Transportation agencies and other public safety organizations face an array of funding and technology choices with respect to methods and levels of communications. State, local, tribal, and territorial DOTs have invested heavily in Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communication systems to support their field staff during daily activities and incident response or emergencies, and LMR communication continues to be the backbone of infrastructure protection, coordination, and emergency management. With the proper planning and design, those same communications systems may be able to acquire and provide information from field elements.
Field elements such as Dynamic Message Signs, Traffic Signal Systems, Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS), and other sensor networks are frequently dependent on leased services (e.g., cell phone technology, private telephone lines). Relative to wireless networks operating on exclusive government frequencies, cell phone technology and private telephone lines are often unreliable during communications surges in emergencies and may be unavailable in rural, less traveled areas. The ability to communicate and gather travel information is critical to field crews that, for example, increasingly base winter highway treatment decisions and traveler information on reliable information. The recurring costs associated with cell phone technology and private telephone lines can hinder investments in field elements required to adequately monitor a corridor or specific areas of a roadway. Use of LMR technology is a means to assure availability and reliability. Additionally, the incoming Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (First Responder Network Authority or FirstNet) system may be available to provide some data communications services to public safety providers throughout the nation. Research was needed to provide comprehensive guidance to DOTs to inform decision-making for the design, funding, and selection of wireless communications systems.
The objective of this research was to create a guidebook to be used in designing, funding, procuring, and governing statewide, regional, or local Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems. The guidebook and associated resources will assist state, local, tribal, and territorial departments of transportation; transit; and other public safety entities in understanding and making key decisions with respect to the selection of wireless voice and data communication systems.
