AASHTO Subcommittee on Transportation Systems Management and Operations (STSMO)

NCHRP 20-7
Proposed Research Needs Statement

AASHTO Subcommittee on Transportation Systems Management and Operations (STSMO)

Interim Chairperson:John Nisbet, Director & State Traffic Engineer, Traffic Operations Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

April 13, 2015

TITLE

AASHTO Traffic Incident Management Working Group and Technical Advisory Group Business Plan

BACKGROUND/NEEDS STATEMENT

The Transportation and Public Safety Summit of 2012 brought a new discussion on TIM to the forefront. AASHTO had previously led the collaboration efforts through the development and sustainment of the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC). As an executive leadership group (ELG) was formed on the heels of the 2012 Summit, the NTIMC was sun-setted. This has left the national transportation voice on TIM fragmented and has hampered the efforts to institutionalize TIM within state transportation agencies across the nation. Understanding TIM in the context of Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSMO), AASHTO moved to create a TIM Working group in May 2014. This working group will facilitate advanced understanding of TIM, report on developments and assist with pushing AASHTO’s position on TIM into the national dialog. To ensure that invested time and energy is effective, the STSMO needs to engage a consultant to develop an initial business plan as well as a template for the future.

OBJECTIVE

The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently renamed its standing subcommittee on operations management to Subcommittee Transportation Systems Management & Operations (STSMO). This marked the beginning of more fully addressing the diverse transportation operations needs that state transportation agencies face. One emphasis area continues to be on traffic incident management (TIM). AASHTO has had a long-standing interest in TIM including playing a vital role in the creation of the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC) in 2006. In 2012 AASHTO participated in a Transportation and Public Safety Summit that identified four pillars of TIM for the nation: Legislation and Leadership; Institutional and Sustainability; Practitioner Capacity Building; and Public Outreach. In reaction to this summit the NTIMC was transitioned into the current Executive Leadership Group (ELG). As part of TSMO strategies, AASHTO has created an inward focused TIM Working Group that is comprised of state transportation agency members that guide, participate in, and report back developments in TIM to the overall STSMO. The STMSO also created an outward focused TIM Technical Advisory Group (TIMTAG) that can leverage participation from all TIM disciplines to tackle common interests. The TIM Working Group and TIMTAG need to have a clear business plan that maximizes both efficiency and output.

WORK TASKS

Task 1. Attend an upcoming STSMO meeting to capture current relevant discussions for the TIM Working Group and TIMTAG. At the STSMO meeting, conduct a small group meeting with the TIM Working Group Members to determine what the goals and objectives for the group are over the next 5 years. Interview members of the Highway Committee and STSMO leadership and TIM Working group to determine what their goals and objectives are for the TIM Working Group and TIMTAG.

Task 2. Complete an environmental and institutional scan to document the relationship of the TIM Working Group and TIMTAG to STSMO and other AASHTO committees for opportunities for collaboration as well as for other national groups such as the TIM Network, TIM Executive Leadership Group (ELG) and others as identified by the TIM Working Group. The work should result in a contextual definition of the TIM Working Group and TIMTAG that provides a high-level preliminary framework.

Task 3. Convene a workshop with representatives identified through the environmental and institutional scan to discuss the opportunities for collaboration and define the opportunities for partnership in the context of national TIM sustainability and institutionalization.

Task 4. Develop an initial two year business plan for the TIMTAG and a five year look ahead that frames possible work and initiatives to be completed, recognizing that the business plan should be derived from objectives and priorities as identified, in part, by the STSMO and TIM Working Group. This work should also result in an easy to use template that will be used by TIMTAG leadership on an annual basis to guide efforts. It is anticipated that the National Center of Excellence will become the primary partner of the STSMO and TIM Working Group in defining future work plans.

Task 5. Present the findings at a future STSMO meeting and revise the plan and template as needed based on comments and feedback.

URGENCY

This project will provide a critical strategic direction for support of AASHTO TSMO strategies and in support of the National TIM ELG. As the ELG is planning a second Transportation and Public Safety Summit it is imperative that AASHTO and the STSMO be prepared to participate in the national discussion. The TIM Working group as a component of the STSMO will participate in the collaborative process with other disciplines to support and enhance ELG activities.

FUNDING REQUESTED AND TIME REQUIRED

It is estimated that this research will take 6 months to complete and will require $75,000.

CONTACT PERSON

Tim Lane

Chief of Enforcement

Enforcement and Compliance Division

Arizona Department of Transportation

3838 North Central Avenue, Suite 500

Phoenix, Arizona 85012

Work- (602) 712-8735

Cell-(602) 228-7682