ITS National Associations Working Group
Meeting Summary
Thursday, January 29, 2004
9:45 a.m. - noon
National
Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
400 N. Capitol Street, Room
390
Washington, D.C. 20001
Agenda
Attendees
Opening Remarks and Introductions
Shelley Row,
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
- Ms. Row provided some background on the effort that began with the
National Dialogue Session Summit that took place in 2001.
- The National Dialogue was the original effort related to operations that
generated support, excitement, and discussion of the issues.
- The change in title to NTOC "signifies a philosophical shift from
discussion to action." A grass roots thrust is replacing the federal
push for consideration of operations and management activities.
- With the help of NAWG members, the Special Session held in June 2003,
generated considerations for designing a national campaign.
National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC)
Jeff Paniati, Associate Administrator, FHWA
National Transportation
Operations Coalition (NTOC) - Presentation
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- The NAWG is a key part of this effort of the NTOC effort. Goal is to
bring the NAWG and NTOC into a closer relationship.
- The purpose is to recognize grass roots part of the operations
initiative. A variety of players are involved in this effort, some that
we might not naturally think of, including planners, public safety personnel,
research community, and the private sector.
- To summarize the entire effort, we are trying to deliver a safe,
reliable, and secure system. Recently more attention is being given
to maintenance and preservation of the (transportation) system. The
FHWA would like to "bring the attention and focus on operations to be on par
with maintenance and preservation."
- "Operations" takes on different context based on each setting. In an
urban setting the term is typically defined in relation to reducing
congestion, whereas in rural areas operations tends to focus on
safety. It is important to recognize the term generically,
but understand that it means different things in different settings. If
we operate the system better, we can achieve benefits for all parties.
- It is critical to create a culture that will support 21st
century operations activities. The culture shift will create a system
that uses ITS as an enabler to allow practitioners to better operate and
manage the system.
- The shift towards 21st century operations requires a proactive
approach to providing transportation - a customer-focused approach on a 24/7
basis, utilizing performance measures to measure success. Underpinning
the entire effort is data/information.
- 21st Century technologies include ITS that gather and share
data to enable better operations.
- Three elements are key to achieving 21st century operations:
- 1) Managing for performance
- 2) Advancing the State-of-the-Practice (which we do well)
- 3) Communicating/Educating/Advocating (this is the weakest element)
- Several states are now using performance measures such as the Virginia
"Dashboard" program, and efforts in Washington State to identify a matrix for
incident management and clearance.
- The operations culture will entail examining organizational structures
both regionally and within organizations. Potential for management
positions that champion operations efforts. Operations will become part
of the transportation planning process.
- Cultural shift is critical - creating a linkage between system operations
at the management level and regional transportation planning.
- We need to think about practices in terms of outcomes that we want to
achieve - essentially to achieve a more reliable and safer system by
continuing to advance the state of the practice ("probably the area that we're
best at"):
- Detect, respond, remove incidents faster
- Reduce delays due to work zones
- Operate intersections safer/more efficiently
- Manage traffic more aggressively
- Reduce run-of-road crashes
- Manage better during inclement weather
- Ensure we are prepared for emergencies
- Provide travelers with full information
- The NAWG has potential to communicate/advocate/educate various
stakeholders.
- As part of its proposed roles and responsibilities the NAWG would provide
outreach, vehicles to get information out, sharing, learning; a link to
national coalition.
- SAFTEA summary: Operations provisions in the proposed bill call for more
focus on real-time information and continue strong focus R&D.
Generally we are encouraging increased funding levels for ITS, operations, and
management. SAFETEA will be a step forward for operations and ITS
effort. There are encouraging signs that a bill will be authorized this
year. There has been a big push forward in last few weeks.
- FHWA has created a position (Zia Burleigh) that focuses on
growing/building outreach to the operations community. This effort needs
to be developed by all stakeholders. Zia will help foster the process.
Discussion
ITE (Shelley Row)
(Handout - Summary of NTOC Action Team Status) There
remains a lot of activity within the action teams. Handout identifies the
major topics and products that each action team is working on. These
groups are not federally funded, rather are involved based on the importance of
the effort. The communication action team will dissolve with the NAWG
taking over.
AAR (Bill Browder)
Represents freight railroads and transit rail
operators. AAR will be happy to participate in this initiative.
Interested in where freight railroads fit into agenda.
FHWA (Jeff Paniati)
Freight is certainly part of the initiative.
Addressing freight concerns is part of the delivery of safe, reliable, and
secure transportation systems. Freight has not historically been a strong
participant in the operations effort. Within FHWA Office of Operations we
recognize freight as a key piece of the transportation system. Included in
SAFETEA are many items relating to freight issues. The challenge remains to
entice the players to participate to advance the effort. We welcome more
involvement from railroad and freight industry in this effort.
PTI (Robert Hicks)
It is important to create an inventory of NAWG member
activities. It is also important to encourage state and local agencies to
work together.
Do NAWG members support the notion of action arm of NTOC?
(Shelley Row)
NACO (James Davenport)
Sounds like a worthwhile effort; however, I will
need to solicit input. The NACO Legislative Conference will take place in
March; input will be solicited at that time.
NARC (Peggy Tadej)
Yes. Need to focus on "hitting the mark" with elected
officials. It will be important to define carefully the issues and
identify benefits of operations. Messages should be defined for individual
audiences, and then reviewed by the NAWG to ensure consistency.
NADO (Zanetta Doyle)
Yes. Our organization is interested in
participating.
IMSA (Brian Stotler)
Yes. The IMSA will assist with outreach
efforts. Need to focus on funding sources for operations.
NCSL (Matt Sundeen)
In representing elected officials, it is difficult to
advocate particular positions. We generally stay neutral...I like to focus
the issues for them, e.g., "How does this get me reelected." As part of
the coalition we can identify the practical implications of ITS.
AASHTO (Tony Kane)
Yes. We might have to rethink the NAWG title.
AASHTO is hoping to be able to move towards staff commitment to the broad area
of operations. Currently AASHTO has committee that addresses operations
and management; however there are a host of other committees that need to be
involved in the effort. One idea is to address operations on a modal
basis. A series of communications could be developed that identify what
operations means to various stakeholders such as planners, elected officials,
freight personnel, etc...AASHTO has links to many FHWA sites. There is currently
a lot of knowledge sharing taking place.
AAR (Bill Browder)
Yes. Will support this effort
PTI (Robert Hicks)
Yes. It may be a mistake to limit the NAWG role to
communication. Funding and performance measures are important issues. We
will want to retain input capabilities. We need to include all
groups and not exclude stakeholders or limit their role.
FHWA (Jeff Paniati)
We wouldn't limit the NAWG responsibilities to only
communication; rather part of NAWG role would be to help the larger coalition
define communication strategies. We would seek to make the representation
the same. I see myself as a champion in the operations effort. The NAWG is
vital and important to the FHWA Office of Operations; we will continue to
support it.
ICMA (Colin Haller)
Yes. The ICMA supports this effort. We have
major conference taking place in October; there is potential for operations and
the communication piece to serve as a topic during the conference. We are
currently planning a wireless enhanced 911 conference. (Handout)
APTA (George Wynne)
Yes. APTA has many forums increasingly using web-based
communication. NAWG is trying to evolve a prime directive that encourages
effective use of 21st century technology. It is important for
us to recognize vision statements and determine how to tailor key messages for
each member group.
ITE (Shelley Row)
ITE is a "yes" - supportive of expanded focus for
NAWG.
In sum, there's a solid consensus for expanding the role of the NAWG to
become the "outreach" arm of the overall NTOC effort. Two prevailing
points from collective NAWG input:
1) Important to think about our message and how it relates to each
stakeholder group.
2) With NAWG functioning as the communications/outreach team, it does not
preclude being part of or commenting on other activities of the
NTOC.
Discussion
ICDN (Jerry Werner)
Following the Talking Freight seminars, discussion was
rich. There is potential to have web seminars on different topics related
to operations and various stakeholder groups; any questions raised could broaden
the ICDN dialogue.
NCSL (Matt Sundeen)
Web seminars might not be a sell for
legislators. Many states do not have a dedicated transportation
staff. NCSL members are more comfortable with peer meetings. A
conference will be taking place in Salt Lake City Utah on July 19 - 23.
This might be a good forum for a session on operations and communication.
ICDN (Jerry Warner)
Currently we have a shared calendar that each member
could populate with information related to NOTC. At this point Mr. Werner
populates the calendar; however each group has the ability to add its own
items.
FHWA (Jeff Paniati)
Suggestions:
1) Take stock of what events are on
the calendar for 2004-2005 and look for ways to utilize those opportunities for
this effort.
2) Take stock of communication resources available from each
NAWG member.
ITE (Shelley Row)
For the next meeting each NAWG member should be
prepared to identify:
- Major events that each of us are hosting for 2004/2005
- Key activities under way related to management and operations
- A list of current outreach tools and mechanisms with approximate dates for
publication if available.
- Information on web casts that your association is involved with, including
specific dates, and their purpose.
- Potential/proposed activities that could be undertaken by NAWG
members.
ICDN - Update
Jerry Werner, ICDN
There were 9289 email newsletter subscribers at the end of December 2003, up
42 from 9247 at the end of November. There were 50,446 "page views" in
December, up slightly from 48,395 in November. Page-views are a very
conservative (but accurate) way to record web-site activity. (For example,
we had 215,308 total "hits" during December, but page-views more accurately
reflect true activity, since "hits" includes all files including graphics
files.)
Recent ICDN Newsletter Content of Note
- USDOT Outlines the New VII Initiative at the 2004 TRB Annual Meeting -
Explores potential information flows between vehicle and infrastructure.
Automobile industry working with AASHTO on this effort.
- ITS American Summarizes 2004 ITS Appropriations
- Customer Preferences for Transit ATIS
- OPPORTUNITY: Training Locations for 2004 ITS Standards Training Course
- Freeway Management and Operations Handbook
- FHWA Road Weather Management Web Site - New content includes Best
Practices, and Benefit of the Month.
- National 511 Coalitions' Management Team Outlines Two-Year Program Plan -
The 511 coalition met in December to develop a strategy and goals for the
program.
- Talking Freight Seminars Series
- Updated Benefits Desk Reference - Includes new entries for safety benefits
of ITS applications.
- The National Transportation Operations Coalition: Moving from Dialogue to
Action - Article written by Shelley Row in the December ITE Journal.
Recommended reading for all NAWG members.
- FCC Adopts Rules for ITS to Advance Homeland Security and Traveler Safety
- New rules have been adopted for 5.9 GHz Band for Dedicated Short-Range
Communications.
- ACS Lite Passes Initial Simulation - A new algorithm was developed;
field-testing could begin next summer.
- Speed Cameras: Ten Criticisms and Why they are Flawed - Based on a report
from the United Kingdom's Department for Transport. Article available in
the TRB E-Newsletter.
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Business Meeting
Zia Burleigh, FHWA
Next Meeting |
|
|
Date:
Time and Location: |
Thursday, March 18, 2004
9:45 a.m. - noon; Association of
American Railroads |
|
Topics and Speakers:
(Tentative) |
Tracy Scriba (FHWA), ITS in Work Zones
Amy Houser (FMCSA), Deployment, Planning and
Facilitation for Safety Technologies on Commercial
Vehicles |
National Associations Working Group for
ITS
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
400
N. Capitol Street, Room 390
Washington, D.C. 20001
Thursday, January 29, 2004
9:45 a.m. -
noon
Agenda
National Transportation
Operations Coalition (NTOC)
Opening Remarks and Introductions
Meeting
Chair: Shelley Rowe, Institute of Transportation Engineers (15
minutes)
National Transportation Operations
Coalition (NTOC)
Jeff Paniati, Associate Administrator,
FHWA Office of Operations. (30-minute presentation, 45 minutes
discussion)
National
Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) - Presentation
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portable document format (.pdf) files, you must install Adobe Acrobat
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ICDN Update
Jerry Werner (5
minutes )
ITS Update
- Roundtable discussion
All Working
Group members (20 minute discussion)
Business Meeting
Zia Burleigh, FHWA (5
minutes)
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Next Meeting |
|
|
Date:
Time and Location: |
Thursday, March 18, 2004
9:45 a.m. - noon
Association of American
Railroads (AAR) |
|
Topics and Speakers: |
Tracy Scriba (FHWA), ITS in Work Zones
Amy Houser (FMCSA), Deployment, Planning and
Facilitation for Safety Technologies on Commercial
Vehicles |
National Associations Working Group for ITS
January 29,
2004
Attendance
William Browder, Association of American Railroads
Matt Sundeen,
National Conference of State Legislatures
Zanetta Doyle, National
Association of Development Organization
Peggy Tadej, National
Association of Regional Councils
James Davenport, National Association
of Counties
Aliyah Horton, Institute of Transportation
Engineers
Shelley Row, Institute of
Transportation Engineers
Edward Stollof, Institute for
Transportation Engineers
George Wyune, American Public Transportation
Association
Colin Haller, International City/County Management
Association
Ron Boenau, Federal Transit Administration
Robert
Hicks, Public Technology Inc.
Jeff Paniati, FHWA Office of
Operations
Angela Jacobs, FHWA Office of Policy
Zia Burleigh,
FHWA Office of Operations
John Mason, Science Applications
International Corporation
Brett Graves, Science Applications
International Corporation
 NAWG page
Visitor counts for this
page.
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