Traffic Management Centers

Transcription

1 I. PennDOT Regional Operations II. III. IV. Statewide Traffic Management Center (STMC) Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) Operations I. PennDOT Regional Operations PennDOT is making a move from three Regional TMCs (RTMCs) to four, to focus regional operations in a corridor-based approach that encourages more efficient regional and interregional cooperation. Regions were originally aligned based on existing capabilities, and mixed largely rural with largely suburban-urban areas. Device management was vastly different and operational expectations were vastly different within a region. The four-region model allows Philadelphia and the Southeast to remain its own region and unites eastern Districts 4, 5, and 8 to manage the entire I-78, I- 81, I-83, I-84 and I-380 corridors within a single region, instead of forcing multiple center management of a corridor. The new central region will focus on I-99, the non-interstate east-wests that serve large rural corridors, and take a broader look at the I-80 corridor from a central point, seeing both western and eastern impacts. The western region remains largely unchanged. As part of the alignment effort, a standardized approach to regional TMC operations has been created, which makes each of the four RTMCs more responsible for the daily management of operations within its region on a 24/ basis. Each District completes a District TOP, and those District TOPS are united in the Regional TOP which outlines how the RTMC will act as the member TMC when it is not staffed, or when access to facilities, personnel, or systems is compromised. Each District TOP may have a variety of how to approaches, but all of them will meet a specific statewide standard on what must be done and why it is important, as well as how each activity fits into a larger all-hazard, multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary approach to incident and special planned event management.

2 Management of Interstates is more coordinated The line of responsibility is clearer from District to host Regional TMC The standardized approach to physical requirements, staffing requirements, and responsibilities and creation of standardized TOPs facilitates an understanding of responsibility when one TMC must take over for another when not expected (Continuity of Operations focus) II. Statewide Traffic Management Center (STMC) PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) have been working in a more cooperative and directive way since both agencies discovered the need, based on a significant but not catastrophic event in February of For eight years, the agencies have been linked in purpose, but not operationally. The opportunity for more active collaboration came about when the Commonwealth decided to build a new facility for PEMA s headquarters and state Emergency Operations Center. PennDOT became a planning partner. A cooperative Concept of Operations was developed. PennDOT committed to colocation for daily operational assessment and collaboration. Occupation of the building is anticipated by the end of calendar year 2015.

3 Area Command Center (ACC) will be adjacent to the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and will house Area Command staff during emergency activations. The Center will have workstations for staff, monitors in front of the room for video images, and an attached conference room with additional monitors and a smart board. The STMC functions will include statewide coordination of situational awareness, coordination between agencies and Regional Traffic Management Centers (RTMCs), training of TMC personnel, QA/QC of traffic data, analyses of traffic operations metrics, and additional support for RTMC staff. The STMC will utilize and share a video wall with PEMA s SEOC to monitor camera feeds, real time speed data, weather and other emergency related software and websites. District 8-0 RTMC includes space for up to 12 personnel. Bureau of Maintenance and Operation s (BOMO s) TMC Operations Unit Offices will be relocating to the new PEMA facility. The Unit will be responsible for operations of the STMC. Other key responsibilities of the Unit include ATMS, RCRS, QA/QC, and Metrics analysis. Consistent information sharing 24/7 between PEMA watch officers and PennDOT STMC operators Co-location promotes trust building and a sense of unity of purpose and roles of agencies District to Region to State chain of communications/command is clearer and more efficient

4 III. Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) software is a web-based application centrally hosted and managed by PennDOT s information technology group. ATMS and will enable shared control of all Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) devices throughout the Commonwealth when fully deployed. The statewide ATMS also includes the IterisPeMS (ipems) Performance Measurement System for data warehousing, visualization, and performance reporting. Open, extensible architecture integrates with PennDOT Systems: o Road Condition Reporting System (RCRS) o Video Sharing Solution (VSS) Web-based ATMS platform allows software to be hosted in a central location o All users on the same ATMS instance o Easy for PennDOT to administer and maintain the system o Accessible by PennDOT staff across the Commonwealth network o An Application Protocol Interface (API) supports mobile app development Phased deployment o Phase I Eastern Region Fall 2014 (Completed) Phase I brought over 1300 devices online including over 400 Cameras, 230 Signs, 500 detectors, and 100 EZ-Pass Tag readers. o Phase II Central Region Spring 2015 (In Progress) o Phase III Western Region Spring 2016 (Future) Phase II and III deployments will bring an additional 1200 devices onto the ATMS platform. Real-time data from ATMS provides inputs for statewide performance modeling and corridor modernization initiatives and be available for external stakeholder use. Facilitate consistent responses to planned and unplanned events using automated rules-based engine; Enable Traffic Management Center (TMC) operators to manage incident activities from detection through resolution; Support center-to-center handover of operations; Improved coordination among PennDOT Engineering Districts, PennDOT Central Office, adjacent states, and other stakeholders; Improved dissemination of traffic information to the traveling public; Enhanced gathering, quality verification, and analysis of traffic data for decision making.

5 IV. PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) Ops The Turnpike Traffic Operations Center (TOC) is a combined emergency dispatch 911 center and a Traffic Management center combined into one facility for the entire roadway system. The TOC handles approximately 400 calls and 11,000 radio transmissions per day. In severe weather, the TOC receives as many as 500 calls per hour from motorists in need of assistance. When a radio operator receives a call via radio, telephone, cellular *11, or emergency call box, the operator enters the reported located of the incident into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The system responds immediately with all the information required to handle the situation. They dispatch fire, emergency medical services, State Police, tow trucks, Hazardous Materials Response Teams for customers involved in motor vehicle accidents, customers needing medical assistance, and customers needing mechanical assistance for their automobiles. The resources are coordinated by radio and telephone dispatch to establish a Unified Incident Command structure. These resources work hand in hand to accomplish incident management and provide timely, accurate information to the Operations Center so that Traveler Advisories and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can be activated and updated throughout the event. The Traffic Operations Center is staffed with highly trained personnel who are ready and willing to assist motorists around the clock. The TOC s radio operators receive structured training and are nationally certified in communication and telephone skills, and sensitivity training. The Turnpike is currently developing a TOC Operational Environment Review & Action Plan. The goals of this project are to: Assess the impact of additional ITS devices Compare ATMS software solutions Identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps/deficiencies Identify needs to close gaps/deficiencies Develop candidate solutions incorporating operational best practices. The outcome will be an action plan that will feed the capital plan and operations budget. Solutions may include large items (ex: new ATMS), but will also capture the little things needed to enhance our operational environment as well. For additional information, please contact Leslie McCoy [email protected]