BACKGROUND

As agencies seek to improve transportation safety and mobility, effectively operating transportation facilities and networks is critically important. There are dozens of Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) strategies that a facility or network could use. Knowing which TSMO strategies are more likely to be effective at addressing safety and operations issues enables agencies and practitioners to make data-driven decisions to effectively use limited funding. 

The evaluation of TSMO strategies is often complicated by unique characteristics of TSMO strategies, such as deployment of two or more strategies at once, intermittent or flexible use based on prevailing conditions, and widespread effects across a network. Access to better evaluation methods will support agencies in assessing their own use of TSMO strategies. A lack of a central repository that enables sharing of strategy effectiveness data and information impedes the efficiency of agencies and their decision-making for more effective and efficient investments in TSMO strategies. 

Research is needed to help state departments of transportation (DOTs) develop tools to evaluate TSMO strategies, compile results, and make them available to practitioners.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this project are (1) to develop evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of TSMO strategies and (2) to create a web-based central repository to share information, data, and evaluation methods and results for DOTs and other agencies. 

Accomplishment of the project objectives will require at least the following tasks.

RESEARCH PLAN

The research plan should build in appropriate checkpoints with the NCHRP project panel including, at a minimum, (1) a kick-off teleconference meeting to be held within 1 month of the contract’s execution date and (2) at least one face-to-face interim deliverable review meeting and web-enabled teleconferences tied to panel review and/or NCHRP approval of interim deliverables, including the expenses in the budget. The cost of teleconferences, in-person meeting venue, and NCHRP panel member travel will be paid by the NCHRP.

PHASE I

Task 1. Conduct research review of practices and needs.

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of agencies and industry practices that involve evaluating TSMO strategies. The research shall include published and unpublished documents and reports that cover the effectiveness of practices, challenges, evaluations done to date, and measures used.
2.  Review the effectiveness, ease of use, and lessons learned from Tool for Operations Benefit Cost Analysis (TOPS-BC), ITS Map | ITS Deployment Evaluation, Transportation Operation Manual (TOM) and similar tools and summarize the key characteristics desired for a TSMO strategy repository.
3. Identify practitioners and propose a plan to leverage expertise and engage practitioners from Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS-A), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Transportation System Operations (CTSO), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) TSMO Council, Transportation Research Board (TRB) or AASHTO regional TSMO committees, and others. The engagement plan and list of practitioners shall be approved by the NCHRP before the start of Task 3.
4. Research evaluation methods (including relevant datasets, formulas, and models) and performance metrics that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of TSMO strategies.

Task 2. Develop evaluation methods based on the research in Task 1.

1. Document the technical and associated issues, major concepts, current practices, examples highlighting lessons learned, and checklists of steps and issues to consider on evaluation methods (existing and newly developed by this project). Identify a comprehensive list of TSMO strategies to include in the Technical Report (Task 6) and ultimately for the repository (Task 7).
2. Develop and recommend methods and performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of TSMO strategies. 
3. Recommend standard data and data structure for comparison of TSMO strategies.
4. Propose a wireframe/architecture for the repository including:

• • content,
  • inputs and outputs,
  • data elements that enable sorting, searching, and grouping by key characteristics,
  • data archiving and sharing plan,
  • fields for strategy types to enable synthesis of multiple entries, and
  • ability to upload new entries by users in the future using standardized formats.

Task 3. Using information gathered in Task 2.1, develop an annotated outline to serve as the basis for the Technical Report to be developed in Task 6. The Technical Report shall address the objectives of the project and include a summary of evaluation matrices containing TSMO strategies, and available and recommended data and measures. The annotated outline will provide the foundation, context, and framework for the content of the Technical Report.

Task 4. Organize virtual meeting(s) with the project panel and the identified practitioners to review and obtain feedback on the findings of Tasks 2 and 3. The meeting(s) will also be used to discuss the proposed design and content of the repository. The draft annotated outline will be revised based on feedback from the practitioner and project panel meeting(s). A revised annotated outline will be submitted for approval prior to beginning to develop the Technical Report in Task 6.

Task 5. Prepare Interim Report No. 1 that documents Tasks 1 through 4, and provides an updated and refined work plan for the remainder of the research no later than 10 months after contract award. The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase II.

PHASE II

Task 6. Develop the draft Technical Report that reflects the final version of the annotated outline in Task 4.

Task 7. Develop a TSMO strategy repository.

1. Develop an updatable web-based central repository.
2. Populate the repository with the collection of TSMO strategy evaluations and use-cases. The research team shall screen the contents of the repository for technical integrity.

Task 8. Develop a presentation with speaker notes reflecting the Technical Report developed in Task 6 and the repository in Task 7. The presentation shall specify the research purpose, objectives, key issues addressed, research products developed, benefit or value of the report, and an overview of the repository and how it can be used. Panel review comments shall be reflected in the final version of the presentation.

Task 9. Review implementation considerations.

1. Recommend a roadmap for implementation and future updating of data to keep the use-case database updated.
2. Prepare domain specific primers on the TSMO strategy repository for executives, information technology, intelligent transportation system, and operation and maintenance staff.
3. Develop a plan on how the repository could evolve into a decision-support tool that provides recommendations of strategies to users based on user input.

Task 10. Prepare final deliverables, including (1) a final report that documents the entire research effort, (2) the Technical Report, (3) the web-based repository, and (4) a stand-alone technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”.

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.