http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news.asp A listing of the FHWA Office of Operations current news items. https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/342748900 This position is located in the Office of Transportation Management. You will provide program management and program and technical support to federal field staff on various Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and Transportation Systems Management and Operations initiatives. You will be responsible for developing program strategies and for providing hands-on technical and program expertise to federal field staff in areas such as ITS architecture, standards, systems engineering. The objective is for the specialist to ensure that federal field staff is equipped with the skills, knowledge, and information to effectively support ITS deployment and key ITS initiatives with state and local agencies. The deadline for applications is May 13, 2013. Thu, 2 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm This webinar will provide general information about the MAP-21 State Freight Advisory Committee guidance, general benefits of forming State Freight Advisory Committees, and specific insights from public sector and private freight company members of an existing State Freight Advisory Committee about the opportunities and challenges associated with these committees. Thu, 2 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/perf_measurement/ucr/reports/fy2013_q2.htm The Urban Congestion Report (UCR) is produced on a quarterly basis and characterizes emerging traffic congestion and reliability trends at the national and city level. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.citeconsortium.org/courses/WRTM.html The ITS Joint Program Office Professional Capacity Building program in partnership the with Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) and the FHWA Road Weather Management Program are delivering the new web-based course on Weather Responsive Traffic Management starting May 3, 2013. The course is currently free of charge (for a limited time) to all government agencies at the state, local, city/municipal and federal levels. The course provides information and guidance to transportation system managers and operators to help them effectively manage traffic flow and operations during adverse weather conditions. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.citeconsortium.org/certprograms.html The Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) is now offering a certificate program on Road Weather Management. The program requires the completion of three core courses (currently free for government agencies for a limited time): Principles and Tools for Road Weather Management, Roadway Weather Information System (RWIS) Equipment and Operations, and the recently developed Weather Responsive Traffic Management (WRTM) course. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate and Continuing Education Units (CEU's) certified from the University of Maryland. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13016/index.htm The 2012 Urban Congestion Trends report is now available. The report provides a snapshot of urban congestion trends, including travel time reliability, in 19 urban areas in the U.S. The report also highlights operational solutions that provide benefits to system operators and the traveling public. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13013/index.htm This primer is focused on the collaborative and systematic consideration of management and operations during transportation project design and development. This is termed designing for operations. Effectively designing for operations involves the development and application of design policies, procedures, and strategies that support transportation management and operations. The consideration of operations needs during the design process requires transportation design professionals to work closely with those with expertise in transportation operations, intelligent transportation and transportation technology staff, planning, transit, freight, traffic incident management, and other practitioners from multiple agencies to fully identify, prioritize, and incorporate operations needs into the infrastructure design. This primer introduces the concept for designing for operations and describes tools or institutional approaches to assist transportation agencies in considering operations in their design procedures as well as pointing out some specific design considerations for various operations strategies. Tue, 9 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/atdm/index.htm FHWA has launched a new web site for the Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) program. ATDM is the dynamic management, control, and influence of travel demand, traffic demand, and traffic flow of transportation facilities. The ATDM site offers tools, guidance documents, resources, and other information intended to support agencies and regions considering moving towards an active management approach. Wed, 3 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/traffic_analysis/articles_webinars.htm Research is jointly underway with FHWA's Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory and the University of Central Florida to study driver behavior to improve the modeling of traffic flow at freeway work zones. The research examines differences in driver behavior to better calibrate models and improve estimates of work zone impacts on traffic flow. The work should help practitioners use appropriate calibration parameters during modeling of alternative work zone designs and operational strategies to reduce impacts. The research is described in a recent article in FHWA Public Roads March/April 2013 magazine. Tue, 2 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13008/index.htm This report provides guidance to TMCs and transportation management agencies on how to better position themselves operationally in anticipation of future technology changes and advancements. Eight top trends of TMC operations are identified, including those that come from both within and outside the transportation community. Individual strategies - 80 in total - are presented to assist TMC managers with addressing the trends. The strategy descriptions include successful practice examples and key references as applicable. Recognizing the potential difficulties in successfully implementing individual strategies, the report also presents tools for building a framework for the technology and mindset developments. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-13-008) Mon, 1 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webconfid=25786 On March 19, 2013 from 1-2:30pm EDT, FHWA will host a free webinar on work zone performance measures and types of available data sources for mobility, safety, customer satisfaction (i.e., the public), and agency/contractor productivity and efficiency. The webinar will provide an overview of new guidance, and highlight examples of how data and measures are being used to monitor and improve work zone performance. Advance registration is required. Wed, 6 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/perf_measurement/ucr/reports/fy2013_q1.htm The Urban Congestion Report (UCR) is produced on a quarterly basis and characterizes emerging traffic congestion and reliability trends at the national and city level. Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12035/index.htm The document has been developed to serve as a desk reference on integrating demand management into the transportation planning process. Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12030/index.htm This primer is intended to raise awareness among staff at MPOs and their partner agencies about the potential role of congestion pricing in supporting regional goals as well as the most effective approaches for advancing congestion pricing strategies in a region. It draws upon lessons learned from pilot and ongoing programs implemented around the United States as well as efforts to integrate congestion pricing into regional transportation plans. (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-12-030) Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-13/html/C1-2013-02580.htm Correction - In notice document 2013-02580 appearing on pages 8686-8689, in the Federal Register issue of Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13004/index.htm This brief summarizes the content of the Operations Benefit Cost Desk Reference, describes the capabilities and structure of the Tool for Operations Benefit Cost, and notes the project contacts and outreach opportunities. Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13005/index.htm This brief describes how benefit-cost analyses methodologies can be improved to assess the benefits of operations strategies specifically targeted at improving travel during non-typical conditions. These non-typical conditions occur as a result of non-recurring traffic incidents, inclement weather conditions, or periods of high demand. Since a disproportionate amount of the expected benefits of these strategies are incurred during non-typical conditions, the use of conventional analysis methods focused solely on typical recurring conditions will often result in the severe underestimation of potential benefits. Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13006/index.htm This brief provides insight into conducting benefit cost analysis (BCA) of operations strategies under a variety of real-world contexts. Examples are illustrated based on needs discussed by agencies that participated in FHWA benefit-cost workshops in Philadelphia, PA, Houston, TX, and Richmond, VA. BCA applications such as conducting a preliminary screening and prioritization of potential operations strategies to conducting benefit-cost analysis of existing construction work zone strategies and other examples are provided. Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-06/html/2013-02580.htm ACTION: Notice. This notice defines the planned process for the designation of the national freight network as required by Section 1115 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This notice defines the process for the initial designation of the primary freight network, the designation of additional miles critical to future efficient movement of goods on the primary freight network, and how data on the State-designated critical rural freight corridors will be collected. Wed, 6 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-01/html/2013-02157.htm Applications sought from existing and potential multistate organizations, coalitions, or other arrangements or entities engaged in corridor transportation activities for participation in the Multistate Corridor Operations and Management Program. Fri, 1 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/outreach/wz_awareness.htm The planning committee for the 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week has announced the 2013 theme: "Roadway Work Zone Safety: We're All in This Together." The National kickoff event will be held on Tuesday April 16 at an urban work zone in Washington, DC. Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EDT http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ On January 11, 2013, the FHWA published a Request for Comments (Docket ID: FHWA-2012-0118) soliciting input on the option of splitting the material in the MUTCD into two separate documents in the interest of providing a simpler, streamlined MUTCD that would be easier to use, and if it is split, what are some of the potential formats for doing so. Responses are due March 12, 2013. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EDT