Sustaining Regional Collaboration in Planning for Operations. in the Baltimore Region

Transcription

1 Sustaining Regional Collaboration in Planning for Operations in the Baltimore Region Eileen Singleton, P.E. Principal Transportation Engineer Baltimore Metropolitan Council Bala Akundi Principal Transportation Engineer Baltimore Metropolitan Council National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) Webinar: Sustaining Regional Collaboration in Planning for Operations June 12, 2012

2 Overview The Baltimore Region Overview of Management & Operations Committees and Programs Lessons Learned in Sustaining Regional Collaboration in Planning for Operations Final thoughts

3 The Baltimore Region - Over 2.6 million people, 20 th most populous metro area - Major employment center and tourist destination - Adjacent to National Capital Region - MPO is the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB)

4 1998 Regional M&O Activity Timeline ITS Strategic Deployment Plan completed

5 1998 Regional M&O Activity Timeline ITS Strategic Deployment Plan completed 2000 ITS Partnership initiated Baltimore Regional Operations Coordination (B-ROC) Committee initiated

6 1998 Regional M&O Activity Timeline ITS Strategic Deployment Plan completed ITS Partnership initiated Baltimore Regional Operations Coordination (B-ROC) Committee initiated Traffic Signal Subcommittee initiated ITS Partnership changes name to M&O Partnership

7 1998 Regional M&O Activity Timeline ITS Strategic Deployment Plan completed ITS Partnership initiated Baltimore Regional Operations Coordination (B-ROC) Committee initiated Traffic Signal Subcommittee initiated ITS Partnership changes name to M&O Partnership Transportation & Public Works Committee initiated M&O Strategic Deployment Plan completed

8 1998 Regional M&O Activity Timeline ITS Strategic Deployment Plan completed ITS Partnership initiated Baltimore Regional Operations Coordination (B-ROC) Committee initiated Traffic Signal Subcommittee initiated ITS Partnership changes name to M&O Partnership Transportation & Public Works Committee initiated M&O Strategic Deployment Plan completed B-ROC Committee changes name to Traffic Incident Management for the Baltimore Region

9 Regional Operations Committees Baltimore Regional Transportation Board Management & Operations Partnership Traffic Incident Management for the Baltimore Region Traffic Signal Subcommittee Transportation & Public Works Committee

10 Management & Operations Initiated in 1999 Partnership Mission: Identify, champion, and oversee regional M&O projects Members include DPW directors and state transportation operations managers Submitted annual project recommendations to BRTB from for consideration for TIP No funding was allocated for these regional M&O projects

11 Management & Operations Partnership Faced difficulty identifying the correct place to submit regional operations projects for long range plan Partnership on hiatus , currently working to re-energize the group Funding for regional operations projects still not identified

12 Traffic Incident Management for the Baltimore Region (TIMBR) Initiated in 2000 as the Baltimore Regional Operations Coordination (B-ROC) Committee Meets bi-monthly Mission: Enhance communication, cooperation, and coordination across jurisdictions, agencies, and modes to improve responder and motorist safety, enhance mobility, and ultimately, improve traffic incident management. Receives consultant support funded by Maryland State Highway Administration No funding is allocated for large regional TIM projects

13 Focus of TIMBR Public Preparedness Coordination Complexity State & Federal Involvement Classification LOCAL REGIONAL STATE NATIONAL EXAMPLES EXPECTED EVENT DURATION Minor Traffic Incidents Minor Load Spills Vehicle Fires Minor Train/Bus Accidents Accidents w/ Injuries but No Fatalities 0-2 HOURS Train Crashes Airplane Crashes Hazmat Incidents Multi-vehicle Accidents Tunnel Fires Multiple Injuries & Fatalities DAYS Tornadoes Port/Airport Incidents Large Building Fire or Explosion Industrial Incidents Major Tunnel/ Bridge Closure DAYS Terrorist Attack/WMD Floods, Blizzards Transportation Infrastructure Collapse Extended Power/Water Outage Riots Mass Casualties WEEKS

14 Member Agencies Local Public works/transportation Police Fire Emergency management State Transportation (highway, transit, port) Police Fire Emergency management Environment Medical Examiner Federal Naval Academy Transportation US Coast Guard US Park Service Other Consultants Baltimore Metropolitan Council Metro. Washington Council of Governments Towing & Recovery Professionals of MD University of Maryland

15 Overview of TIMBR Activities Field Guides / Forms Spanish Language Field Guide Maryland Statewide Incident Management Coordination Field Guide Medical Examiner Form Training / Awareness Traffic Incident Management Conferences On-line Traffic Incident Management Training Course Traffic Incident Management Self Assessments FHWA Traffic Incident Management Workshop Plans Contingency Transportation Emergency Management Plan Traffic Incident Response Coordination Plan Topic-Specific Task Forces Escorted Motor Ride Task Force Funeral Procession Task Force Agreements Memorandum of Regional Cooperation

16 Overview & Status of TIMBR Activities Summary table showing: Topic, Project, Status, Result Result Legend Completed, in use, well-received In development, progressing well May be completed but not in use / product not maximized

17 Overview & Status of TIMBR Activities Topic Project Status Result Field Guides / Forms Training / Awareness Spanish Language Field Guide Maryland Statewide Incident Management Coordination Field Guide Medical Examiner Form Traffic Incident Management Conferences On-line Traffic Incident Management Training Course TIM Self Assessments FHWA TIM Workshop Completed Needs to be updated Completed Sept 19-20, 2001 Nov 20, 2003 Apr 15, 2008 Printed and distributed throughout the State Used widely Guide needs to be updated Could then be sent electronically Costly to print Available, but need to educate police about its use Very successful Interest in future events Funding needed to hold future events In development Will be completed in June 2012 Anticipated to be useful when completed Conducted as a region in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 Conducted in September 2011 Initiated productive discussions about needs and potential projects Helped identify some next steps / action items for TIMBR

18 Overview & Status of TIMBR Activities Plans Topic Project Status Result Topic- Specific Task Forces Agreements Contingency Transportation Emergency Management Plan Traffic Incident Response Coordination Plan Funeral Procession Task Force Escorted Motor Ride Task Force Memorandum of Regional Cooperation Completed Completed Task Force has completed its work Started Fall 2011, ongoing Signed by all jurisdictions, MDOT, MSP Implemented as pilot in Carroll County Compiled useful information Incorporated into Regional Protective Action Coordination Guidelines Will be included in Evacuation Support Documents currently being developed Compiled useful information Information will be added to Maryland Statewide Incident Management Coordination Field Guide Completed Funeral Procession Guidelines; distributed to police and fire chiefs from elected officials, and to SHA Created Funeral Procession Contact List that is updated quarterly by BMC staff Issue of concern and interest by law enforcement in the region, and in neighboring regions Anticipate outcome will include common guidelines for the region Manual notification is difficult to implement / maintain Full implementation not likely until automated

19 Traffic Signal Subcommittee Initiated in 2002 Provide a forum for the region s traffic signal engineers, managers, and field staff to discuss issues of common concern Identify and undertake projects that improve the operation and coordination of the region s traffic signals

20 Signal Subcommittee Members Traffic signal engineers/managers from the seven jurisdictions (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties and the Cities of Baltimore and Annapolis); State Highway Administration and Federal Highway Administration. Staff from Washington MPO MWCOG/TPB Consultants Chaired by active local jurisdiction representatives

21 Regional Signal Forum 5 Signal Forums held since th scheduled for November 7, 2012 Brings together signal technicians, managers, operators, equipment vendors, state, local, federal and private sector representatives Over 100 attendees Link to the 2011 Signal Forum

22 CMAQ Funding 4 local projects supported by the signal subcommittee received CMAQ funds for Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) application approx. total $800,000 1 project in Anne Arundel County completed 8% reduction in overall daily travel time, 26% reduction in delay, 13% reduction in fuel usage and 8% reduction in emissions

23 Transportation & Public Works Committee Initiated in 2006 under BRTB and Urban Area Homeland Security Work Group to address day-to-day operations as well as emergency operations in public works Members include operations representatives from local and state DPW/DOT agencies

24 Overview of T&PW Activities Supporting Day-to-Day Operations Held 3 half-day operations forums on the following topics: Snow Plow Operations Roadside Mowing / Street Sweeping / Tree Trimming Road Maintenance Low cost (host jurisdiction provided bagels and coffee)

25 Overview of T&PW Emergency Prep Activities Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (UPWP* funds) Baltimore Urban Area Homeland Security Work Group (UASI** funds) Transportation & Public Works Committee Contraflow Decision Support Tool - UASI funds Evacuation Support Trailer - UASI funds Transportation-Focused Evacuation Tabletop Exercise - UASI and UPWP funds Traffic Management / Evacuation Model - UASI funds Baltimore Region Evacuation Traffic Management Document - UASI & UPWP funds Terrorism Awareness Training for DPW/T Field Staff - UASI funds *Unified Planning Work Program **Urban Area Security Initiative Disaster Debris Tabletop Exercises - UASI funds 25

26 Maryland ITS Architecture Advisory Panel (IAAP) MPO staff sit on the IAAP Review projects (mostly transit) for Architecture compliance Plans to update Statewide Architecture and expand process to include all ITS projects

27 Lessons Learned Committee Notes 1. Funding is a great way to get people to the table and keep them there 2. Identify issues of interest / best practices that can be addressed (even without funding), preferably short-term All TIMBR T&PW Most committees haven t had funding for regional projects Without funding, look esp to items 2, 3, 4, & 8 Funeral Processions Escorted Motorcycle Rides Incident debriefs Operations Forums 3. Look for alternative sources of funding 4. Raise awareness of decisionmakers about the importance of operations and specific needs Signal T&PW Signal All LEDs, Battery back up, equipment comparisons Homeland security funds (UASI) Federal grants and private funds for signal forums CMAQ Present to MPO Send letters to chiefs & DPW directors requesting their support Word of mouth from committee participants to their bosses

28 Lessons Learned Committee Notes 5. Know your stakeholders / committee members 6. Responders regularly rotate jobs, losing continuity in some agencies 7. Identify a champion, especially from a local jurisdiction 8. There are benefits from stakeholders meeting each other and discussing common issues All TIMBR All All Initiate projects of interest to committee members (issues and timeframe) Reach out to new members to bring them up to date Ask outgoing members to encourage their replacements to participate in the committee

29 Final Thoughts Our ITS and M&O committees have brought a wide variety of stakeholders together Planners Operators Emergency Responders Even without dedicated funding, we have experienced benefits from collaboration and improved operations

30 For More Information Bala Akundi Baltimore Metropolitan Council x 1019 bakundi@baltometro.org Eileen Singleton Baltimore Metropolitan Council x 1033 esingleton@baltometro.org