Managing Traffic Management Systems (TMS) Assets and Resources: TRB Workshop

The next generation Transportation Management Systems (TMSs) and their centres (TMCs) offer agencies the potential to improve safety and mobility. However, these transitions require agencies to make decisions regarding all of the TMS assets and resources, the condition of these assets, and a full assessment of their agency and system’s capabilities and performance. The IRF was pleased to support again this year the annual workshop on TMSs organised during TRB 100^th Annual Meeting by TRB Freeway Operations Committee.  The workshop had the support of many other key TRB Committees, IBTTA, ERTICO, and ASECAP and aimed at exploring successful practices, resources, and issues agencies should consider when transitioning to the next generation of TMS.

Moderated by the IRF President, Mr. Bill Halkias, the initial part of the workshop set the stage for the conversation by focusing on:

1. Developing and maintaining an inventory of TMS assets and resources

The next generation Transportation Management Systems (TMSs) and their centres (TMCs) offer agencies the potential to improve safety and mobility. In these transitions, agencies may consider modifying, upgrading, or replacing their TMS assets, subsystems (software, data, telecom), components, and/or field devices. The inventory and condition of these assets and other TMS resources are critical inputs to planning, consideration, and prioritisation of future improvements or allocation of available resources (e.g., maintenance, day-to-day operations, improvements).

2. Monitoring and assessing TMS assets and resources

The inventory and condition of assets is information used in planning for improvements to (e.g., increase coverage, add functions, offer new services) or efforts to pursue the next generation of an agency’s TMS. Agencies also use this information to adjust priorities, allocate program resources, and pursue day-to-day activities based on the monitoring and conditions of TMS assets.  These decisions should consider not only the strategic direction of the next generation of their TMS but also the condition of assets, scheduled (e.g., asset replacement, preventive maintenance) and unplanned activities (e.g., repairs), day-to-day operation (e.g., asset monitoring), and available resources.

3. Assessing and reporting on TMS capabilities

The ability to access and integrate information on the inventory and condition of assets is critical to assisting agencies with improving day-to-day performance, allocation of limited resources, and planning for the next generation of their TMS.

In addition to podium presentations, the workshop featured highly interactive group discussions in six parallel breakout-sessions.

Several the follow-up actions and activities agreed upon at the end of the workshop. 

A summary of the workshop presentations and outcomes will be available on http://www.trb.org/AnnualMeeting/AnnualMeeting.aspx. 

For more info, contact IRF at info@irfnet.ch