1 User Perspective on Deploying 511 Al Kosik Director, Traffic Management Section TxDOT National Transportation Operations Coalition Talking Operations Webcast July 27, 2005

2 Texas Scenario -- Top Level Issues We are under no pressure to implement a 511 system immediately We are under no pressure to implement a 511 system immediately –But we intend to deploy 511 statewide We will not implement a sub-par system We will not implement a sub-par system –It will contain all available information Cost is a key consideration Cost is a key consideration Establish statewide functional requirements before considering deployment Establish statewide functional requirements before considering deployment

3 Cost is a Key Consideration Two types of costs: Two types of costs: 1. Deployment 1. Deployment 2. Operations & Maintenance 2. Operations & Maintenance These are funded differently in TxDOT These are funded differently in TxDOT

4 Cost is a Key Consideration (2) Deployment costs may be high Deployment costs may be high - Multiple large urban areas - Multiple large urban areas Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso 9 TMCs in operation 9 TMCs in operation - Texas is a big state - Texas is a big state Vast expanses of interstate corridors, many other cities Vast expanses of interstate corridors, many other cities More concerned about O&M costs than deployment More concerned about O&M costs than deployment - Deployment costs partially paid by fed dollars - Deployment costs partially paid by fed dollars - Annual O&M is always a concern for TxDOT - Annual O&M is always a concern for TxDOT

5 Operations & Maintenance Costs In TxDOT, O&M is paid with state funds In TxDOT, O&M is paid with state funds - Usually, we do not use fed $ for O&M - Usually, we do not use fed $ for O&M - Fed construction funds are used on projects - Fed construction funds are used on projects How do other states handle this? How do other states handle this? - Who pays ongoing O&M costs in other states? - Who pays ongoing O&M costs in other states? Users? Users? MPOs? MPOs? State DOTs? State DOTs? Transit? Transit? Federal funds? Federal funds? Any experience with sharing costs? Any experience with sharing costs?

6 Planning for Statewide Deployment We want Texas to have a uniform 511 system out of the gate We want Texas to have a uniform 511 system out of the gate –Same information the same way in every urban area Developing a Concept of Operations, a Vision Developing a Concept of Operations, a Vision We will deploy regionally, a pilot at start up We will deploy regionally, a pilot at start up –Resource limitations (funding, staff) –Prove the concept regionally; use lessons learned; proves concept to our Administration

7 Deployment Strategy Establish a 511 statewide website first Establish a 511 statewide website first - Our TMCs are website oriented; we already show - Our TMCs are website oriented; we already show traveler data online (travel times, congestion traveler data online (travel times, congestion levels, camera snapshots) levels, camera snapshots) - Less initial cost - Less initial cost - Helps resolve the coordination of multiple - Helps resolve the coordination of multiple databases databases Website to be a complete ATIS system Website to be a complete ATIS system Phone will be an extension of website Phone will be an extension of website

8 Operational issues Need to resolve functional description of the telephone user interface up front Need to resolve functional description of the telephone user interface up front –Our current thinking: Callers initially get local information (no need to drill down from a statewide perspective) Callers initially get local information (no need to drill down from a statewide perspective) Then a menu to other regions, cities, or corridors Then a menu to other regions, cities, or corridors Opposite of 511 website that starts statewide Opposite of 511 website that starts statewide What are other states experiences? What are other states experiences? What do truckers want and need? What do truckers want and need?

9 Highway Condition Reporting System (HCRS) Integration Existing telephone system, recently updated, Existing telephone system, recently updated, more updates planned: Typically only includes events involving Typically only includes events involving lengthy closures; no ITS data - Includes road closures, construction projects, - Includes road closures, construction projects, weather weather - Operator assisted, some automated information - Operator assisted, some automated information Need to integrate HCRS and 511 Need to integrate HCRS and May need to resolve institutional issues - May need to resolve institutional issues How do other states handle this? How do other states handle this?

10 Contact Information Al Kosik