Transportation Systems Management and Operations 

in Arkansas

May 2018

What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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What is TSMO?

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MAP‐21 definition of TSMO: 

Integrated strategies to optimize the performance of existing infrastructure through the implementation of multimodal and intermodal, cross‐jurisdictional systems, services, and projects designed to preserve capacity and improve security, safety, and reliability of the transportation system.

What is TSMO?

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ARDOT Mission Statement: 

Provide safe and efficient transportation solutions to support Arkansas’ economy and enhance the quality of life for generations to come.

ARDOT Vision Statement: 

Continue to preserve and improve Arkansas’ transportation system emphasizing safety, efficiency, quality, trust, and stewardship with a public service focused workforce.

What is TSMO?

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Traffic Incident Management

What is TSMO?

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Work Zone Management

Road Weather Management

Real Time Traveler Information

Integrated Corridor ManagementManaged Lanes

Hard Shoulder Running

What is TSMO?

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Bus Rapid TransitTransit Signal Priority

Motorist Assistance Patrols

Recurring Congestion45%

Why TSMO?

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Bottlenecks40%

Poor Signal Timing5%

Special Events5%

Bad Weather15%

Work Zones10%

Traffic Incidents

25%

Non‐Recurring Congestion55%

• Economic Impact The economic impact to Arkansas due to non‐recurring congestion is tens of millions of dollars each year– I‐40 between North Little Rock and West Memphis was evaluated using 2016 data

• One highway construction workzone resulted in a road user cost (RUC) of approximately $400,000

• Two winter weather events resulted in RUC of approximately $200,000

• Top 10 traffic incidents resulted in RUC of approximately $2.1 million (if including crash costs, RUC is approximately $10 million)

Why TSMO?

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Incident 4/19/16 WB

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• WB truck entered median, struck cable barrier 164MM at 5:04AM (raining)

• All WB lanes reported blocked 7:49AM

• All WB lanes reported open 8:18AM• Secondary crash WB at 173MM involving truck hauling chicken products at 9:30AM (fatal)

• Secondary crash EB at 173MM at 9:56AM involving truck

• All WB & EB lanes reported closed 9:55AM

• All EB lanes reported open 11:26AM• All WB lanes reported open 2:29PM

NOTE: EB chart not shown (113N04415)

INCIDENT RUC = $260,000$2.4 million (including safety)

• Safety of motoring public: Secondary crashes in Arkansas in 2016– 5 fatal crashes– 15 serious injury crashes– Of these 20 KA crashes:

• 18 (90%) were on a freeway• 16 (80%) occurred during daylight• 15 (75%) were rear‐end collisions• 11 (55%) occurred in a rural area• 6 (30%) involved a truck• 3 (15%) were on wet pavement• 2 (10%) were work zone related

Why TSMO?

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• Work  Zone Management• Road Weather Management• Real Time Traveler Information• Traffic Incident Management• Traffic Management Center

How Are We Implementing TSMO?

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• What is Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

A planned and coordinated multi‐disciplinary process to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents so that traffic flow may be restored as safely and quickly as possible. Effective TIM reduces the duration and impacts of traffic incidents and improves the safety of motorists, crash victims, and emergency responders.

Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

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Importance of TIM

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• What has been done to address TIM in Arkansas?– FHWA Workshop and Executive Briefing Nov. 2016– Five Primary Action Items were recommended:

1. Establish TIM committee2. Establish small working group to increase TIM training3. Integrate TIM into Strategic Highway Safety Plan4. Improve TIM performance measure data collection 

and tracking capabilities5. Develop TIM law public outreach and education plan

TIM Efforts in Arkansas

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1. (A) Established TIM Working Committee– Meets quarterly– It is a multi‐agency, multi‐jurisdictional stakeholder group made of up TIM responders and DOT staff

– Purpose is to discuss TIM issues and make recommendations to Executive Committee

– ARDOT (including AHP) is lead agency

TIM Accomplishments

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1. (A) Established TIM Working Committee– Meets quarterly – It is a multi‐agency, multi‐jurisdictional stakeholder group made of up TIM responders and DOT staff

– Purpose is to discuss TIM issues and make recommendations to Executive Committee

– ARDOT (including AHP) is lead agency

(B) Established TIM Executive Committee– Meets annually– Similar to Working Committee but made up of administration

TIM Accomplishments

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2. TIM training– FHWA TIM Train‐the‐Trainer session held in March 2017– Established central point of contact to track and coordinate TIM training efforts (Eddie Tanner, ArDOT Section Head of Workforce Development)

– ARDOT/AHP & ASP has conducted numerous TIM training sessions 

– TIM training requirements• ARDOT / AHP• ASP• Fire and EMS• Tow Operators – ATRB 

– Website www.ardot.gov/tim.aspx

TIM Accomplishments

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TIM Training Program Implementation ProgressPercent Trained – SIP 18 Goal of 30%

- As of May 1, 2018

MA: 34.7%(12,079)

15.6%(20,777)

RI: 52.4%(4,080)

CT: 37.8%(3,120)

NJ: 41.6%(29,798)

MD: 26.8% (23,218)

DC: 32.4%(6,534)

32.5%(10,502)

39.4%

(11,394)

33.3%(3,770)

17.1%(10,627)

17.1%(54,500)40.9%

(37,126)19.0%(30,546)

22.2%(54,699)

67.6%(13,245)

35.4%(19,894)

4.1%(9,932)

50.9%(17,100)

19.7%(32,555)

41.1%(27,081)

40.4%(78,309)

32.1%(31,000)

45.0%(4,930)

29.2%(3,993)

29.1%(71,223)

4.8%(11,781)

21.0%(26,350)

46.4%(9,019)

25.5%(22,500)

20.7%(7,831)

35.5%(14,331)

31.3%(55,670)

24.5%(28,532)

48.9%(8,683)

35.2%

11.0%(54,443)

15.5%(7,510)

54.2%(18,177)

VT: 51.1%(2,796)

NH: 27.7%(7,175)

AK:11.1%(4,797)

HI:24.0%(3,270)

PR:68.8%(5,924)

20 ‐ 29.9% Trained

10 ‐ 19.9% Trained

0.1 ‐ 9.9% Trained

28.8% Percent Trained

(1,149,916) Total Responders To Be Trained

48.5%(8,300)

(32,948)

11.7%(17,103)

13.1%(30,208)

14.1%(21,542)

DE: 9.5%(4,715)

30 ‐ 39.9% Trained

40 ‐ 49.9% Trained

50+% Trained

October 2016 4.1%

3. Integrate TIM into Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)– SHSP is required by FHWA as part of the Highway Safety 

Improvement Program (HSIP)– Most recent SHSP was adopted by the Arkansas Highway 

Commission and approved by FHWA in July 2017

TIM Accomplishments

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– SHSP is a data‐driven, multi‐disciplinary plan that establishes statewide goals and objectives to address safety and move Toward Zero Deaths

– TIM is included as an Emphasis Area in the SHSP

4. Improve TIM performance measure data collection and tracking capabilities 

– Roadway Clearance Time – Time between first record of incident and when all lanes open to traffic  ACTIS

– Incident Clearance Time – Time between first record of incident and when last responder has left the scene

– Secondary Crash – Crash that occurs within the incident scene or within the queue or backup, including the opposite direction, resulting from an original incident eCrash

TIM Accomplishments

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TIM Accomplishments

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TIM Accomplishments

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5. Develop TIM law public outreach and education plan– ASP will update the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide to reflect recent changes in law

TIM Accomplishments

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– ARDOT is producing educational flyers for MOVE IT and MOVE OVER laws

• More TIM Training• More timely and accurate traveler information regarding incidents

• TIM Education and Resources– MOVE OVER and MOVE IT Laws – Flyers– Quarterly Report– Social Media

• TIM Related Legislation– Qualified Operators for Non‐Consent Towing– AUTHORITY REMOVAL or QUICK CLEARANCE Law

• Hold Harmless Clause to protect responders from liability

TIM – What’s Next

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• Strategic and Performance Based

TSMO – What’s Next

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TSMO – What’s Next

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• TSMO Committee?• TSMO Planning Workshop?• ARDOT TSMO Plan?

TSMO – What’s Next

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