etc. Guidance on mainstreaming ICM into overall transportation planning, programming, and project development processes. Institutional framework to promote collaboration and integration. Continued assessment of evolving and new ICM strategies. Support for peer-to-peer exchange mechanisms among ICM planners and implementers; to allow sharing of ideas, approaches, lessons learned, and plans. Knowledge, skills, and abilities guidance for traffic operations center operators to support ICM. How do the new ICM tools/strategies enhance rather than compete with the demands of existing operator responsibilities? Guidance on funding opportunities and examples or case studies; how have other regions done it. Information on creative funding opportunities. Helpful hints on long-term operations and maintenance arrangements and funding. Evaluation and Performance: How to prioritize, quantify, monetize, and measure ICM benefits. Guidance on how to test the baseline and measure the improvement in ICM. Demonstrate built-in performance monitoring and evaluation reporting (what was predicted by the model vs. what occurred). Provide updated benefits information and benefit-cost data that applies to a range of urban areas and operational conditions. Updated guidance on ICM performance management, related multimodal performance measures including return on investment. Efficient tools for sharing and integrating operational data across multiple agencies. Investigating the potential to expand ICM from a "corridor" mindset to a "regional" mindset — incorporating multiple corridors into a regional management framework.