Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual

1 Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual Handbook FOR Developing A TMC Operations Manual Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual Page ii NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers.

2 Trade and manufacturers names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the object of the document. Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual Page iv 1. Report No. FHWA-HOP-06-015 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. 5. Report Date November 2005 4. Title and Subtitle Handbook FOR Developing A TMC Operations Manual 6. Performing Organization Code 475450 7. Author(s) Edward J. Seymour, James D. Carvell, Jr., Jodi L. Carson, Robert E. Brydia Case Studies: James M. Paral 8. Performing Organization Report No.

3 475450-F 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) 9. Performing Organization Name and Address Texas Transportation Institute Texas A&M University System College Station, TX 77843-3135 11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH 61-01-C-00182 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Handbook August 2004-November 2005 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Federal Highway Administration Department of Transportation 407 Seventh Street, SW Washington, 20590 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes This Handbook was developed with funding provided through the Transportation Management Center (TMC) Pooled Fund Study (PFS).

4 The TMC PFS identifies and addresses the key issues and challenges that are common among TMCs. Information on the TMC Pooled Fund Study can be found at the following web address 16. Abstract This Handbook for Developing a Transportation Management Center (TMC) Operations Manual describes the development of a TMC Operations Manual in the context of the integrated, interdependent world of ITS systems. It describes why Operations manuals are important; it identifies the activities and participants needed to produce and update a TMC Manual ; and it provides a checklist of topics that can jump start the de-velopment of a TMC Manual .

5 This Handbook is a resource for individuals who are responsible for or involved in managing, Developing , implementing, operating, maintaining, or supporting a transportation management system. This Handbook may be used developers of a TMC Operations Manual for either a new TMC or for an existing TMC This Handbook also contains case studies illustrating transportation community practices that have been ap-plied to the development and use of TMC Manuals. This Handbook also provides a checklist for developers of a Manual that is cross referenced to specific sections of the Handbook .

6 17. Key Word Transportation Management Systems Intelligent Transportation Systems, Transportation Operations , Traffic Signal Systems, Freeway Man-agement Systems, Multimodal Operation 18. Distribution Statement No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified 20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified 21. No. of Pages 198 22. Price Form DOT F (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Handbook was developed with funding provided through the Transportation Manage-ment Center (TMC) Pooled-Fund Study (PFS).

7 The TMC PFS identifies and addresses the key issues and challenges that are common among TMCs. Information on the TMC Pooled-Fund Study can be found at the following web address. The authors of this Handbook thank the Transportation Management Center Pooled-Fund Study for their support and contributions in the development of this Handbook . The authors owe a special thanks to the Project Champion, Peter Vega with the Florida DOT, and the FHWA COTR, Raj Ghaman. The authors also thank the partner organizations that assisted in the development of this document: Battelle, Wilbur Smith Associates, and Texas Trans-portation Institute.

8 Page vi Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual Page vii Handbook for Developing a TMC Operations Manual Table of Contents Section Page1. INTRODUCTION .. 1-1 1-1 INTENDED 1-2 Institutional 1-2 Staffing Perspective .. 1-3 Role in the Life Cycle of a 1-5 HOW WAS THE Handbook DEVELOPED?

9 1-7 OVERVIEW OF Handbook 1-7 ORGANIZATION OF THE 1-8 HOW TO USE THE 1-9 1-13 1-14 NOTES AND 1-15 2. OVERVIEW OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTERS .. 2-1 2-1 TMC 2-1 INSTITUTIONAL 2-4 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER MANUALS, POLICIES, AND 2-4 3. WHY DEVELOP A TMC Operations Manual ? .. 3-1 3-1 Chapter Purpose and Key Relationship to Handbook Document .. 3-2 CHALLENGES IN Developing AND SUSTAINING TMC 3-2 Moving from a Design/Construct to an Operate/Maintain Regime .. 3-3 Emphasis on Performance Monitoring and Customer Service.

10 3-3 Planning for Operations .. 3-4 Existence of Multiple Stakeholders .. 3-5 Resource Constraints .. 3-6 Personnel Recruitment, Retention, and Training .. 3-7 Technology Evolution and Integration .. 3-8 System Failures and False Alarms .. 3-8 WHY DEVELOP A TMC Operations Manual ? .. 3-9 Formalized and Documented Operational 3-10 Formalized and Documented System Maintenance, Monitoring, and Security Procedures .. 3-11 Formalized and Documented Data Collection, Analysis, and Warehousing .. 3-13 KEY ISSUES IN Developing AN Operations 3-14 TMC Operations Manual 3-14 TMC Operations Manual Content.