T3 Webinar Overview

Innovative Approaches to Real-Time System Management Information

Date:   Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Time:  1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Cost:  All T3 webinars are free of charge
PDH:  1.5   View PDH Policy

T3 Webinars are brought to you by the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Professional Capacity Building Program (PCB) of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (U.S. DOT) ITS Joint Program Office (JPO). References in this webinar to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. DOT.

Background

The purpose of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Section 1201, Title 23 in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 511 is to establish a Real-Time System Management Information Program (RTSMIP) to monitor in real time the traffic and travel conditions on the major highways across the U.S. In addition, the RTSMIP shares this data to address congestion problems through enhanced operations and facilitates traveler information.

The program will be implemented on all interstate routes by November 2014 and on other significant roadways as identified by the States and local agencies by November 2016.

This webinar will feature speakers from three U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division Offices. The presenters will give a status of their State's RTSMIP and innovative approaches towards compliance with SAFETEA-LU Section 1201, Title 23 in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 511.

Agenda

The T3 Webinar will feature FHWA Division Specialists with a wealth of information and expertise on RTSMIP to share with the audience, including:

• Discussion of the rulemaking process and meeting the Section 1201 requirement for real-time information
• Introduction to the RTSMIP
• Status on process, program reviews, and challenges States are facing with implementation
• Best practices, observations, and gaps
• Construction, incidents, weather, and travel time deployments
• Available technology options for improving real-time information data collection
• How to determine routes of significance
• Funding options
• Next steps and how to get involved

Karen Gilbertson from the FHWA Kansas Division Office will discuss the process, program review, challenges, and unexpected benefits found while working towards regulation compliance.

Nick Renna from the FHWA Tennessee Division Office will discuss Tennessee's process to evaluate and improve its RTSMIP practices. He will also discuss integration with regional ITS architectures and utilizing potential funding sources.

Kevin Korth from the FHWA California Division Office will discuss quantifying accuracy and availability, ways to collect and monitor the data, and routes of significance.

Learning Objectives

This webinar will:

• Offer an overview of the RTSMIP.
• Highlight the diverse approaches for meeting the 1201 requirements under SAFETEA-LU for traveler information, and the benefits of applying this rule.
• Detail the process and document baseline conditions.
• Highlight progress and share challenges encountered.
• Discuss unique technology advances.
• Discuss the rule's purpose in documenting a State's transportation system performance. States are faced with fewer resources than before. If highway system performance can be better monitored, States will be better prepared to apply their resources.

Target Audience

• State DOT and metropolitan planning organizations' ITS program managers and engineers
• Government officials at local, State, and Federal levels
• Consultants and vendors
• Researchers
• Other individuals or entities involved in the design, deployment, operation, or evaluation of ITS programs and real-time transportation systems
• Those interested in learning more about the RTSMIP

Host

Ray Murphy, ITS Specialist, Office of Technical Services, FHWA, U.S. DOT

Mr. Ray Murphy is an ITS Specialist with the U.S. DOT - Federal Highway Administration's Office of Technical Services. He provides technical assistance and technology delivery in support of the Real-Time Data Systems Program, the Road Weather Management Program, and national ITS initiatives.

Mr. Murphy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He served as an officer for 10 years in the US Navy Civil Engineers Corps and continues to serve by mentoring students.

Featured Speaker

Robert L. (Bob) Rupert, Team Lead, Office of Operations - Transportation Management, FHWA, U.S. DOT

Mr. Bob Rupert is the Team Lead for the Transportation Information Management Team and the Technical Programs Coordinator in the Office of Transportation Management at the U.S. DOT's FHWA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Rupert manages the Real-Time Traveler Information Program for the FHWA, which includes the 511 Traveler Information Telephone Number Program as well as the Real-Time System Management Information Program. He is also currently the FHWA lead for the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Connected Vehicle Dynamic Mobility Applications Program. Mr. Rupert has been involved with numerous ITS Projects since joining the FHWA in 1987, including serving as the project manager for the TravTek operational test of real-time in-vehicle navigation in Orlando in the early 1990s. In addition to leading multiple ITS operational tests and ITS priority corridor programs, he helped lead efforts related to ITS architecture conformity, culminating in establishing the provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Prior to joining the FHWA, he worked for a traffic systems installation contractor and for the Virginia Department of Transportation. He is a civil engineer from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America).

Presenters

Karen Gilbertson, ITS/Traffic Operations Engineer, FHWA Kansas Division Office

Ms. Karen Gilbertson joined the FHWA Kansas Division in 2009 as the ITS/Traffic Operations Engineer with freight and research responsibilities added in 2011. Prior to this, she worked for eight and a half years with the Kansas Department of Transportation in ITS and Road Design. Engineering is a second career for Ms. Gilbertson. For ten years of this second career, she worked in the private sector as a consulting engineer, where she conducted civil and site work for power plants, refineries, railroad projects, multi-modal, park and ride, and land development. She is a licensed engineer in the State of Kansas and a Certified Public Manager. Ms. Gilbertson holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and is a native of Minnesota.

Nick Renna, Operations Program Manager, FHWA Tennessee Division Office

Mr. Nick Renna currently oversees Tennessee's transportation operations programs at the FHWA Tennessee Division Office in Nashville. This role primarily includes ITS deployments, traffic incident management, freeway operations, and traffic engineering program areas. Previously, Mr. Renna served as the Safety/Traffic Operations/ITS Engineer at FHWA's North Dakota Division and as an Operations Specialist in the FHWA Florida Division under the Professional Development Program.

Mr. Renna joined FHWA in 2009 and holds a Master of Science in Transportation Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Kevin Korth, Traffic Operations Engineer, California Division, FHWA, U.S. DOT

Mr. Kevin Korth is a Traffic Operations Engineer with the FHWA California Division Office. He has worked for FHWA for three years. Mr. Korth directs Traffic Incident Management, Road Weather Management, and Traveler Information Programs. Mr. Korth also provides oversight over the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Prior to FHWA, Mr. Korth provided construction engineering on public works and land development projects for city government and a consultant. Over his career he has worked in Illinois, Virginia, Iowa, Georgia, Florida, and now currently resides in California. Mr. Korth has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University.