115964 | Transportation Operations 2022-23

This project will promote more efficient and cost-effective use of the existing transportation network.
Federal metropolitan planning regulations require MPO's to incorporate transportation operations into their transportation planning processes. DVRPC addresses that requirement through the conduct of two long-standing related initiatives. The Transportation Operations Program Area and the Transportation Systems Management and Operations Project (23-52-170) highlight key activities undertaken by these programs. The Transportation Operations Program incorporates Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) strategies to help proactively manage the transportation system by addressing recurring and non-recurring congestion which results in trip reliability, emissions reductions, improved safety, and efficiency. These principles are integrated into DVRPC's planning processes.
This year's work program is divided into four major components: Traffic Incident Management (TIM), Regional Traffic Signal Retiming, Transportation Operations Task Force (TOTF), TSMO planning efforts and technical assistance.
DVRPC implements Traffic Incident Management (TIM) by providing a series of focused, best-practice training and resource-sharing Traffic Incident Management sessions for incident emergency responders comprised of relevant transportation departments including Pennsylvania and New Jersey Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Police, City of Philadelphia, local law enforcement, local fire departments, emergency medical services, county 911 communications, public works departments, towing and recovery companies, hazardous materials clean-up contractors, and other appropriate regional agencies. These sessions termed Incident Management Task Forces (IMTF) are held quarterly for 8 different groups that were established based on high traffic corridors in the region. In addition to the eight Incident Management Task Forces, DVRPC supports other efforts in the region as needed, and serves as the regional clearinghouse for regional incident management activities. IMTFs implement the planned and coordinated multi-disciplinary process to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that emergency responder safety issues are addressed, traffic flow is restored as quickly and efficiently as possible thereby reducing the duration and impacts of traffic incidents and non-recurring congestion, incident management responses are improved, and interagency coordination is fostered. Typical activities include incident after action reviews , specialized training on the detection, response, and recovery of traffic incidents, and a feedback-loop for relevant construction projects and ITS deployment.
In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia IMTF includes working with Philadelphia agencies and PennDOT to improve the operations of expressways in the city, with a major emphasis on operational planning for the reconstruction of I-95. DVRPC also continues to manage the IMTFs in Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County and Montgomery County (with special outreach as needed for the I-76 Integrated Corridor Management and I-476 Travel Management Projects). In New Jersey, DVRPC continues to manage the NJ SAFR (Southern Area First Responders) IMTF, which covers Gloucester and Camden Counties, and the Burlington and Mercer County IMTFs. Additionally, DVRPC participates in other incident management programs including both statewide Pennsylvania and New Jersey efforts, and IMTFs initiated by other agencies.
DVRPC will hold a Regional IMTF Conference in FY 2023 with support from regional IMTF leaders, as well as hold topical specialized training session(s) to be determined.
Traffic signals play an important role in the transportation network, and county and local arterial roadways are increasingly being called upon to carry more users. FHWA estimates that many signals on these arterials could be improved by updating equipment or by simply adjusting and updating the timing plans. Outdated or poor traffic signal timing accounts for a significant portion of traffic delay on arterials. Traffic signal retiming is one of the most cost effective ways to improve traffic flow and is one of the most basic strategies to help mitigate congestion and reduce emissions. It improves the mobility and safety of the street system, and decreases congestion and delay while improving travel time and travel time reliability.
DVRPC will continue to support the Pennsylvania Regional Signal Retiming Initiative effort by working with PennDOT District 6 and the counties to choose corridors for retiming, provide cost/benefit emissions benefit data, and serve on the project team. DVRPC will be supporting the New Jersey Regional Signal Retiming Initiative Program by working with a consultant and stakeholder team to choose corridors for retiming and serve on the project team as coordinator.
Quarterly meetings of DVRPCs Transportation Operations Task Force (TOTF) are the focal point of coordinating transportation operations activities in the region, providing highway and transit operators and emergency responders an opportunity to interact with each other. The Task Force is a forum for agencies to share information on various TSMO and ITS deployments and incident management programs, develop a consensus on regional ITS issues and respond to federal initiatives. As a technical-level group, it may often guide DVRPC's Transportation Operations planning activities that in turn support the Task Force members.
As an ongoing TSMO planning effort to support our stakeholders, DVRPC continues to either maintain or update several regional operational efforts such as the Regional ITS Architecture, Transportation Systems Management and Operations Master Plan, and PennDOT District 6-0 Regional Operations Plan.
As part of project development, staff review and make recommendations for DOT infrastructure projects to incorporate ITS and TSMO operational improvements. In FY 2022, DVRPC will continue to produce periodic bulletins to highlight incident management and transportation operations data as available. DVRPC will continue to provide planning and technical assistance on transportation operations for partners as requested. In addition, DVRPC will continue to investigate innovative programs related to transportation systems management and operations.
This work program is subdivided by the four components described above. Some of these activities may require DVRPC to purchase equipment and/or services.
Tasks
Incident Management Task Forces Tasks
1. Continue to manage and implement resource sharing for the 5 Pennsylvania (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia County) and 3 New Jersey (Burlington, Mercer and NJ SAFR) Traffic Incident Management Task Forces as an on-going training program.
2. Prepare notices for each session, identify and line up speakers, develop agendas, and prepare summaries and training materials and distribute to all stakeholders.
3. At each session, conduct Post-Incident debriefings a.k.a. After Action Reviews (AARs) which examine events that occurred in the past in order to review and assess the process, procedures and actions performed, and to identify best practices, lessons learned, and potential new protocols which will reduce delay.
4. Work with the task forces to address operational and traffic management issues as needed that may include ITS equipment deficiencies, detour routes, traffic management plans, incident management plans, incident management policy and procedures, communications, severe weather preparedness and work zone traffic management.
5. Educate Responders regarding Active Traffic Management strategies, including working with PennDOT project managers to bring responders and design consultants together to engage responders in identifying issues to consider in the final design of relevant capital projects and ITS deployment.
6. Construction Project Coordination Discussions bring together responders and construction projects managers and implementers to review construction and work zone stages, address incident response zones and identify different ways to access a crash in a work zone if needed.
7. TIM Performance Measure Data Analysis. Work with partner agencies and collect TIM data regarding time of lane closures, and incident duration. These measures will be tracked and measured over time and will be presented and or produced in periodic data bulletins.
8. Promote and provide the PA and NJ Statewide Responder Training sessions, specialized training session(s) to be determined, and various online TIM Training efforts.
9. Social Media awareness campaigns for quick clearance
10. Hold Regional TIM Conference. Identify topics and speakers, prepare all materials, and arrange training demonstration.
11. Participate in New Jersey's Statewide Traffic Incident Management Program and Pennsylvania's PennTime Program and any other TIM programs initiated by state agencies and other agencies.
12. Provide technical support, including mapping services, GIS, and other assistance as requested.
Traffic Signal Optimization Tasks
1. Provide technical and policy assistance to PennDOT as it advances the concept of retiming and optimizing traffic signals on a regional basis for Pennsylvania's DVRPC Counties. Attend relevant meetings as requested.
2. In cooperation with PennDOT and DVRPCs Pennsylvania counties, select which traffic signals will be chosen for retiming.
3. Provide technical and policy assistance to the New Jersey Regional Signal Retiming Initiative Program.
4. In cooperation with NJDOT, and NJ's DVRPC Counties, select which traffic signals on 500 and 600 numbered routes will be chosen for retiming.
5. Participate in all kick-off, planning, and coordination meetings related to the regional program.
Transportation Operation Task Force
1. Host the quarterly Transportation Operations Task Force. Prepare notices, agendas, identify specialized topics, arrange speakers, prepare and distribute summary materials
2. Support multimodal planning efforts and coordination with various transportation agencies
3. Promote and educate regional agencies and public on TSMO strategies such as active traffic management principles and issues.
4. Continue the regional construction coordination efforts to minimize traffic impacts of overlapping construction projects.
5. Provide a feedback loop to DOTs and other transportation operators on design and operational issues for relevant construction projects and ITS deployment.
TSMO Planning Efforts
1. Maintain the Regional ITS Architecture for the Delaware Valley. Work with local stakeholders to ensure consistency between the regional architectures and their project architectures. Continue to coordinate with NJTPA, NJDOT, and PennDOT with their regional and statewide ITS Architecture updates.
2. Update and/or maintain the Transportation Systems Management and Operations Master Plan as needed in coordination with the Long Range Plan updates.
3. Perform as needed any data collection and analysis of various travel data to identify trends in system performance across the network.
4. As part of project development, staff review and make recommendations for DOT infrastructure projects to incorporate ITS and TSMO operational improvements.
5. Continue to incorporate TSMO, including ITS investments, into the transportation planning process. Evaluate capital projects for their consistency with the Transportation Systems Management and Operations Master Plan and assist agencies to advance projects identified in the Plan, PennDOTs Regional Operations Plan, or in the Regional ITS Architecture.
6. Monitor federal ITS programs, regulations, and initiatives to identify which ones may impact projects in the region.
Products
Transportation Operations Task Force Products
1. Transportation Operations Task Force meeting agendas, summaries, and meeting materials.
2. Regional Operating Agency Contact List
3. Provide topical specialized training session(s) to be determined.
Incident Management Task Force Products
1. Incident management task force training sessions agendas, summaries, and resource materials.
2. IMTF policy and procedures guidelines, training aids, maps depicting response areas, and other relevant materials identified by IMTF members.
3. AARs summaries for distribution to all task force members to inform them of best practices, lessons learned, and possible new protocols to reduce traffic delay.
4. Conduct expanded Formal After Action Reviews and prepare reports
5. Traffic congestion analysis
6. Incident Duration and lane closure tracking analysis
7. Produce periodic bulletins to highlight incident management and transportation operations data as available.
8. Roster and contact information of regional emergency agencies
9. Marketing Materials such as the Social Media Campaign Tool Kit for Quick Clearance and Move Over Laws
Traffic Signal Optimization Products
1. Products developed for both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Signal Retiming Programs.
2. MOU and concept of operations for each corridor when necessary.
3. Proposed and final signal timing plans
4. Implementation of Optimized Signal Timing Plans
5. Technical Memorandum which can include Performance Measures such as Travel Time, Delay, stops and fuel consumption.
6. Corridor Summary fact sheets
TSMO Planning Efforts
1. Maintenance of the ITS Regional Architecture.
2. Maintenance of the TSMO Master Plan.
3. Implementations of programs to foster interagency cooperation.
See also MPMS #114967