1. US DOT Planning for Operations Initiative – An Update AASHTO SCOH Annual Meeting June 14-17, 2009 Manchester, NH Rick Backlund – FHWA Office of Operations

2. Planning for Operations: Overview & Where We Are Headed  Why Are We Advancing Planning for Operations?  Our Roadmap  More Detail on Current Activities  FY 2009 and Beyond – Our Focus & Next Steps

3. Why This Program?  Enhance & strengthen both planning & operations functions to support regional operations in 21 st Century  Enhance regional decision-making process so that operations investments are fully considered as transportation investment decisions are advanced

4. Our Goal  Improve performance of regional transportation systems through: Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach Enhance Collaboration & Coordination between Planners & Operators Integrate Congestion Management Process (CMP) and Management & Operation (M&O) strategies in Metropolitan Transportation Plans THE RESULT: Better Decisions Made on Operations Projects & Programs Advanced

5. Advancing the Effort - Our Team  FHWA Office of Operations  FHWA Office of Planning, Environment & Realty  FHWA Office of Safety  FTA – Office of Planning & Environment

6. The Road Map – FY 05-06 Foundation of Program Engaging Operators & Planners on Collaborative Work Happening Documents Showcasing the Collaboration  Regional Concept for Transportation Operations  Getting More By Working Together  Regional Transp. Operations Collaboration & Coordination

7. The Road Map – FY 07-08 Laying Out the Approach Creating Objectives-Driven, Performance Based Guidebooks for CMP and M&O Outreach Program Launched to Discuss Approach & Create National Discussion Developing Technical Tools to Support “The How”  Model Transportation Plans Incorporation Operations & Safety Objectives  Statewide Planning for Operations Primer  Innovative Analysis Methods Report

8. Current Status of Major Activities  Interim Guidebook Documents & Outreach Efforts  Model Transportation Plans  Statewide Planning for Operations  Innovative Analysis Methods Report & Outreach  National Workshop - Advancing Regional Operations

9. CMP and M&O Interim Guidebooks  Interim Documents: Completed  May to December 2008: Comment Period To Seek Input on Documents: Completed  Based on Public Input - Guidebooks Will be Finalized as One Reference Guide: “Advancing Planning for Operations for Metropolitan Areas” Completed Reference Guide Becomes Bedrock of Our Approach As We Move Into Program’s Next Steps

10. Interim Guidebooks Outreach Efforts  Communications Strategy – The Focus Areas: Informational Workshops Web Seminars Updating of FHWA, NHI & NTI Training Courses Brochure for Decision makers CD of Ready-Made Presentations

11. The Approach

12. Operations Objectives in the Planning Process Stage of Planning Process Examples Operations Goal(s) Improve transportation system reliability / reduce unexpected traveler delay Operations Objectives Reduce incident-based delay so that by 2010, travelers experience … Improve transit system reliability so that by 2020, at least 95% of buses operate on-schedule … Performance Measures Average incident duration (mean minutes per incident)  Vehicle hours of non-recurring delay due to incidents Percentage of buses more than 5 minutes off schedule  Number of bus breakdowns/ major delays Strategies Traffic cameras and detection systems to identify incidents more quickly  Roving incident response teams GPS systems to track transit buses Improved traveler information on transit services Projects/ Implementation Install traffic cameras on Route X (2009)  Install variable message signs on Route X (2010)  Implement Incident Clearance Teams on Route X (2010) Install GPS locator system for bus system (2010)  Install “ Next Bus ” electronic signs along major commuter corridors (2011)

13. How does M&O and CMP connect? The CMP actualizes the operations objectives through a systematic approach for: Developing performance measures Identifying and analyzing problems Collecting data Developing strategies Monitoring performance Regional operations objectives in the MTP Congestion mitigation strategies including M&O strategies

14. Model Transportation Plans New Initiative with Offices of Planning & Safety  Outgrowth of Work with Offices of Planning & Safety as part of TSP Committee  Product Envisioned: Primer with Menus of Model Regional Operations with Associated Safety Benefits In Transportation Plans  Goal: Provide Best Practice Objectives in Regional Operations & Safety for small, medium and large sized MPOs

15. Model Transportation Plans New Initiative with Offices of Planning & Safety  October 2008 Project Kick-Off Conducted  Completed: 1 st Peer Exchange May 5-6th in Baltimore – Information will help to formulate Draft Document  Representatives of MPOs, State DOTs & Transit Providers will participate in 15 member group

16. Statewide Planning for Operations & Safety Advance Objectives Driven, Performance Based Approach & Collaboration Between Planning, Operations & Safety in State DOTs  Use Momentum From Overall Guidebooks Outreach to Advance Performance Based Approach with AASHTO & States  Initial Primer Document on Statewide Planning for Operations (SP&O) Completed June 2008 & Distributed to State DOTs and FHWA Field Offices

17. Statewide Planning for Operations & Safety Completed: Focused Initial Peer Exchange May 19-20, 2009 - AASHTO’s Offices Met with AASHTO SSOM Presenting SP&O Primer Document – Done August 2008 Initial Peer Exchange - December 9, 2008 Commence “How To” Reference Guidebook for State DOTs – Kick-off meeting held November 6 th

18. Innovative Analysis Methods Report & Outreach Technical Tools to Model Operations in Planning  Summer 2009: Completion of Report Showcasing Technical Tools Available to Planners & Operators to model Operations program in Planning process  Sept-Oct 2009: Conduct Two Interactive Outreach Workshops to Highlight Tools Recommended in Report  Additional Workshops to Follow – FY 2010

19. National Workshop on Advancing Regional Operations  Held December 10-12, 2008 – Washington DC  Jointly Held with TRB RTSMO Committee  Over 100 attendees – Representatives of MPOs, State DOTs, Public Safety and Freight Orgs  Draft Report Being Completed  Focus Was Metro Areas: Improving Inter-Agency Collaboration in Operation of Transportation Systems Identifying Opportunities for Collaboration Formulating New Approaches that can be advanced in Metro areas Laying the Research Framework to Advance This Approach As We Move Forward

20. The Road Map – FY 2009 & Beyond.. Moving Forward Advancing the Program  GAUGE PROGRESS Are We Achieving Results from this Effort? Benchmark Existing Practices  FOCUSED PROGRAM Conduct Targeted Workshops and Technical Assistance  DEMAND MANAGEMENT & THE CMP Provide Guidance to analyze traffic impacts of demand management actions as part of Congestion Management Process

21.  Benchmarking Existing Program Evaluate Success by Areas in Adopting Planning for Operations practices Implement Method Monitoring Progress integrating Operations in Metro & Statewide Plans utilizing Annual Certification Reviews  Focused Technical Outreach Program Conduct targeted Technical Assistance to select MPOs Hands-on Workshops & Support. Help selected MPO’s develop Objectives-based Regional Plans for Operations  Demand Management & The CMP Develop guidance to analyze traffic impacts of Demand Management Actions as part of Congestion Management Process The Road Map – FY 2009 & Beyond..

22. For More Information: Visit Our Website on Planning for Operations at:http://www.plan4operations.dot.gov Contact: Rick Backlund, FHWA-Operations, Richard.Backlund@dot.gov, 202-366-8333 Richard.Backlund@dot.gov Egan Smith, FHWA-Planning, Egan.Smith@dot.gov, 202-366-6072Egan.Smith@dot.gov John Sprowls, FTA-Planning, John.Sprowls@dot.gov, 202-366-5362John.Sprowls@dot.gov