Improving Business Processes for More Effective Transportation Systems Management and Operations

2016Berman, WaynePDFTech ReportFHWA-HOP-16-038DTFH61-12-D-00050Transportation system managementTransportation operationsImprovementsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of OperationsBurgess, Lisa M.Fowler, ThomasMinowitz, AmyNeudorff, Louis G.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of OperationsKimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.Berman, WayneFederal Highway AdministrationMany agencies are shaping their Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) programs to more effectively address those planned and unplanned events that affect road and travel conditions and can have an effect on overall system reliability. Business processes, in the context of TSMO, refers to activities such as planning, programming, agency project development processes, and those organizational aspects that govern various technical or administrative activities (such as training, human resource management, or agreements). Business processes get at the heart of many of the organizational issues that can influence TSMO. This primer presents business processes across several TSMO areas, including traffic incident management, planned special event traffic management, road weather management, work zones, and freeway traffic management. Case studies in each area illustrate where agencies have made concerted changes to their respective business processes, and modified aspects such as contracting, training, resource allocation, planning and other business processes. The primer also highlights available tools and resources to help assess business processes, provides strategies for engaging the right stakeholders, and provides a guide to next steps.81