ITS Oregon

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

Download the program brochure and registration form at

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Please join us for the upcoming Talking Technology and Transportation (T3) Webinar:

A Technical Discussion on Wireless Data Transport Systems: Wireless Trends, Tools and Tips Session II - Wireless Link Engineering

When: April 8, 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET.

All T3 Webinars are free of charge.

For more information and to register: http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s080408_wireless.asp.

T3 Webinars are sponsored by the US DOT’s ITS Professional Capacity Building (ITS PCB) Program. Visit the ITS PCB website for more information about T3 and other ITS learning opportunities: http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/default.asp.

Visit the T3 archives to review earlier T3 webinars: http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/res_t3_archive.asp. 

ITS America Vice President of Member Services Tom Kern presented an analysis of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission Report at the recently concluded ITS America Board of Directors meeting.

A copy of the summary report is available at:
www.itsa.org/itsa/files/pdf/ITSASummaryCommissionReport.pdf.

His presentation to the Board can be downloaded at:
www.itsa.org/itsa/files/presentations/CommissionReport_TomKern.ppt.

You are invited to attend a panel discussion sponsored by ITS Washington.

Title: Congestion Mitigation, Tolling, and Active Traffic Management:
Where are we heading in the Puget Sound area?

Moderator : Charlie Howard, Transportation Director, Puget Sound
Regional Council

Date: March 27, 2008

Time: 9:00am to Noon

Location: Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington
(For directions see:
http://depts.washington.edu/urbhort/html/info/contact.html)

Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to briglia@u.washington.edu.