1. Melissa Ackert, E.I. Florida Department of Transportation
Virtual Freight Network (VFN): Using Operations to Move Freight in South Florida
Melissa Ackert, E.I.
Florida Department of Transportation
Anita Vandervalk, P.E.
Cambridge Systematics

2. South Florida Freight and Goods Existing Conditions
South Florida is home to several of Florida’s largest international gateways
Port Everglades
Port Miami
Miami International Airport
Significant growth in freight volumes are anticipated within an already congested urban area
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Source: South Florida Regional Freight Plan.

3. South Florida Key Regional Initiatives /Projects to Impact F&G Movement
Significant infrastructure investments are underway
Port Everglades and Port Miami expansions underway
FEC Railway to serve on-port ICTFs and expand logistics capabilities
Miami International Airport expanding and improving landside connections
Major freeway expansions and operational enhancements under construction (e.g., SR826/SR836 interchange; I-595; I-95)
Port Everglades (PEV) Master Plan includes projects to deepen and widen the port channels
Source: Port Everglades 2009 Master Plan/Vision Plan Update

4. Freight and Goods Growth, Example
Source: Port Everglades 2009 Master Plan/Vision Plan Update

5. Overview of the Virtual Freight Network (VFN)
VFN is a regional freight-focused dynamic mobility application being developed by public- and private-sector freight stakeholders
VFN enhances data sharing among the region’s commercial vehicle operators, freight facilities, shippers/receivers, and existing public- sector ITS infrastructure to improve freight mobility and system performance
VFN is being considered for deployment on routes serving as key corridors and connectors providing access to/from major intermodal facilities

6. Key Objectives of VFN Improve travel time reliability
Reduce delay for commercial vehicles moving to/from the region’s key freight facilities
Reduce number of empty/unproductive movements
Enhance real-time monitoring of system performance and improve effectiveness of mobility applications
Improve safety and regulatory compliance of commercial vehicles operating in the region
Improve environmental stewardship

7. Types of Technologies Dynamic Routing
Commercial Vehicle Traffic Probes
Load-Matching Application
Synchronized Signal Timing
Virtual Compliance Stations
PEV example.

8. Types of Technologies Dynamic Routing
Integrate data from public- (e.g., incidents, work zone, weather) and private-sector sources (e.g., commercial vehicle traffic probes)
Make data available to private-sector stakeholders in various formats
Provide data in a standardized electronic format that can be integrated directly into current routing and dispatch software
Provide automatic data feeds to motor carrier systems
Post travel times on variable message signs at the exit of intermodal facilities

9. Types of Technologies Commercial Vehicle Traffic Probes
Commercial vehicles will serve as traffic probes
Vehicle location and average speed data will be collected via private- and/or public-sector communication technology
Data will be integrated into the region’s traffic management centers
Vehicle-specific identifiers will not be stored as part of the probe data collection effort

10. Types of Technologies Load-Matching Application
Limit number of empty/unproductive truck moves in the region by developing and maintaining a web-based load matching application
Provide a forum for shippers and receivers to post available loads and an opportunity for commercial vehicles to find a load to haul on their trip back to/from an intermodal facility

11. Types of Technologies Synchronized Signal Timing
Synchronize timing of traffic signals on key arterials around intermodal facilities
Give priority to traffic queues with large numbers of commercial vehicles
Miami Dade County is in the process of completing installation of an Automated Traffic Signal Synchronization System across the County

12. Types of Technologies Virtual Compliance Stations
Deploy virtual compliance stations at key locations around the region to support:
Real-time screening of commercial vehicles for compliance with Federal and state credential, safety, and/or size and weight regulations
Possible deployment sites could include:
Eller Drive leading to the entrance/exit of the container operation at Port Everglades
Port Boulevard leading to the entrance/ exist to the Port or Miami
Entrance/exit to FEC Hialeah Rail Yard

13. Regional Characteristics and Proposed Functionality
Operational characteristics:
Drayage moves between Port of Miami, Port Everglades and FEC intermodal terminal
Access to/from Miami International Airport
Access to/from warehouse/distribution facilities from/to region’s freight facilities
Proposed VFN Elements:
C-TIP functionality to maximize movements among key freight hubs
Real-time traveler information to support real-time re-routing of commercial vehicles
Use of commercial vehicles as traffic probes to improve accuracy of traveler information
Virtual weigh stations will help improve safety and enforcement activities
Port Everglades
FEC Intermodal Terminal
Miami International Airport
Port of Miami

14. Implementing the VFN VFN concept developed in Spring 2010
South Florida stakeholders presented VFN to USDOT at an Intermodal Freight Technology Working Group meeting hosted by Port of Miami in Summer 2010
DMA application submitted to USDOT’s “Call for Ideas” in Fall 2010
USDOT created Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) program
FRATIS ConOps and Functional Requirements developed in Spring 2012
Cambridge Systematics selected for prototype testing in South Florida in Fall 2012
Today I am excited to report that implementation of the VFN is moving forward. We have been working closely over the last few years with the USDOT to promote the concept. We did this by hosting a meeting with USDOT in 2010 followed by submittal of our concept in responde to the USDOT’s call for ideas in late 2010.
USDOT used ours and other input to develop its Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS).
The concops was completed earlier this year.
The next phase is to develop a prototype of the system. South Florida was selected as one test bed.

15. What is USDOT’s Freight Advanced Traveler Information System (FRATIS) Program?
Part of the USDOT-RITA ITS “Connected Vehicle” Program
“Dynamic Mobility Applications” sub-program
Two primary elements
Freight Dynamic Traveler Information and Planning
Drayage Optimization
Current program status
Concept of Operations Study completed (June 2012)
National Needs Assessment, ConOps, System Requirements, Test Readiness Assessment
Development & Limited Testing Phase – Begins
So what is FRATIS. It is part of USDOT’s “connected vehicle” program.
It consists of dynamic traveler information customized for freight operators, specifically trucking firms and their customers. This includes real time traffic information, queue/incident detection, dynamic routing, and more. It also includes a drayage optimization component designed to help minimize wasted trips including bobtail movements.
As I mentioned, the conops was completed earlier this year and the prototyping of the system in three cities is currently underway.
This system allows South Florida to move forward with key elements of its VFN in partnership with the federal government.

16. Three FRATIS Deployments Are under Development
 South Florida
Virtual Freight Network (VFN) concept designed to provide the region’s freight community with ITS-based solutions to mobility constraints
Los Angeles
Gateway Cities Technology Plan for Goods Movement provided a blueprint for an end-to-end information support system to improve the efficiency of goods movement in Southern California
Dallas
Leveraging the Basic Safety Message from the Connected Vehicle program and the FHWA Integrated Corridor Management program
The three sites are South Florida, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
Each of these cities has undertaken freight mobility and operations projects which helped them compete for these grants.
We’ve already given you a detailed overview of the VFN; in Los Angeles, they have been working for a few years to develop a technology plan for goods movement; in Dallas the focus is on the corridor management and integration of key safety messages.
These three cities will be used to see how effective FRATIS can be.

17. What is a FRATIS? Background
Available resources have varying coverage and do not always provide freight-specific information
Technology is not used consistently by the trucking industry
Freight routing, scheduling, and dispatch decisions are sometimes made in an ad-hoc fashion
Effectiveness of systems is limited by data availability and data accuracy
Lack of real-time data contributes to operational inefficiencies
Freight has unique operational characteristics that require different data and methods/timeframes of information delivery
U.S. DOT is driving new research to improve freight efficiency and environmental performance
With so many systems out there, from private load matching or routing software to regional TMCs, why is FRATIS necessary? Why is USDOT advancing this program?
[read bullets]

18. What are the Benefits of FRATIS? User Needs Survey Results
As part of the FRATIS conops, we conducted surveys with trucking companies to help understand their use of technology
As you can see, 61 percent of respondents reported use of technology. The top reasons cited were for accident or incident information, weather conditions, travel times, bottlenecks and delay information.
Of the remaining 39 percent, key factors limiting their willingness included poor coverage, lack of accuracy, inconsistencies, etc.
These surveys and other input were used to help focus the FRATIS conops.
Note: USDOT FRATIS National Drayage Survey Results

19. South Florida FRATIS Development and Test Program Concept
This graphic provides a high level overview of the South Florida FRATIS project.
The blue illustrates the core of the system – data integration – bringing public and private sources together. The yellow boxes shoe the types of data and sources in South Florida.
On the right in the green box you can see how the data will be used to develop and support the FRATIS components.

20. FRATIS Implementation Activities
South Florida freight community is partnering with US DOT to develop and test a prototype FRATIS
Trucking companies, railroads, port authorities, MPOs, FDOT districts, industry associations, and more
Program focus will be on:
Dynamic traveler information
Drayage optimization
Emergency management response/recovery
Kick-off meetings scheduled for early November
The South Florida FRATIS brings together USDOT, FDOT, MPOs, two seaports, a railroad, trucking companies and more.
Program focus will be on:
Dynamic traveler information
Drayage optimization
Emergency management response/recovery
Kick-off meetings scheduled for early November

21. Contacts & Additional Information
Melissa Ackert, E.I.
VFN Concept Lead
FDOT District 4
Traffic Operations
(954)
Randy Butler
FRATIS Project Manager
USDOT/FHWA
Office of Freight Management
(202)  
For more information on USDOT’s program, please visit the Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s (RITA) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office website

22. Questions?