Eco-Driving Saves Gas & Money!

The I-95 Corridor Coalition member agencies have partnered in an Eco-Driving Campaign to provide drivers with easy changes that can be made to reduce fuel consumption, wear and tear on vehicles, and environmental impacts. Click here to see tips - such as removing unnecessary items from the trunk, inflating tires, and using cruise control - and other timely information from this Eco-Driving Campaign.

Incident Management Virtual Training for First Responders

I-95 Coalition Successfully Launches 3-D Virtual Incident Management Training for First Responders... System Demonstrated at 2011 ITS World Congress

Maryland and New York were the first Coalition Member States to host 3-D Virtual Incident Management Training Sessions for First Responders in August, 2011. Participants praised the system’s ability to enable coordinated interjursdictional and interdisciplinary practice of best incident management techniques in a virtual world. And, in mid-October, the Coalition demonstrated the training system at the ITS World Congress in Orlando, FL, where the Coalition sponsored the first-ever Incident Management-First Responder Day. Hundreds of first responders and incident managers were briefed on the state of the practice, and then visited the outdoor emergency vehicle displays and ITS technology exhibits including a demonstration of the Coalition’s 3-D Virtual IM Training System.

Piloted earlier with the Regional Incident Management Task Force at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Authority in Philadelphia, as well as with the Coalition’s Coordinated Incident Management Track Co-Chairs and Corridor-wide Regional Highway Operations Group (“HOGs”) Co-Chairs, along with representatives from Transportation Agencies, State and Local Police, Fire Departments, EMS, and Towing Companies, the I-95 Corridor Coalition’s 3-D Virtual Incident Management Training System forms the basis for an intensive training program that uses three-dimensional, multi-player computer gaming simulation technology to test, validate, and reinforce the dissemination of best incident management practices across the Coalition region. This onsite training program provides practical, scenario-based, interactive, real-time incident management training simultaneously for multidisciplinary responders, and is designed to educate and validate quick clearance practices and related incident management techniques, as well as promote communication, coordination and cooperation among organizations involved in incident management. More consistent performance, more innovation, and better and safer delivery of incident management services result from involving responders from many different agencies, exposing them to best practices, establishing expectations that they will meet or exceed standards for good practice, and allowing them to discuss methods and issues with their peers.

For more information, or to schedule a session, contact I-95 Corridor Coalition Operations Coordinator Capt. Tom Martin at jtmartin@cox.net.

"Great for interagency cooperation and communications." "This is better than tabletops." "Excellent Course!!" "Learned a lot from the course." "Good class.  Beneficial to all agencies." "Very happy that I attended this course."

View three-dimensional program preview

I-95 Corridor Coalition Incident Management Core Competencies Online Training

The I-95 Corridor Coalition has developed an online Incident Management Core Competencies Training Module. This approximate hour-long course covers basic scene safety and traffic management core competencies through a series of instructional videos followed by quizzes, and can be used as standalone training for anyone having access to the internet.

Access to the Core Competencies Training Course

I-95 Vehicle Probe Project Delivers Real-Time Travel Information

Related Documents and Links:

Project Page (Note: Most of the VPP documents/reports are located here on the “Highlights” tab)
Project One-pager
Quick Reference Guide
Project Interface Guide 3.4 (updated September, 2011)
 Overall Vehicle Probe Project Benefits Paper - August 2010
Two-Year Validation Report - Revised 2010

The I-95 Vehicle Probe Project is a groundbreaking initiative providing comprehensive and continuous travel time information on freeways and arterials using probe technology. July 1, 2011 marked the start of the fourth year (Coalition Project Year 19) that Vehicle Probe Project (VPP) data is being provided to our members.

There are now 7,000 centerline freeway miles, more than 20,000 freeway and arterial miles in all, including continuous coverage of the I-95 corridor from New Jersey through Florida. Coverage also exists in Rhode Island. The network includes full coverage of freeways and major arterials in North Carolina and the Tidewater area of Virginia, full or nearly full coverage of limited access roads in New Jersey, Maryland and South Carolina and the northern and eastern portions of Florida. In addition, coverage now includes ramps at 160 major highway-to- highway interchanges, with all states having interchanges included except Georgia.

Agency Participation – As the value of the data from the Vehicle Probe Project is realized through the various applications and the continued quality via the validation efforts, the member states have increased their commitment to this project. In fact, all of the participating states have committed their own funds to continue this project and many have increased their coverage far beyond the initial core area.

Numerous Uses for the Data – I-95 Corridor Coalition member agencies have found many uses for the vehicle probe data, including:

• Travel Information for 511 (web and phone) Systems, Dynamic Message Signs, and Kiosks
• Travel Time Calculations for Message Boards 
• Performance Measures and Travel Time Reliability Support
• Traffic Pattern Observations (in-state and multi-state)
• Trip Planning (www.i95travelinfo.net)

Performance Measures Tool – Continuing the momentum in performance analysis, the newest initiative from the Coalition is the Vehicle Probe Project Suite. The basic tools include:

• Bottleneck and Incident dashboard
• Massive Raw Data Downloader
• Historical Data Visualizations and Performance Measures (Congestion Scan)

UMD CATT Lab made the VPP suite to participating agencies. For the training video, please visit http://vpp.ritis.org/suite/screencast/.

Key results to date include:

• Better Traffic Monitoring at a Fraction of the Cost. In addition to providing states with a more complete view of traffic conditions on their major roads, INRIX’s real-time traffic information has helped states more effectively allocate limited traffic operations resources. According to North Carolina DOT where previous approaches to gathering traffic data had a life cycle cost of nearly $50,000 per mile, INRIX vehicle probe data has been proven to deliver more coverage at about 25 percent of the per mile life cycle cost.2 Similarly, South Carolina DOT claimed that maintaining coverage to gain speed data for over 300 miles of South Carolina roads using traditional methods is equal to the total cost of the INRIX speed and travel time data for 1,200 miles of roads.² 
• Faster Emergency Response. In addition to seeing real-time traffic conditions for more roadways and across state lines, member states have been able to more quickly identify and respond to traffic issues. In New Jersey, traffic operations staff identified a serious accident on a stretch of I-80 during a surprise October 2008 snowstorm that they previously wouldn’t have been able to see using their CCTV system. Without the Vehicle Probe Project traffic monitoring site, response to the 2nd incident would have been delayed by as much as an hour. NJDOT estimated that the expedited response to the second incident translated into $100,000 in savings in user delay costs. ²
• New and Improved Traveler Information Services. In a region of 100 million people where more than 100,000 cars and trucks travel the I-95 corridor every day, the Project has delivered new and improved traveler information services that help residents and businesses better plan their trips including:
  
  
  • Online: i95travelinfo.net Covering more than 8,000 centerline miles, the free site is designed to assist the millions of multi-state travelers in the I-95 Corridor by providing real-time traffic information and travel times for key destinations across state lines, complimenting in-state 511 services.
  • On the road: Travel Times on Dynamic Message Signs are driven by VPP data in Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina.
  • On the phone and online: 511 phone and web services in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida utilize VPP data to provide services.

I-95 Corridor Coalition Explores Alternatives to the Gas Tax

VMT-Based Charge: Issues and Considerations from a Multi-State Perspective - In the spring of 2009, the I-95 Corridor Coalition, at the direction of its Executive Board, embarked upon a program to address the current surface transportation program funding crisis by exploring alternatives to the gas tax as the primary funding mechanism. As an active coalition that has been successfully operating for over 15 years, the I-95 Corridor Coalition is well-positioned to examine both technical and institutional/administrative issues from a multi-state perspective, reflecting a diversity of policies and opinions that will be critical to the emergence of a new revenue generation system.

In May of 2009, the Coalition convened a workshop involving a group of experts to discuss how the Coalition could best contribute to a national effort in this area. Following the recommendations of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission, and the work of other organizations including the FHWA, the Oregon DOT, and the TRB, the workshop produced a set of recommendations regarding the issues that a multi-state pilot program for a VMT-based fee system should address.  Based on the experts’ recommendations, an initial proposal was considered at the Coalition’s June 2 combined Steering Committee/Executive Board meeting. That proposal led to a decision to launch a project to identify the institutional and administrative requirements of a multi-state VMT-based fee system. That project commenced in November 2009 and will conclude in the summer of 2010.  The final scope of work is referenced below.

In the summer of 2009, the Coalition assembled a Member Advisory Committee, consisting of senior representatives of Coalition member state departments of transportation and toll authorities to guide the Coalition’s work activities in this area.  That group convened twice to guide the development of the scope of work for the project described above.  It will continue meeting to guide the work as it progresses.  Advisors in specialty areas, such as administrative and legal issues, will also be consulted.

 View Full Report and Executive Summary of Administrative and Legal Issues Associated with a Multi-State VMT-Based Charge System - November 2010
View Multi-state VMT-Based Charge Initiative Presentation
 View Project page
View Member Advisory Council Webcast Presentation - April 12, 2011
 View Member Advisory Council Webcast Presentation - September 22, 2010
 View Member Advisory Committee Webcast Presentation - May, 2010
 View Multi-State VMT-Based Road-User Fee Initiative Presentation - by Mark Muriello, PANYNJ, at the 2nd Annual Mileage-Based Fee Symposium - April, 2010
View Member Advisory Council (updated April, 2010)
 View Member Advisory Council Webcast Presentation - September 10, 2009
View Brainstorming Session Summary – May 5, 2009
 View DMV Outreach Responses

Related Documents & Links:

• Fuel Taxes to Mileage-Based User Fees: Rationale, Technology, and Transitional Issues - University of Minnesota
• Alternative Approaches to Funding Highways - Congressional Budget Office
• Rules for Charging a Pay-By-Use Price for Driving with a Motor Vehicle [Dutch Road
  Pricing Act] - Netherlands Road Pricing Study
• International Scan: Reducing Congestion and Funding Transportation Using Road Pricing - USDOT/FHWA (Presentation File)
• International Scan: Reducing Congestion and Funding Transportation Using Road Pricing - USDOT/FHWA (Final Report)
• International Scan: Reducing Congestion and Funding Transportation Using Road Pricing - USDOT/FHWA (Executive Summary)
• Discerning the Pathway to Implementation of a National Mileage-Based Charging System - Oregon DOT and Transportation Research Board (supporting document for TRB Report 299, above)
• Mileage-Based User Fee Technology Study - FHWA/RITA
• Oregon's VMT Fee Program - Oregon DOT
• Implementable Strategies for Shifting to Direct Usage-Based Charges for Transportation Funding – NCHRP 20-24(69)
• Technology Enabling Near-Term Nationwide Implementation of Distance Based Road User Fees - University of Minnesota
• Equity and Congestion Pricing – A Review of the Evidence - Environmental Defense Fund Research Report
• FHWA Tolling & Pricing Program - Project: Oregon Mileage-Based Road User Fee Evaluation - FHWA
• NCHRP 19-08: Costs of Alternative Revenue-Generation Systems - Transportation Research Board
• National Evaluation of a Mileage-Based Road User Charge - University of Iowa
• TTI-TXDOT VMT Project Scope (attachment)
• TXDOT VMT Mileage Primer

Update: I-95 Corridor Coalition Effort Related to Toll Enforcement Across State Lines

The enforcement of unpaid tolls across state lines has been a long-debated topic within the toll industry. In 2010, over 20 states formed a committee through the Alliance for Toll Interoperability (ATI) to focus on researching states' ability to enact legislation to allow for state-to-state reciprocity agreements to pursue toll violations by another state, similar to motor vehicle agreements that uphold traffic violations, i.e. you enforce my tolls on your citizens, I'll enforce your tolls on mine.

Authorities in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have been working together, releasing a Memorandum of Understanding in early 2010 to move forward with drafting and signing violation enforcement agreements. Essential legislation was adopted early in 2011 in Maine, allowing the three states to move forward with establishing the reciprocity agreements, documents that outline the specific requirements of out-of-state violation enforcement.

In late 2010, the I-95 Corridor Coalition joined forces with ATI, providing support for the initiative which allowed ATI to hire a legislative drafting attorney, Willoughby (Tim) Sheane, Jr. ATI has since produced draft legislation that was approved by the committee. The legislation provided through Maine encompasses the overall goals of ATI's proposed language. As ATI, in conjunction with the I-95 Corridor Coalition, continues to move this necessary initiative forward, continued cooperation and discussions with Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire will be essential to ensure general conformity in legislation and state-to-state agreements adopted by other states within the US.

Website and Displays Provide Travel Times for Trip Planning

Travelers from Maine to Florida are able to save time and better plan their trip thanks to a web site that provides them with real-time traffic information and estimated drive times for roadways in and between major metropolitan areas along the East Coast.  offers travelers speed and congestion information on the I-95 corridor, including I-95, the beltways surrounding each major city, and all associated routes that together make up the corridor.  Recognized as a 2010 ITS America Award Finalist for Innovative Products, the website information was recently expanded to include 3,000 additional miles of roads covering 24 metropolitan areas along the I-95 Corridor. Visitors to the website can manipulate the map to zoom to any of the fifteen states and Washington, D.C.

In addition to the website, congestion information and travel times are now available to travelers at two welcome centers and a shopping mall in Virginia. Road congestion and travel times are displayed on large, flat panel public displays at the Skippers Welcome Center (on I-95 northbound, 10 miles south of Emporia), as well as the Fredericksburg Welcome Center (located on the southbound side of I-95 in Fredericksburg). Additionally, flat-screen displays throughout the Tysons Corner Mall provide real-time traffic updates for the surrounding areas.

www.i95travelinfo.net utilizes the I-95 Corridor Coalition's Vehicle Probe Project data collection to provide real-time traffic information.  The website and travel information displays were developed in partnership with USDOT/Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) under the SafeTrip-21 program.  SafeTrip-21 uses advanced technology to improve safety, improve public transportation services, and reduce grid lock on America's roadways.

 Visit the Vehicle Probe Project Page for detailed information.

 Visit the SafeTrip Project Page for detailed information.

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Designation of “M-95” – the Marine Highway Corridor Serving the Landside I-95 Corridor

M-95 Designation, Projects and Initiatives to Benefit I-95 Corridor Coalition States

The I-95 Corridor Coalition’s waterside system was selected as a Marine Highway Corridor under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) America’s Marine Highway Program, a new initiative to move more cargo on the water rather than on crowded highways. As the sponsor of the M-95 Marine Highway Corridor, the I-95 Corridor Coalition will be assisted by the USDOT Maritime Administration in developing transportation services and with identifying potential freight and passenger markets.

In addition to the M-95 Marine Highway Corridor designation, several projects and initiatives in the I-95 Corridor were selected to be eligible for federal assistance under the Program. “These projects will help make better use of America’s Marine Highway by reducing gridlock, improving the environment, and putting skilled mariners and shipbuilders to work,” said David Matsuda, Maritime Administrator.

Projects and Initiatives selected in the I-95 Corridor include:

• Cross Sound Enhancements Project (Connecticut DOT)
• New England Marine Highway Expansion Project (Maine DOT)
• Cross Gulf Container Expansion Project (Ports of Manatee, FL, and Brownsville, TX)
• Gulf Atlantic Marine Highway Project (South Carolina State Ports Authority and Port of Galveston, TX)
• Trans-Hudson Rail Service Project (Port Authority of New York & New Jersey)
• James River Container Expansion Project (Virginia Port Authority)
• Hudson River Food Corridor Initiative (New York City Soil & Water Conservation District) 
• New Jersey Marine Highway Initiative (New Jersey DOT)
• East Coast Marine Highway Initiative (Ports of New Bedford, MA, Baltimore, MD, and Canaveral, FL)

M-95 Marine Highway Corridor Attributes:

The 1,925 mile-long I-95 Corridor is the major North-South landside freight corridor on the East Coast. The USDOT identified more than a dozen major freight truck bottlenecks along this route, along with significant critical rail congestion along the upper portions. Projections of future freight volumes indicate increasing freight congestion challenges, with limited opportunity to increase landside capacity.

The Corridor is home to 15 of the largest 50 marine ports in the United States (as ranked by total throughput). These ports handle approximately 582 million short tons of cargo, or 26 percent of the national total. Much of this freight begins or ends its journeys with an I-95 transit. Fortunately, the East coast also possesses a host of waterways, bays, rivers, and the Atlantic coast itself. The Corridor is also lined with less congested, smaller niche ports that could play a vital part in the developing marine highway service network. While several Marine Highway operations already serve this corridor, there is significant opportunity for expansion to help address growing congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy, and lower landside infrastructure maintenance costs.

View additional information on America’s Marine Highway Program (USDOT Maritime Administration)

Multi-State I-95 Corridor Coalition Steers Travelers on the 50-Year-Old Highway Into the Future

Innovative Approach to Managing Traffic Congestion Offers a Model for Future Highways

Rockville, MD – October 28, 2010 – As Interstate 95 marks its 50th anniversary this year, the I-95 Corridor Coalition announced several key milestones in their coordinated multi-state effort focused on improving the transport of people and commerce in a region representing the world’s 3rd largest economy.

Today, the Coalition announced its ground-breaking “Vehicle Probe Project”¹ now provides real-time traffic speeds and travel time information for more than 5,000 miles of roads along the I-95 corridor. In announcing the expansion, the Coalition outlined how the 2-year-old project, through a more cost-effective approach, has improved operations, managed emergency response, and delivered new and improved traveler information services.

“Two years ago, leaders of the Coalition decided to seek consistent real-time traffic data for a large multi-state area, believing the timing was right to leverage technology capable of delivering high quality traffic information at much less cost than traditional approaches,” said George Schoener, Executive Director, I-95 Corridor Coalition The I-95 Vehicle Probe Project is a public-private partnership, launched in October 2008, between the Coalition, the University of Maryland and INRIX resulting from a competitive bidding process managed by the Coalition. The project is focused on creating the nation’s first seamless traffic information and monitoring system to use “crowd-sourced” traffic information for achieving a more complete view of travel times and speeds on freeways and arterials along the eastern seaboard. Key results to date include:

• Better Traffic Monitoring at a Fraction of the Cost. In addition to providing states with a more complete view of traffic conditions on their major roads, INRIX’s real-time traffic information has helped states more effectively allocate limited traffic operations resources. According to North Carolina DOT where previous approaches to gathering traffic data had a life cycle cost of nearly $50,000 per mile, INRIX vehicle probe data has been proven to deliver more coverage at about 25 percent of the per mile life cycle cost.2 Similarly, South Carolina DOT claimed that maintaining coverage to gain speed data for over 300 miles of South Carolina roads using traditional methods is equal to the total cost of the INRIX speed and travel time data for 1,200 miles of roads.² 
• Faster Emergency Response. In addition to seeing real-time traffic conditions for more roadways and across state lines, member states have been able to more quickly identify and respond to traffic issues. In New Jersey, traffic operations staff identified a serious accident on a stretch of I-80 during a surprise October 2008 snowstorm that they previously wouldn’t have been able to see using their CCTV system. Without the Vehicle Probe Project traffic monitoring site, response to the 2nd incident would have been delayed by as much as an hour. NJDOT estimated that the expedited response to the second incident translated into $100,000 in savings in user delay costs. ²
• New and Improved Traveler Information Services. In a region of 100 million people where more than 100,000 cars and trucks travel the I-95 corridor every day, the Project has delivered new and improved traveler information services that help residents and businesses better plan their trips including: 
  
  
  • Online: i95travelinfo.net provides valuable information to help people better plan their trips with traffic information and travel times for destinations in 15 states covering 24 metropolitan areas including I-95, the beltways surrounding each major city, and all associated routes that together make up the corridor. Additionally, New Jersey DOT is now posting trip times for key corridors and work zones on its newly upgraded nj511.org site along with the traffic flow map that has been on the site since the projects inception.
  • On the road: The Maryland State Highway Administration is now posting travel times on 22 dynamic message signs in the Baltimore/Washington area during peak periods using Project data. Additionally, Virginia DOT is displaying travel time information to common destinations on several multi-function displays at one of the nation’s largest malls at Tysons Corner and at two welcome centers along I-95.
  • On the phone: North Carolina DOT has created a statewide “virtual dynamic message sign” feature on its 511 telephone service that allows callers to get estimated travel times to major interchanges. The Florida DOT also has made improvements to its statewide 511 service by using project data along I-10 and I-75 in North Florida, areas previously not covered until Florida joined the Project in June 2010.

“As we move forward with to expand coverage throughout the Coalition, more of our members will have access to traffic data that is becoming a valuable tool in the development of performance measures for their systems,” added Schoener.

¹ Source: Vehicle Probe Project One-Pager (July 2010)
² Source: Vehicle Probe Project Benefits White Paper (August 2010)

I-95 Corridor Coalition Explores Alternatives to the Gas Tax

VMT-Based Charge: Issues and Considerations from a Multi-State Perspective - In the spring of 2009, the I-95 Corridor Coalition, at the direction of its Executive Board, embarked upon a program to address the current surface transportation program funding crisis by exploring alternatives to the gas tax as the primary funding mechanism. As an active coalition that has been successfully operating for over 15 years, the I-95 Corridor Coalition is well-positioned to examine both technical and institutional/administrative issues from a multi-state perspective, reflecting a diversity of policies and opinions that will be critical to the emergence of a new revenue generation system.

In May of 2009, the Coalition convened a workshop involving a group of experts to discuss how the Coalition could best contribute to a national effort in this area. Following the recommendations of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission, and the work of other organizations including the FHWA, the Oregon DOT, and the TRB, the workshop produced a set of recommendations regarding the issues that a multi-state pilot program for a VMT-based fee system should address.  Based on the experts’ recommendations, an initial proposal was considered at the Coalition’s June 2 combined Steering Committee/Executive Board meeting. That proposal led to a decision to launch a project to identify the institutional and administrative requirements of a multi-state VMT-based fee system. That project commenced in November 2009 and will conclude in the summer of 2010.  The final scope of work is referenced below.

In the summer of 2009, the Coalition assembled a Member Advisory Committee, consisting of senior representatives of Coalition member state departments of transportation and toll authorities to guide the Coalition’s work activities in this area.  That group convened twice to guide the development of the scope of work for the project described above.  It will continue meeting to guide the work as it progresses.  Advisors in specialty areas, such as administrative and legal issues, will also be consulted.

 View Full Report and Executive Summary of Administrative and Legal Issues Associated with a Multi-State VMT-Based Charge System - November 2010
View Multi-state VMT-Based Charge Initiative Presentation
 View Project page
View Member Advisory Council Webcast Presentation - April 12, 2011
 View Member Advisory Council Webcast Presentation - September 22, 2010
 View Member Advisory Committee Webcast Presentation - May, 2010
 View Multi-State VMT-Based Road-User Fee Initiative Presentation - by Mark Muriello, PANYNJ, at the 2nd Annual Mileage-Based Fee Symposium - April, 2010
View Member Advisory Council (updated April, 2010)
 View Member Advisory Council Webcast Presentation - September 10, 2009
View Brainstorming Session Summary – May 5, 2009
 View DMV Outreach Responses

Related Documents & Links:

• Fuel Taxes to Mileage-Based User Fees: Rationale, Technology, and Transitional Issues - University of Minnesota
• Alternative Approaches to Funding Highways - Congressional Budget Office
• Rules for Charging a Pay-By-Use Price for Driving with a Motor Vehicle [Dutch Road
  Pricing Act] - Netherlands Road Pricing Study
• International Scan: Reducing Congestion and Funding Transportation Using Road Pricing - USDOT/FHWA (Presentation File)
• International Scan: Reducing Congestion and Funding Transportation Using Road Pricing - USDOT/FHWA (Final Report)
• International Scan: Reducing Congestion and Funding Transportation Using Road Pricing - USDOT/FHWA (Executive Summary)
• Discerning the Pathway to Implementation of a National Mileage-Based Charging System - Oregon DOT and Transportation Research Board (supporting document for TRB Report 299, above)
• Mileage-Based User Fee Technology Study - FHWA/RITA
• Oregon's VMT Fee Program - Oregon DOT
• Implementable Strategies for Shifting to Direct Usage-Based Charges for Transportation Funding – NCHRP 20-24(69)
• Technology Enabling Near-Term Nationwide Implementation of Distance Based Road User Fees - University of Minnesota
• Equity and Congestion Pricing – A Review of the Evidence - Environmental Defense Fund Research Report
• FHWA Tolling & Pricing Program - Project: Oregon Mileage-Based Road User Fee Evaluation - FHWA
• NCHRP 19-08: Costs of Alternative Revenue-Generation Systems - Transportation Research Board
• National Evaluation of a Mileage-Based Road User Charge - University of Iowa
• TTI-TXDOT VMT Project Scope (attachment)
• TXDOT VMT Mileage Primer

Congratulations October 2010 Operations Academy Graduates!

“Excellent Program!” That’s the consistent comment Operations Academy Graduates make when asked about their experiences during this two-week, total immersion transportation management and operations program. Designed to cultivate and enhance the practical knowledge of transportation operations managers – both current and future -- the program provides a unique mix of lectures, workshops, and onscene experiences – all focused on the practicalities of where the rubber meets the road.

The demand for personnel with traffic management skills has increased as state and local transportation agencies focus on the effective use of the existing transportation infrastructure. The intense 100-hour Operations Academy program covers traffic/incident/emergency management, traffic engineering and traffic flow theory including practical operational tools. Subject matter experts present classroom lectures on the impact of management decisions on the overall safety and mobility of highway operations, as well as best practices for integrating planning with operations, organizational leadership and performance measurement. Overall system management, including monitoring and evaluating system performance and its impact on customer service, is a key element to the highly successful program. Strengthening the classroom education are practical on-the-road experiences from Freeway Service Patrol Ride-Alongs, visits to state and local traffic operations centers and discussions with their management. Graduates of the Operations Academy also enjoy an important added benefit – a network of developed relationships with peers from across the country.

Members of the October, 2010 Operations Academy Class, shown below, represented agencies from throughout the I-95 Corridor Coalition: Dawn Arnold of New York State DOT, Jerry Ausher of Florida DOT, Rachel Brown of Georgia DOT, Vincent Cortese of New Jersey DOT, Christopher W. Jones of New York State Thruway Authority, Christopher King of Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, James Knowlton of New Hampshire DOT, Olga Krueger of The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, John Lohmeyer of Maryland Transportation Authority, Kenneth McGoldrick of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Michel Pack of the Pennsylvania DOT, Davide Peake of the Maryland State Highway Administration, Eric Podolsky of the Massachusetts DOT, James R. Pond of the Monroe County DOT (NY), Jay Robinson of the Maryland State Police, Albert E. (Earl) Sharp of the Virginia DOT, Emilio Sosa of the New York State DOT, Ricky Via of the Virginia DOT, Daniel Wood of the FHWA New York Division Office, and Nikola Ivanov of the University of Maryland. Bringing perspectives from other States across the country were Monique Czech of the Washington State DOT, Michel Fuess and Lisa Schettler of the Nevada DOT, Ray Hallavant and Frank Horne of the Tennessee DOT, Annjanette Kremer of the Michigan DOT, Monica Pavlik of the FHWA Colorado Division Office and Faisal Saleem of the Maricopa County DOT (AZ).

Graduates of the Operations Academy earn 10 University of Maryland-issued CEUs. The development of the Operations Academy™ was funded by the I-95 Corridor Coalition, and is supported by ongoing I-95 Coalition Scholarships for Coalition members.

Read more about the Operations Academy.

“Diverse speakers, peer discussions, field trips and workshops made for an excellent combination of learning tools that provided for a well rounded, real-life experience and education.”
– James Knowlton, TMC, New Hampshire DOT

“Valuable learning experience. A great networking opportunity. Very positive experience.”
– John Lohmeyer, Administrator, Maryland Transportation Authority

“The benefits gained from the program far outweigh the two-week time commitment.”
– Michael Pack, Acting Section Manager – ITS Operations, Pennsylvania DOT

“The Operations Academy provides participants with a wholistic approach to Agency Operations. It allows participants to view transportation systems management and operations from many viewpo ints and examine the many “dimensions” of an organization. Upon returning to our agencies, we will be able to accentuate the positive and provide useful suggestions to management for consideration.”
– Christopher Jones, Director of ITS, New York State Thruway Authority

I-95 Corridor Coalition Hosts Successful NUG Summit

The I-95 Corridor Coalition held a highly successful Summit on the National Unified Goal (“NUG”) for Traffic Incident Management on September 21-22, 2010 near Baltimore, MD. There were 156 multidisciplinary persons from the traffic incident response field in attendance at this national NUG Summit, representing 84 federal, state, regional, and local entities from 22 States, 12 of which were I-95 Corridor Coalition States. More than 150 additional persons participated on the FHWA-provided nationwide webinar which simultaneously broadcasted the September 21st speaker presentations.

Sponsored by the I-95 Corridor Coalition, with Co-Hosts Federal Highway Administration and the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, the Summit focused on the three major NUG objectives: Responder Safety; Quick Clearance; and Prompt, Reliable Interoperable Communications. The Summit agenda was comprehensive, covering such topics as NUG Strategies and Opportunities, Implementation Funding Options, Key Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Focus Areas, TIM Team Best Practices spotlighting an I-95 Corridor Coalition recently-completed project, Service Patrols, TIM Training including the I-95 Coalition’s 3-D Virtual Incident Management Training System and the Quick Clearance Responder Workshops, Tow Policies, Onscene Communications Procedures, Performance Measures, Scene Safety Training, Successful TIM Team Programs, and FHWA’s Unit Plan and Roadmap Update. Culminating the Summit was a Multidisciplinary Conversation Circle wherein Transportation Agency, State Police, Fire, MPO, and Towing Representatives discussed TIM Team development and key issues to NUG implementation.

Overwhelmingly, attendees evaluated the NUG Summit extremely positively, including such comments as…”Well Done! …Overall conference was great! …Excellent Summit -- Looking forward to the next one… I filled 6 pages with notes of good ideas and opportunities for follow-up.”

View NUG Summit presentations

Incident Management Virtual Training for First Responders

The I-95 Corridor Coalition is creating an intensive training program that uses three-dimensional, multi-player computer gaming simulation technology and distance-based learning technologies to test, validate, certify, and reinforce the dissemination of best incident management practices across the Coalition region

The three-dimensional software program will enable practical, scenario-based, interactive, real-time incident management training for numerous responders, trainers and “victims” simultaneously at a variety of locations. Participants will include state, county, and local transportation departments, toll road authorities, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency service providers, medical examiners, hazardous materials handlers, towing companies, the media, and other operating agencies and entities across the Corridor. The training program can be accessed from any location with an Internet connection thereby reducing training and travel costs and enabling increased participation.

The program is designed to educate and validate quick clearance practices and related incident management techniques, but it is also designed to promote communication, coordination and cooperation among organizations involved in incident management. By involving responders from many different agencies, exposing them to best practices, establishing expectations that they will meet or exceed standards for good practice, and allowing them to discuss methods and issues with their peers, we believe that they will achieve more consistent performance, more innovation, and better and safer delivery of incident management services.

View three-dimensional program preview.

A 2040 Vision for the I-95 Coalition Region: Supporting Economic Growth in a Carbon-Constrained Environment

The I-95 Corridor Coalition's Long Range Strategic Vision project (view) formulated and analyzed a transportation vision for the entire region – one which accommodates key values and issues related to a global economy, climate change, energy, and quality of life, while re-examining the traditional modal mix and service options available for passenger and freight movement in the corridor.

The Vision report shows the implications of continuing with "Business as Usual" and, alternatively, the impact of bold strategies for accommodating mobility and economic development, with an emphasis on reducing energy usage and the carbon footprint. With the implementation of the bold strategies outlined in the report, economic growth will be supported by improved system performance. Major highway and rail bottlenecks will be removed, and delay on urban Interstates will be reduced by 46 percent. The region will also be on path to achieve GHG emissions reductions of 60 to 80 percent by 2050 (as compared to 2005 levels).

The I-95 Coalition 2040 Vision was developed based on long-term trends and, even with the recent short-term fluctuations in the economy, the Vision's projections are still valid assumptions for the longer term 2040 vision period.  The Vision study assumed that the region's long term growth would rebound following the current severe economic downturn, albeit at a lower rate of growth than previously forecast.  Importantly, the region's more modest economic and travel growth assumptions were developed in the context of significantly reduced fossil fuel use and dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

2040 Vision for I-95 Region Executive Summary: View
2040 Vision for I-95 Region Full Report: View