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21st century operations using 21st century technologies

Operations News - Archive

News Archive

Transportation Systems Management and Operations Benefit-Cost Analysis Compendium - 12/22/2015
The Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Benefit Cost Compendium is a continuation of the series of reference documents and tools developed by the Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations designed to assist planners and operations professionals in evaluating the benefits and costs of TSMO strategies and technologies. The TSMO Compendium is a collection of cases from across the country where benefit-cost analysis (BCA) has been applied to a specific TSMO technology/strategy or group. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-032)

Request for Comments – Future Direction of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices - 12/22/2015
On December 22, 2015, the FHWA published a Request for Comments (Docket ID: FHWA-2015-0028) in the Federal Register soliciting input on future direction of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Topic areas include target audience and intended user, content and organization, and frequency of MUTCD editions. For your convenience, an electronic spreadsheet file has been posted to the docket for optional use in submitting comments.

Guidance on Using Traffic Management Centers for Work Zone Management - 12/21/2015
This document presents guidance for DOTs to consider how Traffic Management Center (TMC) resources (staff, data, and tools) can be used to support all stages of a work zone, providing examples of where these resources are used today. A total of eight strategies are presented for utilizing TMC resources during the four stages of a work zone. Each strategy includes detailed descriptions and examples of use in practice. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-15-032)

Active Traffic Management Feasibility and Screening Guide - 12/14/2015
This Guide was developed to assist transportation agencies and planning organizations in making informed investment decisions regarding Active Traffic Management (ATM) by determining the feasibility of ATM strategies before committing significant resources towards any subsequent project development and design activities. The Guide was based on an extensive review of literature coupled with interviews with several practitioners who have been directly involved in the feasibility analyses, design, deployment, and/or operation of ATM strategies. It presents a recommended process for agencies to follow as they consider ATM deployment at the feasibility and screening analyses level. Following the guidance will help practitioners to identify specific roadway segments most suited for ATM and the appropriate strategies, and the expected costs and range of benefits. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-019)

ATDM Planning Brief: ATM Feasibility and Screening Guide - 12/14/2015
This Informational Brief highlights the objectives of the Active Traffic Management (ATM) Feasibility and Screening Guide, provides a sample of ATM benefits from U.S. deployments, and provides an overview of the recommended steps and activities in conducting ATM feasibility and screening. This Brief is a companion to the ATM Feasibility and Screening Guide, which covers the same concepts as the Brief but in more detail. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-018)

Contemporary Approaches in Congestion Pricing: Lessons Learned from the National Evaluation of Congestion Pricing Strategies at Six Sites - 11/24/2015
This document represents the final report of the national evaluation of congestion reduction strategies at six sites that received federal funding under the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) and Congestion Reduction Demonstration (CRD) programs. The six sites, or "urban partners," were Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington. Each site implemented a comprehensive policy response to urban congestion that included four essential components known as the "4 Ts": 1) tolling (or congestion pricing), 2) enhanced transit services, 3) telecommuting and other transportation demand management (TDM) strategies, and 4) advanced technology.

Next Generation Traveler Information System: A Five Year Outlook - 11/19/2015
This report is intended to help agencies plan the next generation traveler information system so that they stay in step with their customers and with transportation network management needs. It provides a current snapshot of status in key areas such as traveler needs, technology trends, and business models. Against this backdrop, the report provides guidance on operational and technical best practices that can be used by public agencies as they develop next generation traveler information systems (NGTIS). These best practices are designed to help agencies optimize their operational approaches to provide travelers with improved functionality and generate desired transportation outcomes. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-15-029)

Your MUTCD Turns 80! - 11/6/2015
On November 7, 2015, the 80th birthday of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and throughout the year when you see an easy-to-read sign, a bright edgeline marking on a foggy night, the countdown timer at a crosswalk, or a well-placed bike lane, take a moment to reflect on the eighty years of progress and innovation that the MUTCD embodies. This progress has resulted in safer, more efficient travel on our Nation's roads. Over the years, the MUTCD has unknowingly become the traveler's best friend and silent companion, guiding us on our way along the streets, bikeways, back roads, and highways. As the direct means of communication with the traveler, traffic control devices speak to us softly, yet effectively and authoritatively. From glass “cat’s-eye” reflectors to glass beads to microprismatic sheeting, nighttime sign visibility has advanced significantly. Active devices at rail crossings save lives by giving us a positive message about train traffic. And countdown timers on pedestrian signals help us cross a busy street. So the next time you hit the pavement, the path, or the pedals, you can be sure that the MUTCD, through our dedicated professionals who make complex decisions on what devices to install, will help you get where you want to go safely, efficiently, and comfortably! The MUTCD…it's all about you!

E-tool for Business Processes to Improve Travel Time Reliability - 8/19/2015
The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Reliability Project developed the software titled E-tool for Business Processes to Improve Travel Time Reliability (SHRP-2 LE-34 e-Tool). The Federal Highway Administration supports this E-Tool to assist transportation agencies when evaluating their key business processes to improve travel time reliability.

New Guidance for Conducting Effective Work Zone Process - 7/22/2015
This document shares good practices and methods that agencies have found worthwhile in conducting their process reviews. The goal is that this focused information will lead to more consistent and targeted improvements in agency work zone policies and procedures. This document includes tips for success in work zone process reviews, effective use of data and performance measures in process reviews, and insight for connecting process reviews with other work zone safety and mobility improvement efforts. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-15-013)

Traffic Incident Management Gap Analysis Primer - 6/29/2015
The recommendations contained in the Traffic Incident Management Gap Analysis Primer allow that they may be tailored towards the needs of the area in which the Traffic Incident Management program will be implemented.

Incorporating Travel-Time Reliability into the Congestion Management Process (CMP): A Primer - 6/25/2015
The Incorporating Travel-Time Reliability into the Congestion Management Process (CMP): A Primer provides guidance and potential opportunities for using products developed through the SHRP 2 Reliability focus area. The Primer has been developed, in part, to support and advance the Congestion Management Process (CMP) and the Planning for Operations program as part of the metropolitan transportation planning process. (Publication number: FHWA-HOP-14-034)

Improving Transportation Systems Management and Operations – Capability Maturity Model Workshop White Papers - 6/25/2015
These white papers focuses on the six critical dimensions of capability identified in the SHRP2 research as necessary to support effective Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O). They summarize the TSM&O state-of-the-practice in each dimension based on the workshops and subsequent implementation plans developed at 23 sites selected by FHWA and AASHTO as part of the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Implementation Assistance Program.

Citizen Reporting of Current Road Conditions - 6/23/2015
The Citizen Reporting of Current Road Conditions best practices document reviews, compares, and contrasts citizen reporting programs that capture current weather and road conditions at five state departments of transportation - Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Urban Congestion Reports for October-December 2014 and January-March 2015 Available - 6/3/2015
The Urban Congestion Report (UCR) program has been restarted using travel time data from the National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) to develop congestion and reliability measures in the 52 largest (by population) urban areas in the United States. Quarterly UCR reports, which compare quarterly measures with those from the prior year, are available for October-December 2014 and January-March 2015.

Urban Congestion Trend Reports for 2013 and 2014 Available - 6/3/2015
The 2013 and 2014 Urban Congestion Trend annual reports are available, providing annual congestion and reliability measure trend information as well as highlighting evaluations of successful operations strategies.

Guidelines for Virtual Transportation Management Center Development - 4/2/2015
This guidebook is intended to serve as a detailed reference that addresses the concepts, methods, processes, tasks, techniques, and other related issues for practitioners to consider associated with planning and development for a virtual Traffic Management Center (TMC). The guidebook describes the business planning process for developing a virtual TMC and provides guidance and procedures for addressing technical, operational and institutional issues such as data needs, communications, responsibilities, and agreements for collaborating remotely will be beneficial. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-016)

Roles of Transportation Management Centers in Incident Management on Managed Lanes - 4/2/2015
This guidebook examines traffic incident management practices that are implemented by transportation management centers on managed lanes. The document examines the unique operating environment of managed lanes from an incident management perspective. The roles of the transportation management center in the managed lane environment are discussed in terms of incident preparedness and real-time incident management activities and support. A comparison of best practices for eight case studies is presented, and an in-depth analysis of the role of the transportation management center in incident management is presented for three of the managed lane facilities examined in the case studies. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-14-022)

Free National Operations Center of Excellence 101 Webinar on Friday, February 27 - 2/19/2015
If you would you like to know more on what the National Operations Center of Excellence can do for you or if you would like to find out the different ways you can actively participate—providing and receiving operations and management advice and information—join the Center on February 27th at 1:00 p.m. EST for the free webinar session titled "National Operations Center of Excellence: 101."

Congestion Pricing Webinar: Synergies Among Congestion Pricing, Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM), and Other Market Based Strategies - 2/12/2015
Transportation agencies across the U.S. have implemented managed lane projects and successfully combined congestion pricing with various ATDM strategies. The positive impacts on congestion management and safety of these combined strategies can exceed those of separate strategies. This webinar will focus on synergies between congestion pricing and Active Demand Management (ADM), Active Traffic Management (ATM), Integrated Corridor Management (ICM), and Dynamic Ridesharing on implemented projects.

Ramp Metering: A Proven, Cost-Effective Operational Strategy—A Primer - 1/26/2015
This primer poses ramp metering as a potential tool to address commonly occurring congestion and safety issues. Despite initial opposition and skepticism from various stakeholders, ramp metering has been deployed, sustained, and even expanded in many regions. This primer incorporates recent research on challenges agencies experience during their attempts to deploy or expand ramp metering in their regions.

Ramp Metering: A Proven, Effective Strategy - An Informational Brief - 1/26/2015
This Informational Brief highlights ramp metering as a proven, effective strategy for reducing congestion and improving safety. The Brief covers at a high-level the benefits of ramp metering, status of ramp metering deployment in the U.S., keys for successful deployment and operation, and resources for more information. This Brief is a companion to the Ramp Metering Primer, which covers much of the same information as the Brief but in more detail.

National Operations Center for Excellence Is Established - 1/13/2015
The National Operations Center for Excellence (NOCoE) has been launched! NOCoE (transportationops.org) will serve as a single point-of-contact for transportation systems management and operations practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to provide the access for relevant knowledge, promote best practices, support capacity building, and promote peer-to-peer interchanges. While several hundred resources have been loaded to the NOCoE website already, many more will be loaded over the next couple of months to complete the initial populating of the site, with consistent content updates ongoing thereafter. NOCoE will be operated jointly by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Institute for Transportation Engineers, and ITS America through a Memorandum of Understanding, with support from the Federal Highway Administration.

The Road Weather Management Benefit Cost Analysis Compendium - 1/6/2015
The Road Weather Management (RWM) Benefit Cost Analysis Compendium provides information about benefit cost analyses conducted around the country for specific RWM technologies or operational strategies.

Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) Video - 1/2/2015
Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) is a management philosophy and suite of operations tools used to improve transportation reliability, efficiency, and safety. ATDM includes Active Traffic Management, Active Demand Management, and Active Parking Management. This video explains the ATDM concept and includes examples and testimonials from various ATDM adopters throughout the U.S.