To minimize recurring and non-recurring delays and maximize the capacity of the infrastructure already in place, transportation systems management and operations (TSMO) strategies and activities are increasingly being applied to make the most effective use of existing capacity. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines TSMO as a set of strategies that focus on operational improvements that can maintain and even restore the performance of the existing transportation system before extra capacity is needed, and TSMO is becoming more widely recognized as a core function of transportation agencies.

TSMO is a young field. Research has been conducted to advance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of TSMO practitioners, and the development of a TSMO curriculum will build upon that work with a focus on capturing knowledge and delivering a pre-employment curriculum.

The objective of this research is to establish a university and college level curriculum for degree and certification programs, establish TSMO and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technical level curriculum, and have all curricula set up pipelines for students to enter the workforce.

Research tasks and activities could include the following:

• Conducting stakeholder engagement, including with industry professionals, academia, and government agencies
• Conducting a needs assessment, including identifying gaps in state and local workforce programs, identifying knowledge and skill gaps, and identifying current degree options
• Developing a curriculum framework for all degree programs