Overview
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Statewide TSMO Program Plan was developed and formally adopted in 2020. As part of this program, NDOT is actively integrating TSMO into the existing asset management and performance measurement business processes. One example of is the integration of TSMO into the ITS asset life-cycle planning analysis within the statewide Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). The LCC Tool was formally adopted in 2019 including the initial analysis for NDOT’s Districts (District 1, District 2, and District 3). Following the adoption of the TSMO program, NDOT identified the opportunity for TSMO integration in maintaining TSMO/ITS assets in good and reliable condition to ensure a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation system at a statewide level. To this end, NDOT began integrating the LCC Tool’s components into the agency’s business plans and processes. Benefits of this program include improvements to collaboration, business practices and operations, organization culture and finally asset management performance measures.
In this case study you will learn:
- How NDOT identified the opportunity for TSMO integration in maintaining TSMO/ITS assets in good and reliable condition to ensure a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation system at a statewide level.
- How NDOT began integrating an Excel based asset management tool into the agency’s business plans and processes, including ITS Asset Management Business Plan, TSMO Performance Management Program, and ITS Asset Management Program.
- How NDOT ensured the statewide stakeholders assisting NDOT in management and maintenance of ITS devices utilized this tool as part of their day-to-day maintenance activities.
Background
The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Statewide TSMO Program Plan was developed and formally adopted in 2020. As part of this program, NDOT is actively integrating TSMO into the existing asset management and performance measurement business processes. One example of is the integration of TSMO into the ITS asset life-cycle planning analysis within the statewide Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). The analysis is performed using an excel-based spreadsheet (LCC Tool) designed to assist NDOT with ITS asset management activities, performance measurement, monitoring of health condition of the devices, and calculation of required funding to maintain a reliable ITS network. The tool uses the following measures and assumptions:
- Assets conditions are recorded as Good, Low Risk, Medium Risk, and High Risk.
- Transition probability matrix and deterioration model are recorded as Good to Low Risk, Low to Medium Risk, Medium to High Risk, and Worse than High Risk
- Maintenance activity types and associated costs are recorded as Inspection, Minor Repair, Major Repair, and Replacement Using the measures and assumptions above, the tool performs two (2) analysis models:
- Life-Cycle Analysis model illustrates the life-cycle costs of maintaining a brand-new network.
- 10-year investment models considers the current state of the network and provides estimates on the 10-year maintenance costs based on the maintenance strategies, including two (2) scenarios:
- Preservation approach: expected to result in life-cycle savings subject to recurring preventative maintenance/repair activities.
- “Worst-first” strategy: in which devices are not maintained/repaired until they reach a Poor condition.
TSMO Planning, Strategies and Deployment
The LCC Tool was formally adopted in 2019 including the initial analysis for NDOT’s Districts (District 1, District 2, and District 3). Following the adoption of the TSMO program, NDOT identified the opportunity for TSMO integration in maintaining TSMO/ITS assets in good and reliable condition to ensure a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation system at a statewide level. To this end, NDOT began integrating the LCC Tool’s components into the agency’s business plans and processes, including ITS Asset Management Business Plan, TSMO Performance Management Program, and ITS Asset Management Program. The next step was to ensure the statewide stakeholders assisting NDOT in management and maintenance of ITS devices also utilize this tool as part of their day-to-day maintenance activities. This step was critical for NDOT to develop a statewide inventory of ITS devices, monitor maintenance activities, measure the reliability and performance of the devices annually, and utilize the life-cycle planning analysis models to plan for and make informed decisions in funding of the TSMO/ITS assets management and maintenance activities. In 2021, NDOT successfully integrated the use of LCC Tool into the NDOT-RTC FAST interlocal agreement. This established a standardized process and formalized requirement between NDOT and its local partner to formally measure and report on performance as it relates to TSMO/ITS assets and devices’ management and maintenance.
Communications Planning and Execution
In the process of formally integrating the LCC Tool into the NDOT-RTC FAST interlocal agreement, NDOT held multiple focus group meetings to educate the RTC FAST leadership and maintenance team on the importance of TSMO and data-driven performance measurement. NDOT also offered additional support to train the RTC FAST maintenance team in utilizing the tool. Following the execution of the interlocal agreement in July 2021, NDOT held multiple trainings and workshops to specifically educate the RTC FAST maintenance team in TSMO, asset management, and performance measurement and monitoring. Using the District 1 inputs as an example, NDOT illustrated the advantages of performing the analysis and demonstrated the difference between the Preservation approach versus the Worst-first scenario to communicate the importance, value, and cost savings that can be accomplished through monitoring and measuring the performance of ITS devices. NDOT also demonstrated the importance of understanding ITS devices’ conditions in providing a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation system and customer service.
NDOT took a step further and expanded the list of ITS device on the tool for RTC FAST. The original tool included six (6) device types, including CCTV, Ramp Meters, RWIS, DMS (type 1, and 2), HAR, and Flow Detectors. To ensure the LCC tool meets the needs of RTC FAST and is further aligned with their ITS asset management and maintenance activities, NDOT expanded the list to include three (3) additional ITS assets that RTC FAST is responsible for, including Wrong-Way Driver Detection, HOV Detection, and ATM DMS types 1, 2, and 3. In September 2021, NDOT held multiple additional workshops to train and assist the RTC FAST maintenance team in populating the tool with their input. During these workshops, the RTC FAST maintenance team had the opportunity to review standard measures and assumptions to ensure the definitions are accurately reflecting their maintenance and management activities. RTC FAST developed a list of recommendations for NDOT’s review and consideration in the next update of the statewide TAMP.
RTC FAST has now completed their LCC tool with their inputs and is successfully utilizing the tool to track condition of devices, monitor maintenance activities, develop a list of replacement needs, assess the assets’ network growth and needs, and establish funding requirements for NDOT.
Outcome, Benefit and Learnings
Benefits of this program include improvements to collaboration, business practices and operations, organization culture and finally asset management performance measures. Specifics can be found in the following:
Collaboration:
• The LCC tool has been formally adopted at a statewide level, utilized not only by NDOT, but also NDOT’s local partner.
• RTC FAST’s feedback on the measures and assumptions utilized by LCC tool helped better shape the upcoming update of TAMP, ensuring the definitions and standards are accurately reflecting the ITS asset management and maintenance activities.
• The process of formalizing the tool and integrating it into an interlocal agreement improved collaboration not only internally at RTC FAST, but also externally between the project partners.
Workforce Development:
• NDOT held multiple trainings and workshops to educate the RTC FAST maintenance team in TSMO, asset management, and performance measurement and monitoring.
• Through monitoring of maintenance activities, RTC FAST has a better understanding of staffing, workforce, and training needs.
Business Processes:
• NDOT not only integrated TSMO into asset management and performance measurement business processes, but also successfully integrated and executed TSMO components in the interlocal agreement’s business processes.
• The findings from the life-cycle planning analysis are currently being utilized in the biennium budget discussions between NDOT and RTC FAST to ensure efficient allocation of available funding and resources through a data-driven and performance-based ITS asset management and maintenance process.
Operational:
• NDOT can also ensure that the assets are in good condition, identifying resources and requirements to maintain the assets in good condition to further improve safety, mobility, and reliability of the transportation system.
Culture:
• Understanding of the value of TSMO, RTC FAST’s maintenance team have now enhanced their collaboration to maintain an inventory of ITS assets, stay informed regarding the assets’ condition, replacement needs, network growth, and required staffing and resources.
• Through multiple trainings and workshops with both RTC FAST leadership and maintenance team, NDOT advanced the TSMO data-driven and performance-based culture.
Asset Management and Performance Measurement:
• This tool is helping the RTC FAST maintenance team attend the maintenance and management needs in a timely manner, therefore improving the life cycle and deterioration cycle of the assets.
• Through close monitoring and performance measurement, RTC FAST is able to demonstrate the required funding more accurately to NDOT, for both the current ITS network as well as a 10-year investment model.