Communicating the Value of Transportation Systems Management and Operations
With limited financial resources and increasing demands for transportation improvements from the public and politicians, transportation systems management and operations (TSM&O) is gaining momentum as an essential function of state departments of transportation (DOTs) and focus of congestion management for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). Practitioners who work within the field understand the significant benefits to mobility and safety of the transportation system and are committed—even passionately committed—to advancing TSM&O integration into the core mission of DOTs and MPOs. It can be difficult to explain the rationale for integrating TSM&O, the business case, to the right people at the right time to advance integration comprehensively.
There are resources to effectively and successfully communicate the TSM&O business case message about the value and benefits of TSM&O so that key decision makers and peers will actively support TSM&O implementation and integration within their agency. For that message to be effective it is more than just delivering a presentation, the audience must hear, understand and act on the information. The message must resonate with the specific interests of each distinct audience
Resources available for making the business case for TSM&O include: