Innovation of the Month:
Using Data to Improve Traffic Incident Management
Through Every Day Counts (EDC) round four, the Federal Highway Administration is promoting the use of low-cost, off-the-shelf technologies to collect data to improve traffic incident management (TIM).
TIM-related data can be collected with existing advanced transportation management systems, computer-aided dispatch software, electronic crash reporting systems, and smart devices. Some transportation agencies already collect data with each of these systems.
The Arizona Department of Transportation, for example,
modified its Traffic and Criminal Software—or TraCS—system at a low cost to collect data for
three key TIM performance measures: roadway clearance time, incident clearance
time, and number of secondary crashes.
Tennessee uses a locally developed electronic crash
reporting system that collects data for two of the standard performance
measures.
Visit FHWA’s TIM Knowledgebase for tools
and resources on practices and performance measurement.
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Traffic Incident Management Topic of Alaska Conference
FHWA staff discussed the benefits of TIM responder training at the
Alaska Fire Chiefs Association Leadership Summit on February 9 in Juneau.
Several of the 60 fire chiefs attending the event noted that after they
participated in TIM training, the result was quicker and safer clearance of
traffic incidents in their areas. The fire chiefs encouraged colleagues from
other localities to pursue TIM training for first responders.
Colorado Peer Exchange Explores Warm-Mix Asphalt
Representatives of six State departments of transportation,
private industry, and FHWA participated in a warm-mix asphalt (WMA) peer
exchange on February 14 and 15 in Colorado. State DOT staff from Colorado,
Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, and Pennsylvania presented overviews of their
experiences with WMA implementation plans, challenges, and success stories.
FHWA and asphalt industry representatives also provided perspectives on WMA.
The event concluded with breakout sessions to discuss ways to promote the benefits
of using WMA.
Texas Uses Design-Build on Toll Lane Project
A February 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for a toll
lane project on State Highway 71, a major
corridor that connects drivers to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport,
Bastrop, and other central Texas communities. The Texas Department of
Transportation is using the design-build contracting
method to deliver the project, which adds a toll lane in each direction on SH
71. The purpose of the project is to enhance safety and reduce congestion on
the corridor. The new lanes are designed to offer a free-flowing and reliable
bypass route for through traffic.
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