ITS Oregon Lunch Meeting on May 23, 2008 - Mark Your Calendars!

Please join ITS Oregon for pizza and soft drinks during our next lunch meeting.

Topic: ODOT’s new Traffic Signal Controller Software and Central Traffic Signal System

Date: Friday, May 23, 2008.

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: David Evans and Associates, Inc., 2100 SW River Parkway, Portland, Oregon, 97201.

Program: The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is making improvements for traffic signal operations to reduce delays and travel times on arterial roadways. ODOT recently procured a new local traffic signal controller software for the Model 2070 controller and is in the process of procuring a new central traffic signal system for the State of Oregon. The new central traffic signal system will be installed in Bend in the Fall of 2008 and will support remote access to traffic signals. The new system will significantly improve traffic signal operations within Oregon and ensures majority of public agencies in the state use a common traffic signal controller hardware and software platform. Jim Peters and Scott Cramer will present how this system will change traffic signal operations in the State of Oregon and describe the new capabilities that will be available for traffic engineers and transportation planners.

Presenters: Jim Peters, P.E., P.T.O.E., DKS Associates, is the Consultant Project Manager assisting ODOT with the procurement and installation of this new system and Scott Cramer, P.E., is ODOT’s Project Manager.

Cost: None.

Reservations: RSVP Ed Anderson at: mailto:Edward.L.Anderson@odot.state.or.us. Please RSVP by close of business Wednesday, May 21, to ensure enough pizza is ordered. Feel free to contact Ed if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!

Save the Date! TRB ITS Committee Mid-Year Meeting September 16-18, 2008

Mark your calendars now for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Committee’s Mid-Year Meeting, to be held September 16-18, 2008 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, California. The purpose of the meeting is to identify critical traveler information research and policy issues, and offer recommendations towards the goal of collecting and disseminating traveler information on all roads and on all modes, all of the time.

The meeting will bring together traveler information researchers, policy-makers, public- and private-sector service providers, transportation network managers, and modelers to document current knowledge and identify research and policy needs.

Jane Lappin of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center chairs the meeting planning committee, and welcomes additional volunteers to help plan the meeting. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact her at lappin@volpe.dot.gov. IBEC members from around the world are needed to help shape this exciting event, so please contact Jane today.

If you have any questions about the meeting, please contact Jane Lappin at lappin@volpe.dot.gov.

International CVO Speakers needed for NRITS Conference

The National Rural ITS Conference to be held in September 3-5, 2008 in Anchorage, Alaska, is seeking international representatives to speak at the Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) Track to talk about their projects, applications, challenges and experiences especially on Truck/Train applications and Ice Road management. Other topics and ideas are more than welcome.

The track will feature Future of Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) Safety, Florida’s Smart Roadside Program and other international experiences.

The conference has session and training topics range from the traditional (road weather information systems, CVO applications, etc.) to the innovative (climate change impacts, Native American transportation issues).

If you would like to participate at the CVO Track at this conference, please contact Patty Del Pozo at pdelpozo@itsa.org or at 202-721-4238. For additional information on the conference, please visit www.nritsconference.org.

FHWA Hosts Active Traffic Management Webcast April 30, 2008

The Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations will host the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) web cast, “Active Traffic Management Coming to the Urban Partners’ Cities: Minneapolis and Seattle” on April 30 from 12:30-2:00 PM (ET). This webinar will provide an overview of Active Traffic Management (ATM) and the highlights of the ATM components in the Minneapolis and Seattle Urban Partnership Agreement projects.

ATM is the ability to dynamically manage recurrent and non-recurrent congestion based on prevailing traffic conditions with the focus on trip reliability. It increases throughput and safety through the use of integrated systems with new technology, including the automation of dynamic deployment to optimize performance quickly. This congestion management approach consists of a combination of operational strategies that, when implemented in concert, fully optimize the existing infrastructure and provide measurable benefits to the transportation network and the traveling public.

Speakers

Overview of Active Traffic Management - Jessie Yung, FHWA Office of Operations
TBD, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Active Traffic Management Coming to the Central Puget Sound - Ted Trepanier, Washington Department of Transportation

Registration is available at the NTOC web site: https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.aspx?webConfID=14088

Program and Registration Form for 15th World Congress on ITS Now Available

Download the program brochure and registration form at

http://www.itsa.org/itsa/files/pdf/WC082ndAnnouncement.pdf

CITE and FHWA Introduce New Blended Course: Improving Highway Safety with ITS

The Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) and the FHWA Office of Safety have released an interactive web-based course entitled  “Improving Highway Safety with ITS.” This course aims to increase awareness of the benefits to be gained through the deployment of ITS for highway safety applications. 

This blended course is designed to assist professionals in both the highway safety and ITS communities.  Participants may be planners, operators, designers, or maintenance personnel. These may be for example, the employees of, or contractors for, State departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and city and county agencies. The course activities will draw on attendee’s experience, expectations, and contributions. Because an underlying objective is to foster cooperation among the Safety and ITS communities, it is critical that both be well represented during the course offering. This blended version of the course has the same content as the NHI classroom version, only it is converted to an on-line format and the participant activities had to be modified to fit this type of course presentation. A complete outline of the course can be found at http://www.citeconsortium.org/courses/HighwaySafety-blended.html.

The instructor for this course is Dr. Emily Parkany, P.E., PTOE, a Principal Transportation Engineer at Noblis in Washington, DC. Emily’s PhD is from the University of California, Irvine, where she studied Transportation Science. She also has degrees from MIT and Columbia University. Prior to joining Noblis, she was an assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and at Villanova University. 

This blended course begins on May 2nd and continues through June 23, 2008. The fee for the course is $250 and students can register by going to the CITE web site at http://www.citeconsortium.org. For more information, contact Denise Twisdale at mztwiz@umd.edu or 301-403-4592.

 

 

 

Funds available for congestion-reducing demonstration projects

The Oregon Department of Transportation is seeking innovative ways to help improve traffic flow throughout the state. Public agencies, and groups working in partnership with them, are invited to apply for $8 million in funding for projects that demonstrate solutions for reducing congestion and improving freight mobility on the Oregon state highway system. Ideal projects will offer both operational benefits and transferability to other areas.

“Oregon is well-known for leading the way in transportation innovation,” said Gail Achterman, chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission. “ODOT is launching the ‘Transportation Operations Innovation and Demonstration Program’ to encourage this spirit in addressing our growing traffic congestion problems. It is our hope that project concepts and technologies funded by this program form the basis for real world solutions to Oregon’s transportation challenges.”

The types of projects expected to be funded through this program include both new technology and process changes to improve the operation of the transportation system. Example project areas include, but are not limited to, improvements to traffic signal or freeway operations, traveler information systems, incident management, or ramp metering.

Applications will be accepted from Oregon public agencies. Private entities and non-profit organizations are encouraged to work with public agencies to identify and develop innovative project concepts. Grants will be awarded in amounts of $50,000 to $2 million for projects that can be completed in the 2008 – 2011 timeframe. Applications are available online at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/ITS/its_news_events.shtml and must be received by June 30, 2008. For more information about the project, contact Galen McGill, Intelligent Transportation Systems manager, at (503) 986-4486.

ITS Washington Panel Discussion Presentations Available

The presentations from the March 27th panel discussion sponsored by ITS Washington are now available from the ITS Washington web site. The session was titled “Congestion Mitigation, Tolling, and Active Traffic Management: Where are we heading in the Puget Sound area?”

Access the presentation at: http://depts.washington.edu/itswa/present_2008.html.

Next Steering Committee Meeting: April 18, 2008

The next steering committee will be held on April 18, 9:00 to 11:00 am, at the offices of David Evans & Associates in Portland.  Please contact Ed Anderson at Edward.L.ANDERSON@odot.state.or.us if you have items you wish to add to the agenda.

David Evans & Associates
2100 SW River Parkway
Portland, OR 97201
Map & Directions

Free parking is available for meeting attendees at the DEA parking lot located east of the Marriott Residence Inn.  Please contact Orlena Chiu at (503) 499-0425 for further information.

Employment Opportunity - Intelligent Transportation System Program Manager

Intelligent Transportation System Program Manager
Seattle Department of Transportation
Job Number: SDOT 91

Salary: $32.42 to $48.63 (Hourly)
Work Location: Seattle, Washington
Closing Date: Open until filled

Oversee and coordinate the development and implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System in Seattle. Includes work in the areas of systems development and deployment, traffic management technology, and technology innovation. Coordinate with staff, including engineers and technicians, and with consultants and contractors. Oversee all aspects of a complex program including finance, budget, policies, objectives and initiatives, develop and establish procedures and policies for the ITS program, track ITS Performance Measures, and develop an annual publication showing ITS program and performance measure results. Current ITS projects underway total $20+M. Provide guidance and support to regional ITS efforts currently underway as part of the Regional Traffic Operations Committee. Specialties include the evaluation, cost-effectiveness, and implementation feasibility of applying ITS technologies to existing transportation systems in the areas of advanced public transportation systems, advanced traffic management systems, advanced traveler information systems, automatic vehicle location, automated traffic data collection, electronic toll and traffic management systems, transportation safety, and other monitoring systems. Act to support department goals to promote diversity and social justice with employees, customers and stakeholders.

Equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. Ability to effectively work in a multi-cultural workplace with a diverse customer base. At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in transportation planning, traffic engineering or ITS.

Apply online at http://seattle.gov/jobs,  or contact Larry Flores at larry.flores@seattle.gov or 206-615-0889.