Many of the I-95 Corridor states that received Year 5 funding for FOTs 7 - 10, applicable to CVISN Level One capabilities, have supplemented the I-95 Corridor Coalition funding with state funding and in-kind staff resources. At the time of developing the CVO PTC Year 6 Work Plan, a number of states had completed preliminary CVISN design and planning work and were seeking additional assistance for more detailed systems requirements analysis, system design and integration, and implementation toward achieving CVISN Level One compliance. Corridor Wide Technical Assistance (CWTA) funds were made available upon application as part of the Coalition's Year 6 Work Plan to address these state needs through building upon and expanding existing FOTs.

The intent of the CWTA project was to provide additional assistance to states who had demonstrated a solid record of performance in implementing their FOTs but required additional assistance to complete, or further, their project efforts. Funding was structured on a needs-basis, and was not to be awarded in instances where performance was of concern. CWTA funding was also available to states interested in pursuing an FOT but had not participated in Year 5 activities. These state applications to join in on-going FOTs were considered for funding approval determinant upon the success of the FOT in other corridor states and the anticipated ability of the applicant state to implement the FOT successfully.

Connecticut received approval of their CWTA application for technical assistance related to a CVISN proof-of-concept. Due initially to a delay in funding allocation and later to the state's issuance of a CVISN RFP, these technical services were not started, based on a request from the state. Upon award of the CVISN contract, Connecticut was able to effectively utilize the funding as originally intended with the same service provider and requested a revised scope of technical services to reflect the current technical environment.

This particular request enabled staff from the Coalition consultant support team to provide technical assistance to the State of Connecticut with components of their CVISN efforts. In particular, consultant support staff provided technical support for a CVISN technical prototype that demonstrated the exchange of data between Connecticut, the State's electronic screening program, and the national Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system. A demonstration version of a Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW) was used for this prototyping effort. This data supports roadside screening and performance-based enforcement activities integral to CVISN compliance.

Procurement Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation

Project Contact:  Marygrace Parker
Freight, Mobility, Safety & Security Coordinator
I-95 Corridor Coalition
Phone: (518) 852-4083
E-mail: i95mgp@ttlc.net

Project 6b-4B: Coalition consultant support staff worked with CVO stakeholders in Connecticut to conduct the CT CVISN Prototype. The prototype demonstrated how data could be exchanged with the State's electronic screening system, a demonstration Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW) and the nation Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System. Staff performed all tasks with oversight and management from the Connecticut project manager, Lt. Rudolph Supina.

Project 6b-4Bb:Provide funding for the development and of Training Course and CVISN Workshop materials and delivery through JHU/APL.

Project 6c-4B: The original request for technical assistance was for assistance with development of internal/external web sites to be compatible with future integration with CVISN applications

  View PDF file of Scope of Project.

Through FMCSA, JHU/APL developed the national Training Courses (Introduction to ITS/CVO, ITS/CVO Technical Project Management for Non-Technical Managers and Understanding ITS/CVO Technologies) and CVISN Workshop series and content (Scope, Planning and Design). Course materials, pre-work and post-work, on-site presentation materials and delivery continue to be developed/modified for each delivery. Funds requested through technical assistance were utilized in preparing Training delivery materials and presentations and partial CVISN Workshop deliveries to NJ, NY, and MA.

In coordination with the Connecticut project lead and in full understanding of the state CVISN program plan and design work, Coalition consultant support staff installed a demonstration version of the Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW) at the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This demonstration CVIEW is programmed to integrate DMV data with additional data required for electronic screening of vehicles at the Union weigh station. In order to incorporate additional interstate carrier and vehicle data necessary for screening purposes, technical staff accessed SAFER snapshots on behalf of Connecticut. Through creating subscriptions to the SAFER Helpdesk, carrier and vehicle snapshots are delivered to the subscription mailbox. Technical staff accessed and transferred carrier and vehicle snapshot data into the demonstration CVIEW by connecting CVIEW to the SAFER e-mail server which stores the subscription mailbox data. Connectivity to the e-mail server allows for retrieval and incorporation of snapshot data into the CVIEW repository. In order to incorporate vehicle and transponder data necessary for screening purposes, technical staff created a process for transferring this information from the MACS Central computer at the DMV to the CVIEW. The newly programmed system transfer process utilizes the existing Connecticut local-area network. Once SAFER carrier and vehicle snapshot data and MACS vehicle and transponder data are resident in the CVIEW repository, the data is integrated. Technical staff also created a program to match vehicle information and update existing snapshots.

Updated snapshots are sent to, and received by, the Union weigh station site in order to be utilized for electronic screening purposes. Technical staff created an automated process within CVIEW to export vehicle and associated carrier data in updated snapshots to the Union site. Programming specifications of the automated export process convert updated snapshot data into a format acceptable to the Kentucky Model MACS system currently in operation at the Union site. Updated snapshots from CVIEW are integrated into the Union site Model MACS system prior to use for effective electronic screening. Technical staff automated the transfer of exported data files from CVIEW to Model MACS using the current Connecticut wide-area network infrastructure. The transfer of exported data files from CVIEW to Model MACS is further automated through the creation of a program by which Model MACS automatically imports the exported data and updates the local repository of information; this information is used to support roadside screening. Utilizing the Model MACS system for receipt of updated, dynamically transferred data allows for screening of commercial vehicles passing the Union weigh station. Technical staff have tracked and tested the integration, transfer, and integrity of the data as well as the functionality of the screening system technologies.

Prpject 4b-4Bb: Through FMCSA, JHU/APL developed the national Training Courses (Introduction to ITS/CVO, ITS/CVO Technical Project Management for Non-Technical Managers and Understanding ITS/CVO Technologies) and CVISN Workshop series and content (Scope, Planning and Design). Course materials, pre-work and post-work, on-site presentation materials and delivery continue to be developed/modified for each delivery. Funds requested through technical assistance were utilized in preparing Training delivery materials and presentations and partial CVISN Workshop deliveries to NJ, NY, and MA. Deliverables: Training Materials (Introduction to ITS/CVO, ITS/CVO Technical Project Management for Non-Technical Managers and Understanding ITS/CVO Technologies) and CVISN Workshop Materials (Scope) session binders.

This project allowed for the development of Training Course and CVISN Workshop Materials for the NJ, NY and MA series.

Project 6b-4B: This project confirmed that data could be collected from a variety of state and national systems, stored in a central location and shared with the State's roadside screening system to support real-time, performance based vehicle screening. This enables enforcement personnel to focus their time and resources on "high-risk" carriers and does not penalize carriers that meet the State's regulatory requirements and have good safety performance records. The project also confirmed that the technology the State is implementing under a larger CVISN effort will in fact meet the state's business and technical requirements.

Project 6b-4Bb: This project allowed for the development of Training Course and CVISN Workshop Materials for the NJ, NY and MA series.

$500,000. Budget allocated among multiple projects.

Project 6a4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist (Amount Spent: $4,586 Project cancelled.)
Project 6a4Bb: ITS/CVO Technical Assist $64,000.
Project 6b4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - MA $1,000 (Amount Spent: $526 Closed)
Project 6c4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - CT $50,000 (Amount Spent: $35,774)
Project 6c4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - Web $10,000 (Amount Spent: $62)*
Project 6d4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - MA $20,000 (Amount Spent: $20,150)
Project 6e4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - NJ $27,000 (Amount Spent: $26,995)
Project 6f4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - NY $20,000 (Amount Spent: $525)
Project 6h4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - NH $30,000
Project 6i4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - ME $30,000
Project 6k4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - RI $30,000
Project 6m4B: ITS/CVO Technical Assist - VT $30,000

*This Technical Assistance project was cancelled per the state of CT due to project timeline conflicts with funding release.