|
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
February 23, 2024
Road Weather Management (RWM) Program Newsletter
News and Resources for the RWM Community
Message from David Johnson:
Welcome!
With winter in full effect, temperatures continuing to fall, and a solar eclipse on the horizon, many of us in the road weather community ramp up our winter operations to minimize road weather challenges. This edition of our newsletter is a continuation of our mission to keep the RWM community up to date on the program's work and provide a forum for sharing items of general interest.
This issue features information following the total solar eclipse preparation webinar and details about the solar eclipse peer exchange to follow. In addition, you will find a plethora of eclipse resources including planned special events, traffic management for planned special events, solar eclipse fact sheets, and more.
As always, we encourage you to continue the dialogue with us. Tell us what topics you want to hear about or send us news from your organization!
David Johnson
FHWA Team Leader, Managing Disruptions to Operations
David.Johnson@dot.gov
On February 21, 2024, the FHWA Office of Operations (HOP), in collaboration with other Federal, State, and local transportation agency stakeholders held a preparation webinar to discuss strategies, resources, tools, successes, lessons learned, and experiences from State departments of transportation (DOTs) during the 2017 solar eclipse.
This webinar is part of a series of total solar eclipse preparation outreach activities that also includes an in-person peer exchange the following month in St. Louis, MO, culminating in a final report showcasing noteworthy practices, strategies, and innovations used throughout the event.
The agenda included:
- Setting the stage for the eclipse: why it matters for transportation operations
- Polling on State department of transportation planning efforts
- Planned special event considerations
- Road weather management considerations
- Work zone management considerations
- Traffic incident management considerations
- International travel considerations
- Additional strategies, tools, and resources
View the recordings below:
- View the full webinar recording:
- Additional Strategies, Tools, and Resources:
- Considerations for Traffic Incident Management TIM:
- International Travel Considerations:
- Considerations for Road Weather Management:
- Considerations for Planned Special Events:
FHWA HOP is sponsoring a 1-day in-person peer exchange to help agencies prepare for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. The peer exchange will include presentations and discussions of recommended practices and preparations occurring by agencies affected by the 2024 event, as well as discussions among participants on lessons learned from the 2017 total solar eclipse and ways to adopt various strategies in their jurisdiction. The agenda will also include time for roundtable discussions for all participating State DOTs to share information about their activities and experiences in their jurisdictions.
Topics to be covered:
- Recapping the 2017 Solar Eclipse Impacts
- Local Approach
-
Agency Collaboration Opportunities To Mitigate Impacts
- Messaging to the Traveling Public
- Interactive Group Activity
- Interactive Roundtable
Peer exchange details:
-
Date and time: March 6, 2024, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. CT
-
Location: Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, 1335 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131
This event is by invitation only. For more information, contact David Johnson at David.Johnson@dot.gov.
The new solar eclipse resources web page is in development and will be included under the Planned Special Event web page. This list of resources can be shared internally and externally by State and local DOTs to assist other agencies in their preparations. The list contains fact sheets, videos, web pages, and other materials such as HOP’s final report for managing travel for planned special events, the Colorado DOT’s Pathfinder process, and other FHWA office contributions.
Do you have helpful resources to share with other DOTs? Contact David Johnson at David.Johnson@dot.gov to submit your materials so we can add to our list!
What Is the Managing Disruptions to Operations Data Exchange?
The MDODE initiative focuses on improving responsiveness to operational disruptions caused by nonrecurring events. The project works to normalize access to consistent, accurate, authoritative, and timely information for disruptions due to weather, crashes, emergency response, work zones, and special events. The MDODE emphasizes a community-driven approach to develop common practices around defining needs and opportunities for data production, accessibility to proprietary datasets, sharing between agencies and stakeholders, and use in enhanced operational management, analytics, and other uses.
Current Deployments of Managing Disruptions to Operations Data Exchange-Related Datasets
The Weather Data Environment (WxDE) aggregates weather sensor data for wide distribution. More than 40 States currently contribute data into the WxDE. Specifically, the WxDE collects data in near real time from both fixed environmental sensor stations (ESS) and integrated mobile observations (IMO). Other Federal datasets, such as the Federal Aviation Administration’s Automated Surface Observing Systems and Automated Weather Observing Systems, are also available for viewing within the WxDE. The WxDE quality controls and checks observations and flags data outputs that are outside of the expected ranges, making it a good tool to monitor your agency’s weather sensor health and functionality.
Once you’ve registered an account in the WxDE, data are freely available to the public and are actively used by various stakeholders, such as researchers and operations managers.
Source: FHWA.
If you’re interested in integrating your ESS and IMO weather data into the WxDE, please contact David Johnson at David.Johnson@dot.gov.
Upcoming Activities
-
Working Groups: FHWA is actively building MDODE Working Groups including State and local agencies, industry, research, and private industry to develop a national framework and community of practice. More information is coming soon.
-
Information Briefs: A series of MDODE informational briefs are currently being created. Topics covered will include funding opportunities and specific use cases for MDODE integration into a myriad of transportation management applications, including road weather, work zone, and traffic incident applications.
Did you know that there are hundreds of resources on the Welcome to Road Weather Management website? Below is a selection of factsheets and reports on adaptive route optimization for operations and automated vehicles and adverse weather.
Adaptive Route Optimization for Operations Resources
Automated Vehicles and Adverse Weather
Applications Open for Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration Grants
The AID Demonstration grants provide incentive funds to eligible entities to accelerate the implementation and adoption of innovation in highway transportation. Since AID Demonstration launched in 2014, FHWA has awarded more than $95.7 million for 127 grants. These funds may be used in any phase of a highway transportation project between project planning and project delivery, including planning, finance, operation, structures, materials, pavements, environment, and construction. The 2023–2026 AID Demonstration program will make available up to $10 million in grants in fiscal year (FY) 2023 and $12.5 million in FYs 2024 through 2026. You can apply for AID Demonstration grants at grants.gov.
State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) Incentive Program
Did you know that each STIC has access to $125,000 each year to support the costs of standardizing innovative practices in a State transportation agency or other public sector STIC? Learn about innovations your peers have deployed at STIC Incentive Projects (FY2014-2023) | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov) and follow the instructions at STIC Incentive Program Guidance | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov). If you have questions, contact the EDC Coordinator in the FHWA Division Office.
American Public Works Association North American Snow Conference
April 28–May 1, 2024 | Kansas City, MO
The North American Snow Conference has a whole host of activities from expert-led snow and ice education sessions to exhibits full of vendors excited to show you the latest winter maintenance solutions for your community. Save the date and find additional information at https://www.apwa.org/events/north-american-snow-conference/.
We’d like to hear from you!
Are there topics you want our input on? Please reach out to us! Contact David Johnson at David.Johnson@dot.gov regarding suggestions for future RWM issues.
Stay Connected
|
|
 |
Make sure to sign up for future road weather announcements via GovDelivery at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/usdotfhwa/subscribers/new. Already subscribed? Pass this along to someone who could benefit from road weather news.
|
