FHWA/UTC Workshop on Urban/Suburban Mobility and Congestion Mitigation Research
FHWA Program Areas
June 7, 2006
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with universities, state agencies, industry, and others to support a national transportation research strategy. FHWA's research objectives include: improving highway technology and delivery of highway products and services, and anticipating opportunities and needs for the transportation system of the future.
Below are descriptions of FHWA's Operations program areas where there are opportunities for collaboration with the UTCs. For more information about FHWA's programs, goals, and activities, please visit our Web site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/. For information specific to research activities and interests within FHWA, please visit the Corporate Research and Technology website at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/crt/.
ARTERIAL MANAGEMENT
Program Manager: Eddie Curtis, FHWA Office of Transportation Management / Resource Center Eddie.curtis@fhwa.dot.gov
404-562-3920
Research Contact: Raj Ghaman, FHWA Office of Operations R&D Raj.ghaman@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3270
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/arterial_mgmt/index.htm
Current Activities:
The Arterial Management Program is focused on providing guidance, information and initiatives to improve the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on arterials. The NTOC 2005 National Report Card awarded a grade of D- nationally to traffic signal operations. The current activities of the Arterial Management and Traffic Signal Timing Program include:
- Traffic Signal Timing Manual
- Signal Timing Under Saturated Conditions state-of-the-practice
- ACS-Lite Field Test and marketing
- Low Cost traffic signal retiming workshop based on Signal Timing on a Shoestring
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- Quantifying the needs benefits and cost of multi-jurisdictional traffic signal system operations, maintenance and personnel training.
- Identification of saturated conditions at signalized intersections and development of signal timing strategies to respond to this condition.
- Methods for using existing traffic signal system infrastructure to assess system performance in real-time and evaluation of the impacts of traffic signal timing changes prior to implementation.
- Methods for evaluating travel time on arterials routes and assessing the needs for and benefits of this information.
- Understanding how probe data can be utilized to improve traffic signal operations and performance measurement on arterial routes.
- Development of origin-destination data based on vehicle probe information and how this information can be used to better manage arterials.
- Understanding the most effective methods for communicating arterial traffic conditions to motorist and how this information affects route selection.
- Identifying and mitigating bottlenecks on arterials resulting from signal timing.
- Exploration of methods to improve traffic signal control logic.
- Understanding the need and impacts of modifying clearance intervals and traffic signal timing in response to weather conditions.
- Modification of the ACS-Lite algorithm to address traffic on crossing arterial routes.
- Understanding the best methods of communicating pedestrian clearance information to pedestrians.
INTEGRATED CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE
Program Manager: John Harding, FHWA Office of Transportation Management john.harding@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-0640
Research Contact: Dale Thompson, FHWA Office of Operations R&D dale.thompson@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3420
Program Information: http://www.its.dot.gov/icms/index.htm
Integrated corridor management (ICM) is defined as consisting of the operational coordination of specific transportation networks and cross-network connections comprising a corridor, and the coordination of institutions responsible for corridor mobility. ICM will improve mobility, safety, and other transportation objectives for travelers and goods. The goal of the ICM Initiative is to develop and provide the institutional guidance, operational capabilities, and ITS technical methods needed for effective integrated corridor management.
Current Activities:
Phase 1 Foundational Research: Developed 11 technical memorandums that address various aspects of ICM. Three major technical memorandums that address the ICM concept and its implementation are the ICM Concept of Operation for the Generic Corridor, the Generic Corridor Concept of Operations Requirements, and the ICM Implementation Guide.
Phase 2 Development Activities:
- ICM analysis methodologies and tools
- Device-to-device communication and control
- Corridor decision support system structure and requirements
- Standard requirements
- Integrated Corridor Management Systems surveillance and detection needs and development guidance
- Investigation of data/information needs to pass among corridor networks
- Identifying and incorporating institutional distribution of responsibility and sharing of control into the system.
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- ICM Analysis
- Travel behavior in response to corridor strategies
- Transit analysis/modeling/simulation
- Operational strategy policy trade-offs between "inform" and "instruct"
- Optional ways to inform travelers of corridor network performance that can be compared.
- Technical/System
- Sensors that better support corridor surveillance and data collection for corridor (non-network based) performance measures e.g. travel time. Sensors that can cover network junctions that include transitions between networks.
- ICM system data/information sharing among networks and implications concerning agency/jurisdictional IT security protocols and policies.
- Methods and techniques to inventory and cross-reference systems to facilitate better joint ICMS design.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Program Manager: Rich Taylor, FHWA Office of Transportation Management rich.taylor@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-1327
Research Contact: Dale Thompson, FHWA Office of Operations R&D dale.thompson@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3420
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/perf_measurement/index.htm
Current Activities:
The Mobility Monitoring Program (MMP) and the Urban Congestion Report (UCR) today provide operations performance measures focusing on mobility, congestion and reliability using archived ITS data from 20+ cities every month. The collection of data, quality checking, fusion and development of measures has been developed over the past 4+ years. The primary goal is to show the community what is possible when it comes to Performance Measures using ITS data and how to develop them for agencies.
The FHWA Office of Operations also supported the work of the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) in the development of a list of potential operations performance measures identified below:
- Customer Satisfaction
- Extent of Congestion (Spatial/Temporal)
- Recurring Delay
- Non-Recurring Delay
- Incident Duration
- Speed
- Throughput - Person
- Throughput - Vehicle
- Travel Time - Link
- Travel Time Reliability (Buffer Index)
- Travel Time - Trip
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- Developing and using other operations performance measures. The NTOC-developed operations performance measures still need to be piloted. Some piloting is planned under a small NCHRP study and through I-95 Corridor Coalition.
- Provide other assistance in bringing operations-related performance measures to the State DOTs and MPOs. Need assistance in showing the agencies how to use there ITS data, how to develop the measures, and how the measures can be used to provide important information to operators, decision makers, and system users
- Gather information on what operations performance measures are currently being used so that good practices can be identified and transferred to other agencies.
- Begin preparing for potential near-future availability of probe data and how best to develop into quality operations performance measures.
- Support use of operations performance measure in the Congestion Management Process and other planning-related uses.
TOLLING AND PRICING OPPORTUNITIES
Program Manager: Wayne Berman, FHWA Office of Transportation Management wayne.berman@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-4069
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/index.htm.
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- Gaining public acceptance of tolling and pricing opportunities by raising awareness and understanding to local elected and appointed officials as well as management at the State and local levels.
- Develop improved analysis capabilities to analyze and evaluate tolling and pricing programs within the context of ongoing Statewide and regional transportation planning.
- Develop new methods to predict the revenue generating potential for HOT lanes as well as other tolling and pricing opportunities.
TRAFFIC ANALYSIS TOOLS
Program Manager: John Halkias, FHWA Office of Transportation Management john.halkias@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-2183
Research Contact: James Colyar, FHWA Office of Operations R&D james.colyar@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3282
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficanalysistools/index.htm
Current Program Activities:
Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) Program:
- Collected detailed, high-quality vehicle trajectory datasets on freeways and arterials.
- Developed freeway lane selection algorithm.
- In-process of developing additional algorithms for arterial lane selection, arterial gap acceptance, cooperative/forced freeway merging, and oversaturated freeway conditions.
FHWA Traffic Analysis Toolbox:
- Developed practical guidance documents on selecting proper traffic analysis tool, applying traffic simulation tools to project analyses, and best practices of traffic analysis tool applications.
- In-process of developing guidance on measures of effectiveness for traffic analysis tools and calibrating traffic simulation models.
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- Understanding and modeling of oversaturated conditions.
- Understanding and modeling of traffic flow
- under adverse weather conditions.
- in and around work zones.
- surrounding traffic incidents.
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- Understanding and modeling of integrated and multi-modal corridors.
- Understanding and modeling of driver response to traveler information.
- Understanding and modeling of heterogeneous traffic flow conditions.
TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Program Manager: Dave Helman, FHWA Office of Transportation Operations david.helman@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-8042
Research Contact: Randy VanGorder, FHWA Office of Operations R&D randall.vangorder@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3266
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/incidentmgmt/index.htm
Current Activities:
- Performance measurement addressed at the overall multi-agency program level rather than agency centered as most performance is currently measured. We have an 11 State Focus States Initiative underway to push the state-of-the practice.
- Use of service patrols on all urban freeways on a 24/7 basis as full emergency response partners with law enforcement, fire/rescue, emergency medical and towing responders. Aggressive use of these patrols involved in incident response and clearance that includes but rises above simple motorist assistance.
- Adoption and use of Quick Clearance Policies for both aggressive clearance of major incidents and attention to and clearance of minor incidents. I-95 Corridor Coalition is embarking on major Quick Clearance activities for the 16 Corridor States.
- Integrating multi-agency communication systems to link public safety CAD systems with TMC and TOC systems. Data, voice and video information needs to be readily exchanged among responding partner entities to get the right people and equipment to a scene as quickly as possible and to keep status information updated.
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- Benefits and costs of multi-agency programs to include safety benefits to motorists and responders operational benefits to responding agencies. Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, tow trucks and other equipment as well as the personnel needed to clear the incident are tied up at the scene as long as the incident goes on. What are the benefits operationally to these agencies from quick clearance that returns these resources to service for other emergencies? Most B/C studies look only at congestion and maybe fuel consumption.
- Affect of emergency lighting on traffic flow. Fire/rescue people are concerned that overuse of emergency flashing lights, especially at night, confuses or even blinds drivers, resulting in a degradation of safety to the responders.
- Affects of rubbernecking (visibility of the incident or emergency lighting) on traffic flow in the opposite direction of flow, especially on divided freeways.
- Secondary incidents - These have never been properly researched because they are hard to identify. A TRB paper at the 2006 session (poster session) attempted to relate crash data to flow data to identify crashes that were more likely to have been in the incident affected area. Also, secondary incidents include engine stalls, overheating and fuel depletion, which also need to be attended to in some way.
REAL TIME TRAVELER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Program Manager: Bob Rupert, FHWA Office of Operations R&D robert.rupert@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-2194
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/travelinfo/index.htm
Current Activities:
- Traveler Information Systems - Sharing best practices for providing travel time messages on dynamic message signs; assessing (updating) traveler information business models; developing assistance for public agencies to help determine how best to invest resources for improving traveler information, e.g., increase geographic coverage or improve data quality; conducting analyses for quantifying benefits of traveler information services using archived and historical travel data; benefits demonstrated for trip planning; assessing "serenity" (value of knowing conditions and reasons regardless of whether remedial actions are possible) benefits of traveler information to travelers.
- 511 Travel Information Telephone services - Guidelines, Progress Report, technical assistance guides developed by the 511 Deployment Coalition with support from USDOT; conducting study with Utah DOT to assess value of 511 services vis-à-vis broadcast media, etc.
- Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure Program (ITIP) - Deploying sensors and information management services in designated cities across the country with private sector contractor; conducting period quality checks on data.
- Real-time System Management Information Program (SAFETEA-LU, Section 1201) - Developing program to establish in all States capability to monitor real-time conditions of major highways and transportation systems; also developing data exchange formats so that information can be readily shared among jurisdictions, agencies and firms; published Request for Comments in the Federal Register for program description; assessing current ITS and other standards for applicability as data exchange formats.
Research Gaps and Opportunities:
- Traveler behavior: Limited analyses on how travelers comprehend and use real-time (or predictive) information provided by various methods in making travel choices, e.g., what types of messages cause what sorts of travelers to make route or mode diversion?
- Value of information: Current analyses help provide value of traveler information under low market-penetration usage, but little is known regarding value or use of predictive (both short-term such as within the hour, and longer-term such as the next day or week) information.
- Traveler information business models: Given the changing information technology environment and related changes to traveler information providers, it is not clear which business models provide the best return on investments by private sector firms and by public sector agencies; how do public agencies assess the risks & rewards of public-private partnerships for traveler information, e.g., reliance on private sector data sources, maintaining quality control over assets, ensuring quality & equitable product & services to the public.
ROAD WEATHER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Program Manager: Paul Pisano, FHWA Office of Transportation Operations paul.pisano@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-1301
Research Contact: Rudy Persaud, FHWA Office of Operations R&D rudy.persaud@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3391
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index.asp
Current Activities
- Weather Responsive Traffic Management - Conducting research on the impacts of weather on traffic flow; developing guidance on integrating weather in traffic operations; and developing weather-responsive traffic management strategies and decision support systems.
- Road Weather Observation and Forecasting - Developing a nationwide surface transportation weather observing and forecasting system (the Clarus initiative); providing guidance on placement of weather sensors; and conducting research on vehicle-infrastructure integration (VII) technologies for road weather data collection
- Maintenance Decision Support System - Deploying the winter maintenance decision support system (MDSS) and expanding the MDSS capabilities to address non-winter maintenance activities.
Research Gaps and Opportunities in Weather Responsive Traffic Management
- Developing new strategies and evaluating/documenting the effectiveness of existing weather responsive traffic management, advisory and control strategies.
- Understanding traveler behavior (pre-trip and en-route) during inclement weather
- Measuring/quantifying the benefits of improved weather observations and forecasts to support traffic management strategies and decision support systems.
WORK ZONE MOBILITY AND SAFETY
Program Manager: Chung Eng, FHWA Office of Transportation Operations chung.eng@fhwa.dot.gov 202-366-8043
Research Contact: Deborah Curtis, FHWA Office of Operations R&D deborah.curtis@fhwa.dot.gov 202-493-3267
Program Information: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/index.asp
Ongoing Activities
The Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program is focused on providing products and tools to transportation practitioners to help reduce congestion and crashes due to work zones. The goal is to make work zones work better by facilitating systematic consideration and management of work zone safety and mobility impacts across all stages of project development.
Research Gaps and Opportunities
- Methods to collect, manage, analyze and apply work zone performance and crash data.
- Data on impacts of specific work zone traffic management/control strategies on mobility and safety.
- Data on cost effectiveness of specific work zone traffic management/control strategies.
- Modeling/decision tools based on data
