From the Managing Director
By Tom Kern

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I am pleased to announce that the Center’s webinar series for 2016 is taking shape nicely and the first webinar we are proudly hosting is TSM&O Research Coordination & Highlights of the 2016 TRB Annual Meeting on Friday, February 26th at 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., EST.

The webinar is sponsored by the consortia of partners in the TSM&O community: AASHTO Subcommittee on TSM&O, Research Working Group, TRB Regional TSM&O Committee (AHB10), TRB Freeway Operations Committee (AHB20), National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE), Institute of Transportation Engineers, ITS America, and the Federal Highway Administration.

As a bookend to the pre-TRB webinar the partners held in December, this post TRB webinar reminds us that the 2016 TRB Annual Meeting served as an excellent venue for TSM&O Research Coordination and Collaboration as the TSM&O research community continues to evolved towards a “next generation” TSM&O Research Framework. The webinar will feature highlights of key outcomes resulting from the many annual meeting TSM&O sessions, workshops, committee meetings, and events. 

The webinar will feature current research ideas under consideration for NCHRP synthesis statements and problem statements as well as laying out a process and schedule for coordination and collaboration going forward. The proposed agenda for the summer 2016 joint meeting of the AASHTO Subcommittee on TSM&O and the TRB Regional TSM&O Committee will be presented. Finally, a NOCoE TSM&O Research discussion forum on the NOCoE website will be highlighted.

We encourage you to join the webinar on the 26th (details have been shared separately to the TSM&O community and are available also on the NOCoE website.) Stay tuned for the nearly 20 webinars now being scheduled through the summer of 2016. And if you don’t see a topic you would like covered, let us know!

What are we Measuring?
By Pat McGowan
Vice President of Business Development, Surface Transportation, Serco

Over the years, the industry has seen many approaches to the use of operational performance measurements. The inconsistency between approaches is further complicated by the incorrect practice of including general contract requirements (i.e. report deliveries, meetings, equipment appearance, etc.) into the list of performance measurements.  Simply, operational performance measurements should be performance-based outcomes that directly impact the motorist. The “how” to achieve these performance requirements may be further described within the contract requirements but not necessary a performance measurement. Please click here to read more.

New Connected Vehicle Virtual Trade Show Planned
By Linda Daichendt, Executive Director
Mobile Technology Association of Michigan

The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan is very focused on facilitating collaboration between all sectors of the connected transportation ecosystem. Therefore, when we learned that the ITS JPO was having a discussion the regarding the need for a resource to provide a way for the connected vehicle community to actively engage and develop business relationships, we thought we could help. We offered to help by administering a long-term Connected Vehicle Virtual Trade Show which will provide a platform for company branding, relationship development, and commerce activities.

This will enable firms to provide company materials, have one-on-one discussions, show videos and much more, in real-time and throughout the life of the project.We encourage firms working in any field related to connected transportation to become an exhibitor in this virtual trade show by registering their interest at http://www.gomobilemichigan.org/events/request-to-participate—its-virtual-trade-show.html. We will be issuing invitations to potential visitors who will find your firms of value. Please click here for the news release.

2016 Transportation Research Record Release Update

Some 60 papers that are part of thirty 2016 Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Boards (TRRs) are now available. These papers are part of the first group of early release papers that will number more than 150 by the end of March.

Topics covered by the 2016 TRR papers include systems resilience and climate change; pavement management; bicycles and motorcycles; visibility and work zone traffic control; freeway operations; public transportation; marine transportation; railroads; highway capacity and quality of service; geological, geoenvironmental, and geotechnical engineering; truck and bus safety and roundabouts; concrete materials; revenue, finance, pricing, and economics; environment; and more.

These papers and their DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) are available electronically on TRR Online.

NOCoE Year-End Evaluation

One year ago, the National Operations Center of Excellence was launched. Since then, it has offered the transportation systems management and operations community new resources via a website, webinars, peer exchanges, meetings, discussion forums, and one-on-one conversations. As part of an evaluation of its first year of services, we are seeking your input in two areas:

1.)   How well the Center has delivered these services in its first year; and,
2.)   What topics or additional services should be offered in the years ahead.

We would appreciate it if you would please take 15 minutes to answer a series of questions about each of the services the Center now offers, and your suggestions for forthcoming programs and topic areas.