Operations News - Archive
News Archive
Best Practices for Road Condition Reporting Systems - 12/17/2014
This report compiles information received through a survey and interviews with transportation agencies throughout North America to understand the uses of Road Condition Reporting Systems (RCRSs) and to identify industry practices that have delivered benefits to the agencies operating RCRSs. A total of 49 Current RCRS Industry Practices, 7 Best Practices, and 3 Emerging Best Practices are described in this report. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-023)
Webinars on Benefit Cost Analysis for Operations and Road Weather Management Strategies - 10/9/2014
FHWA will be holding two webinars on Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) strategies and tools. The first webinar will be held on October 30, 2014 and will focus on BCA for Transportation Systems Management and Operations and the second webinar will be held on November 6, 2014 and will focus on BCA for Road Weather Management. Both webinars will be from 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET. These webinars are free and are open to anyone who is interested. You must register in advance as space is limited to the first 500 registrants for each webinar, and you may register for one or both webinars. Please note that you must register individually for each webinar. Once you register you will receive an email with login instructions. All that is needed to participate is a computer with an Internet connection and a telephone. Each webinar will include a question and answer session in addition to the presentations.
FHWA Offering Limited Technical Assistance on Conducting Operations & Road Weather Management Benefit Cost Analysis - 10/9/2014
The Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations is providing limited technical assistance to State and local agencies that are currently conducting or are planning to conduct Benefit Cost Analyses (BCA) of transportation operations strategies.
Help the USDOT Identify Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) - 10/2/2014
In the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Congress asked USDOT to work with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive list of PNRS projects. The list will enable the Secretary of Transportation to classify PNRS projects and develop recommendations on eligible project cost financing. PNRS project information is being collected through an online survey. A survey was originally administered in June of 2014; this survey is being reopened to provide more opportunity for interested parties to respond. The survey will be open from October 2, 2014, to November 17, 2014.
Implementation of a Weather Responsive Traffic Estimation and Prediction System (TrEPS) for Signal Timing at Utah DOT - 9/12/2014
This study successfully demonstrates a working TrEPS system installed at the UDOT Traffic Management Center and leverages the existing traffic detection installation to extract real-time traffic state variables as a real-time input to the system.
Effectiveness of Safety and Public Service Announcement Messages on Dynamic Message Signs - 9/3/2014
The report assesses the usefulness and effectiveness of safety and public service announcement (PSA) messages through surveys conducted in four urban areas in the United States: Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The surveys were designed to specifically address the types of safety and PSA messages for each respective city. A total of 2,088 survey responses were received and analyzed. The report further captures findings and recommendations based on the analysis of the survey responses.
Mitigating Work Zone Safety and Mobility Challenges through Intelligent Transportation Systems: Case Studies - 8/26/2014
Describes how five sites used ITS to mitigate work zone safety and mobility issues and illustrates how to apply a systems engineering-based decision-making process to designing, selecting, and implementing a system.
Public Meeting Seeking Stakeholder Input to Infrastructure (V2I) Deployment Guidance - 8/15/2014
The Federal Highway Administration is hosting a free stakeholder workshop on September 12, 2014, after the ITS World Congress, to obtain stakeholder input on a draft of its Connected Vehicle Infrastructure (V2I) Deployment Guidance and deployment coalition planning.
Interim Approval 17 for the Optional Use of Three-Section Flashing Yellow Arrow Signal Faces - 8/15/2014
The FHWA has issued Interim Approval 17 that permits the optional use for a protected/permissive turn phase of a three-section flashing yellow arrow (FYA) signal face that uses the middle section to show both the FYA and the steady yellow arrow. Agencies may also continue to use the four-section FYA signal face for protected/permissive turn phases that is described in Sections 4D.20 and 4D.24. This interim approval has no impact on the use of a three-section FYA signal face for a permissive only turn phase as described in Sections 4D.18 and 4D.22.
Freight Facts and Figures 2013 - 7/14/2014
The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Freight Management of Operations has released Freight Facts and Figures 2013. This report is a snapshot of the volume and value of freight flows in the United States, the physical network over which freight moves, the economic conditions that generate freight movements, the industry that carries freight, and the safety, energy, and environmental implications of freight transportation. This snapshot helps decision makers, planners, and the public understand the magnitude and importance of freight transportation to the economy.
Release 2 of the Research Data Exchange (RDE) Is Now Available - 7/10/2014
Release 2 of the Research Data Exchange is now available. Two new data environments have been added to the RDE and are available to the public for download to include a one-day sample of the Safety Pilot Model Deployment. The RDE also features a new user interface and new download capabilities. Researchers, application developers, and others are invited to use the RDE in support of their endeavors and to help USDOT answer specific data-related research questions. Please visit the RDE Web site to explore the data and resources that are available and learn more about the features included in Release 2.
Survey on Projects of National and Regional Significance - 6/5/2014
Section 1301 of SAFETEA-LU established a program to provide grants to States for Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) to improve the safe, secure, and efficient movement of people and goods throughout the United States and to improve the health and welfare of the national economy. Under the provisions of MAP-21, $500,000,000 was authorized to be appropriated to carry out PNRS in fiscal year 2013. While no funds were appropriated in FY13, Section 1120 of MAP-21 requires the USDOT to develop a report to Congress that contains a comprehensive list of each project of national and regional significance that has been compiled through a survey of State departments of transportation; transit agencies, tribal governments, and multi-state or multi-jurisdictional groups. The comprehensive list will enable the Secretary to classify projects of regional or national significance and to develop recommendations on financing for eligible project costs. This survey is not a solicitation for a grant application. Response to the survey is voluntary and responding or not responding will not help, harm or directly influence the Secretary's evaluation for any future funding or solicitation for specific projects. For further information about PNRS, please contact Tamiko Burnell, tamiko.burnell@dot.gov, 202-366-1200.
Operations Performance Measures and Management Program Road Map - 5/8/2014
FHWA has released a program road map for the Operations Performance Measures and Management (OPMM) Program. The OPMM Program Road Map includes potential research and other projects to undertake during the years 2014-2018. The road map development included a peer exchange workshop featuring congestion measure experts from State DOTs, MPOs, academia and the private sector in order to get their input on how to move towards "The Perfect World for Measuring Congestion."
Traffic Signal LED Module Specification Workshop and Informational Report for Snow Conditions - 4/29/2014
FHWA has released a research report on the issue of potential occurrence of snow and/or ice buildup on LED traffic signal lenses. The objectives were to identify significant environmental (i.e., weather) variables that may contribute to snow and ice buildup on LED traffic signal lenses and identify proactive approaches to eliminating or minimizing the negative effects. One of the unintended consequences of the transition to LED traffic signals lenses/indications is this lighting source does not produce heat in sufficient quantity to provide "melting" ability in climates that experience snow and ice conditions.
Work Zone Intelligent Transportation Systems Implementation Guide: Use of Technology and Data for Effective Work Zone Management - 3/31/2014
Work zone ITS is one operational management strategy that agencies may use in a transportation management plan (TMP). Geared towards public agencies, design and construction firms, and industry, this document summarizes key steps for successfully implementing ITS in work zones, using a systematic approach towards achieving work zone safety and mobility objectives.
Measures of Effectiveness and Validation Guidance for Adaptive Signal Control Technologies - 3/27/2014
This report documents the tools and methodology developed for validation of Adaptive Signal Control Technologies (ASCT) systems and summarizes the testing of this approach and measures at a field site. The intent of the field study was not to evaluate the field site specifically but rather to demonstrate the application of the validation measures and methodology to a real world implementation of ASCT.
2014 National Work Zone Awareness Week - 3/20/2014
FHWA is partnering with AASHTO, ATSSA, FMCSA and other work zone safety advocates to raise public awareness about the need for driving and working safely in work zones. The 2014 National Work Zone Awareness Week will be held April 7-11, 2014. This year's theme is "Work Zone Speeding: A Costly Mistake".
Road Weather Management Performance Measures: 2012-2013 Update - 3/11/2014
This report includes a background on the development and update of RWMP performance measures since 2007 including the approaches and data sources used, and the results of the most recent (2012-2013) road weather management performance assessment conducted by FHWA.
Utah DOT Weather Responsive Traveler Information System - 3/11/2014
The FHWA Road Weather Management Program partnered with Utah DOT to develop, test and deploy a citizen reporting program that allows travelers to provide road weather information reports using their smart phones.
AASHTO Transportation Systems Management and Operations Guidance - 2/24/2014
The American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Transportation Systems Management and Operations Guidance has now been updated based on the experience of 24 state transportation department and regional workshops sponsored by second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) and FHWA during 2010-2013.
Impact of Exempt Vehicles on Managed Lanes - 2/12/2014
This report examines programs in use by states allowing low-emission and energy efficient vehicles to use HOV, HOT, and managed lanes without meeting the vehicle-occupancy requirements. Information is presented on the enabling legislation, the program elements, use of the programs, and impacts of the HOV, HOT, and managed lanes in 13 states. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-006)
National Workshop Attracts "Thought Leaders" in Congestion Pricing - 1/2/2014
On July 9-10, 2013, 114 leaders in congestion pricing, managed lanes, and parking pricing convened in Seattle, WA to discuss recent successes and challenges to advancing congestion pricing in the United States. Much of the discussion centered on the important outcomes of project implementations, especially the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA)/Congestion Reduction Demonstration (CRD) programs as well as the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP). The primary objective of the conference was raising the awareness, advancing the state-of-the-practice, and identifying the research and technology transfer needs in support of deploying congestion pricing strategies in the United States.
