Overview
This white paper describes example best practices and reference material regarding the implementation plan priority needs noted above. The paper also suggests supportive national actions to improve TSM&O Performance Measurement including: developing standard definitions and procedures for plan development, measures, data processing, target setting, and reporting; syntheses of best practices in performance measurement and management; a field test of a comprehensive operations performance management system. Important roles were seen for FHWA, AASHTO and the National Operations Center of Excellence in supporting these efforts.
Organizing for operations involves making transportation systems management and operations (TSM&O) a central part of an agency’s mission and institutional structure. This is accomplished by advancing TSM&O programs and projects within the agency. A specific guidance framework has been developed to help transportation agencies improve the effectiveness of their TSM&O activities. The framework, the "Operations Capability Improvement Process," is based on self-evaluation regarding the key process and institutional capabilities required from a transportation agency (or group of agencies) to achieve effective TSM&O.
This framework is adapted from a concept developed in the information technology (IT) industry called the "Capability Maturity Model," which has been tailored to the transportation community. To read more, please visit Planning for Operations.