http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news.asp A listing of the FHWA Office of Operations current news items. http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/outreach/wz_awareness.htm The 2010 National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) will be held April 19-23, with the national kickoff event in New York City. The theme of the 2010 NWZAW and the exact time, date, location and other details about the national kickoff will be announced soon. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/index.cfm The FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations (HOFM) Web site has been updated to meet users' needs and make information easier to find. The site is now organized around key freight topic areas. The left navigation bar has been updated accordingly, making use of topic headings and related sub-links. The content on the topical pages continues to provide information that is accurate, timely, and important to those interested in freight transportation. Visit the new and improved FHWA Freight Web site. Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government began building a new multimodal approach to cargo security. The freight transportation industry continues to face unprecedented challenges from new security directives, such as TWIC and 10+2, designed to make the movement of goods more secure and safe from terrorist attacks. What would happen if the system were impacted by an incident, natural or man-made, that caused a disruption or brought fright transportation to a halt? What protocols may be needed to resume transportation and trade? Hear how security directives are impacting performance of the freight transportation system and what is needed to recover from a system disruption? Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register[amp]docid=fr08oc09-5 The Final Rule on Interoperability Requirements for Automated Toll Collection, as required by SAFETEA-LU Section 1604, was published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2009. This Rule only applies to toll facilities that receive their tolling authority from Section 1604, specifically the Value Pricing Pilot Program, the Express Lanes Demonstration Program, and the Interstate Construction Pilot Program. Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09053/index.htm In 2007, as part of its Electronic Freight Management (EFM) program initiative, USDOT conducted an EFM deployment test in Columbus, Ohio with partners from a Limited Brands air cargo supply chain originating in China; an evaluation was completed and documented. Successful supply chain deployments of EFM technologies are delivering benefits along with more efficiency and better customer service. EFM and related visibility technologies provide lasting benefits. Major users of these technologies report better integration with their partners and greater supply chain visibility. This report presents results from many industry surveys and case studies as documented in the literature. With those as a backdrop, this report summarizes the quantitative and qualitative benefits found during the Columbus EFM (CEFM) test. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-053) Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/rwri/registration.htm This database application and search engine contains more than 950 resources for road weather management practitioners. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09020/capacity.htm Efficient freight movement is a fundamental underpinning of our nation's economic strength. Enabling transportation professionals to improve their skills and knowledge to fully integrate freight movement into our transportation system's development and operations is the objective of the Federal Highway Administration's Freight Professional Development (FPD) Program. This brochure describes many of the options available in the FPD Program. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-020) Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09032/index.htm FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Operations is measuring the time required for trucks to cross the Otay Mesa-Tijuana border and to establish a baseline dataset. The first phase of the project, now completed, identified Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies for evaluation. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-032) Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09033/index.htm FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Operations is measuring the time required for trucks to cross the Bridge of the Americas and to establish a baseline dataset. The first phase of the project, now completed, selected Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to implement and evaluate. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-033) Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register[amp]docid=fr05au09-137 FHWA has released a Federal Register notice (August 5, 2009) inviting States, along with their local government partners and other public authorities, to apply to participate in the Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) program for fiscal year 2009, and pending Congressional action, fiscal year 2010. Unlike with previous notices, the purpose of this notice is to seek only applications for statewide, regionwide, or areawide transportation pricing studies and for transportation pricing implementation projects that do not entail tolling roadways. Formal grant applications must be submitted no later than November 3, 2009, to be assured consideration. Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?jobid=82880580 The FHWA Office of Operations has just posted a vacancy announcement for a GS 13/14 Transportation Specialist to work on the Road Weather Management Team. The Transportation Specialist will be a nationally recognized expert in the development and implementation of solutions that alleviate the impacts of adverse weather upon highway operations. This position is ideal for a mid-career professional with experience in road weather management and one of the following: systems engineering; meteorology; computer science; performance measurement and/or economic analysis; and training, outreach, and technology transfer. The announcement closes on September 8th. The following links gives further details and application instructions: FHWA.HOP-2009-0012 (Government employees with status only): http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?jobid=82880400 and FHWA.HOP-2009-0013 (Open to all US Citizens): http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?jobid=82880580 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/resources.htm#cpps The Congestion Pricing Primer Series is part of FHWA's outreach efforts to introduce the various aspects of congestion pricing to decision-makers and transportation professionals in the United States. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.plan4operations.dot.gov/casestudies/benefits.htm These six case studies provide strong examples of how planners and operators in a variety of different-sized metropolitan regions have worked together to advance utilizing an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to significantly advance Operations program in their areas. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/eto_tim_pse/evacnews.htm Evacuation operations occur daily throughout the Nation. Local jurisdictions manage evacuations, whether a solitary building with 25 to 50 residents, a neighborhood or an entire city. Evacuation expertise lies with local authorities. To demonstrate that evacuations constitute daily emergency operations, FHWA offers a weekly summary of where events occur to aid in further research or peer-to-peer exchanges. We invite you to search the Emergency Transportation Operations Web site for more on evacuation planning and operations. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/value_pricing/projects/index.htm Each quarter, projects authorized under the Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) Program are updated to provide the most current VPP program information on active projects being studied as well as projects that have been implemented. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/regulations_policy/index.htm ACTION: Notice; solicitation for participation. This notice invites States, along with their local government partners and other public authorities, to apply to participate in the Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) program and presents guidelines for program applications for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tolling_pricing/value_pricing/tools/index.htm POET-ML allows HOV system operators to complete a current HOV system condition assessment, quantify the impacts of HOV policy changes on operational performance and financial feasibility, and ultimately prioritize the most appropriate policy changes, or combination of HOV policy changes, to best align the system with their policy goals and objectives. Even if only a limited amount of input data is available, users can obtain sketch-level planning estimates. Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09031/index.htm Intended for an audience of transportation professionals responsible for planning, designing, funding, operating, enforcing, monitoring, and managing HOV and HOT lanes, and considering conversion of HOV to HOT lanes. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-031) Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/july09/01.htm The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) July 2009 FOCUS article "Traffic Analysis Toolbox Offers New Guides to Work Zone Modeling and Simulation" references the two new FHWA's Traffic Analysis Toolbox volumes, Volume VIII: Work Zone Modeling and Simulation - A Guide for Decision-Makers and Volume IX: Work Zone Modeling and Simulation - A Guide for Analysts, offer transportation departments guidance in using a range of analytical tools for work zone planning and management. Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09015/cp_prim7_00.htm This primer was produced to examine the interrelationships between congestion pricing and transit operations and use. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-015) Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09029/index.htm The report provides an assessment of performance of existing HOV lane facilities in the United States, and explores policy alternatives and effects related to conversion of existing HOV lanes to HOT lane operations. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-029) Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09030/index.htm The compendium provides an assembly of available information on existing HOV lane facilities in the United States. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-030) Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09037/index.htm This Primer is the signature product of the Localized Bottleneck Reduction (LBR) Program, which is administered out of the Office of Operations. The LBR program is focused on recurring congestion chokepoints (as opposed to nonrecurring congestion causes) and the operational influences that cause them. Widening, lengthening, retiming, metering, or bypassing these problem areas to unclog them can often be done with lower cost, lesser intensive means than traditionally waiting or a complete facility rebuild or an out-year-project. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-037) This is the updated 2nd version of this document. (The first version is FHWA-HOP-07-130) Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/rss/opsnewsrss.htm The FHWA Office of Operations homepage now features an RSS feed feature for the "Current News." RSS enables users to subscribe and keep up with newly-posted information without having to browse or continually check back to a favorite web site. The Subscribe to Operations RSS Feed webpage supplies a more detailed explanation, along with some basic instructions on how to sign up to receive Operations "Current News" when it is posted. Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/09julaug/02.htm An expert symposium cosponsored by FHWA looked at the use of color in conveying safety messages, particularly in highway applications. (FHWA's Public Roads Article July/August 2009 Edition) Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08041/cp_prim4_00.htm This primer describes the underlying economic rationale for congestion pricing and how it can be used to promote economic efficiency. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-041) Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09021/index.htm This document is the second of two reports that explore the potential for the use of rural Interstate Highway corridor rights-of-way for the deployment of fiber optic cable and/or wireless communication infrastructure, across multiple States linked by the Interstate Highway system. The first document was the Rural Interstate Corridor Communications Study: Report to Congress. This document, Rural Interstate Corridor Communications Study: Report to States, provides a summary of study resources available to the Corridor States to begin the process for possible deployment of high-speed telecommunications (HST) in the corridors in question. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-021) Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08034/index.htm The intent of this study is to explore the planning, design, and ongoing operation and maintenance of HOT facilities and to provide lessons learned and applicable technical guidance that will assist the state and local transportation planners and designers in determining the conditions where HOV conversion to HOT lanes is feasible. The Guidebook provides a summary of the best practices and lessons learned from those HOT facilities currently in operation. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-034) Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/09june/03.htm A scan tour in Europe demonstrated a number of innovative strategies for enforcing commercial motor Vehicle Size And Weight regulations. (FHWA's Public Roads Article May/June 2009 Edition) Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/traffic_analysis/wza_leaflet/wza_leaflet.htm FHWA has prepared a brief, easy-to-read overview of how work zone analysis can be used to assist agencies in the planning and management of work zones. Explains how modeling and simulation can be used as part of the analysis. The leaflet is a good introduction to the topic. References are provided to guide those who want to read further. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-038) Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/traffic_analysis/tatv9_wz/index.htm This guide targets practitioners and includes more detailed real world and application information to help guide the selection of a modeling approach as well as specific project applications. This would be where tailoring the analysis begins, moving towards choosing what type of approach to administer and finally selecting the appropriate category of tool(s). This document uses examples/case studies/real world applications to help support the guidance provided. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-001) Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/res-notices.htm On November 24, 2008, the Interim Final Rule revising the Worker Visibility rule (23CFR 634) was issued to create an exemption for the firefighting community. This interim Final rule allowed firefighters or other emergency responders working within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway and engaged in emergency operations that directly expose them to flame, fire, heat, and/or hazardous materials to wear. The FHWA decided to issue this interim final rule to address safety concerns raised by fire fighting community. Three comments were submitted to the Interim Final Rule. Those have been addressed and it was issued as a Final Rule on June 15, 2009. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/tmctool/registration.htm The FHWA Road Weather Management Program recently developed a self-evaluation and planning guide to help Transportation Management/Operations Centers integrate weather information in their daily operations. The Guide consists of a manual document and an electronic tool to assist TMC's in identifying their weather integration needs and selecting appropriate strategies to meet those needs. FHWA is now working with several TMC's around the country in conducting the self-evaluation using the Guide. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08044/cp_prim6_00.htm This primer focuses on forms of congestion pricing that do not involve tolls but that are still aimed at creating more efficient pricing mechanisms for automobile use. This Primer is part of the Congestion Pricing Primer Series. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-044) Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09006/index.htm This report provides a guideline to estimate the staffing and resource needs required to effectively operate and maintain traffic signal systems. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-006) Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09035/video.htm This DVD showcases how freight moves through the supply chain, the importance of an efficient transportation system for reliable freight movement, and the impact the transportation system has on the economy. Request your free copy of the Keeping the Global Supply Chain Moving DVD (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-09-035) developed by the FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations. Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT