Innovations in Measuring POE Performance and Service Levels Development and Application of a Level-of-Service (LOS) Methodology TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 1: LOS Methodology Presenter: David E. Lettner, BA, MPA, MCIP Senior Transportation Planning Consultant Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation 2013 TBWG Canadian Plenary | Montreal Wednesday October 23, 2013

TBWG Presentation Overview  Why is a POE performance measurement tool needed?  How was this new POE tool developed?  What is the new POE performance measurement tool?  How does the new tool work?  What are the applications for using the new tool?  Who benefits from using the new tool?  How should the new tool be used Slide 2: LOS Methodology TBWG | Montreal 2013

WHY a new POE Performance Measurement Tool? Problem statement: There is currently no standardized POE performance measurement tool that can:  Evaluate impacts of pre to post POE improvements  Provide standardized port to port comparisons  Provide standardized border to border comparisons Slide 3: LOS Methodology TBWG | Montreal 2013

WHY a new POE Performance Measurement Tool? Problem Statement: How can service level policy, service levels and port performance be conveyed in a consistent, meaningful, understandable and accurate manner for all POE’s?  Time?  Queue length?  Real time or longitudinal data?  Is there consistency of measurement?  Is there consistency of understanding? TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 4: LOS Methodology

How was this new POE Tool Developed ?  Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)  Level-of-Service Concept (LOS)  Uninterrupted Flows / Interrupted Flows  Other applications of the LOS concept  Transport Canada: ATB subsystem analysis TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 5: LOS Methodology

How was this new POE Tool Developed ? MIT TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 6: LOS Methodology

What is the new Tool ? (A: An LOS approach) LOS Criteria A-F Service Level Categories Service Policy Settings TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 7: LOS Methodology The LOS Framework for POE’s

How does the LOS Tool Work? (A: Algorithms) LOS Algorithm Model (based on hourly traffic distributions) Total vehicles (arrivals + queue) TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 8: LOS Methodology

How it Works | Setting LOS Policy TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 9: LOS Methodology Algorithms convert hourly arrival data into LOS categories LOS Framework: Policy Settings LOS Output: Trade-Off Analysis

How it Works | Trade-Off Analysis TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 10: LOS Methodology

How it Works | Pre to Post Improvement Analysis LOS Decay (Pre and Post Investment) pre-investment trigger point LOS “D” LOS gain post-investment LOS would continue to decay without POE improvements TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 11: LOS Methodology

How it Works | Next Step in Concept Refinement Modify algorithms to provide benefit-cost data  Pre-post LOS improvement scenarios  Aggregation of delay, fuel and emissions LOS Decay (Pre and Post Investment) Benefits Costs TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 12: LOS Methodology

What are some LOS applications? (micro) The LOS output provides:  A snapshot for any or all 8,760 hours in a year  Longitudinal analysis over a 20+ year planning horizon  Capability to set service level standards and assess LOS policy  Capability to evaluate PIL infrastructure or staffing levels  Capability to evaluate various processing time scenarios  Output generated by direction of travel  Output generated by vehicle type TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 13: LOS Methodology

WHAT are some LOS applications? (macro) A standardized POE performance measurement tool that can:  Evaluate impacts of pre to post POE improvements  Provide standardized port to port comparisons  Provide standardized border to border comparisons Slide 14: LOS Methodology TBWG | Montreal 2013

Who benefits from using the LOS methodology ?  Transportation and border services agencies  Trade-off analysis to determine optimal port improvements  Federal, State and Provincial funding agencies  Standardized analysis for evaluating funding applications  Inland Ports | Logistics Interests  Supports business case analysis to assess fluidity at POE’s  All Stakeholders  Meaningful data on future port performance TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 15: LOS Methodology

WHERE can the LOS Methodology be Applied? TBWG | Montreal 2013Slide 16: LOS Methodology Top 20 POE’s: Canada-USA-Mexico

WHEN should the LOS Methodology be used?  Major POE planning studies / funding applications  Trade-off analysis for POE improvement scenarios  Evaluating the costs-benefits of POE improvements  Longitudinal analysis & monitoring POE performance  Responding to stakeholders on POE performance TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 17: LOS Methodology

Summary: Advantages of an LOS Approach at POE’s  A standardized approach for system-wide POE planning  A concept that is user-friendly & easy to understand  Predictive capabilities (20+ years)  Ability to express positive measures of POE performance  Ability to conduct multi-variant trade-off analysis  An efficient & cost effective tool for scenario testing  Multiple beneficiaries and applications Slide 18: LOS Methodology TBWG | Montreal 2013

A Final Word on the LOS Methodology for POE’s  Challenge: POE project delivery requires 6-10 years to complete a number of sequential planning and implementation steps  Conceptual Planning, Functional Design, Final Design  Tendering and Construction  Challenge: The bi-national POE context can involve input from up to 8 agencies to deliver an integrated infrastructure solution  Opportunity: The LOS methodology provides a common approach for all transportation and border services agencies to test, select and monitor POE performance improvement solutions that can include infrastructure improvements, technology deployment or staffing scenarios Slide 19: LOS Methodology TBWG | Montreal 2013

Presenter Contact Information David E. Lettner, BA, MPA, MCIP Senior Transportation Planning Consultant Transportation Systems Planning Branch Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation CONTACT T: E: TBWG | Montreal 2013 Slide 20: LOS Methodology