Project 10a-4A: CVISN Safety and Security Screening
This  project was led by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) with the expressed interest of furthering safety and security screening within the corridor and, eventually, the nation. The project tested and evaluated new and emerging technologies  necessary in screening for vehicle safety, vehicle identification and driver identification.

Project 9-4D and 10-4C: CVISN Training and Design Project
The U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the states, and the motor carrier industry are working together under the auspices of the CVISN program to develop and deploy information systems and technologies to exchange motor carrier-related safety and credential information; enable carriers to apply for and receive registrations, permits, and credentials electronically; and enable safe and legal motor carriers to bypass weigh-stations and other fixed inspection sites. The “Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century” mandated that a majority of the states deploy an initial set of “Level One” CVISN capabilities by September 30, 2003. The “Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) set additional requirements and provided new funding to the states.

FMCSA was, and is managing the CVISN deployment initiative, including development and maintenance of the national CVISN information systems architecture.

When this project started, the I-95 Corridor Coalition member states were at varying points in the CVISN deployment process. And, relative to the remainder of the nation, the mid-Atlantic and northeastern Coalition states lagged in terms of CVISN deployment. Therefore, the Coalition offered to assist FMCSA in providing training, technical support, and related services through this project to help Coalition states through the above three-stage process.

Project 9-4E: FMCSA CVISN Deployment and Information Exchange Forum

This project is submitted through interest from Coalition federal partners, FMCSA, in pursuit of partnering the execution of the next FMCSA CVISN Deployment and Information Exchange Forum, tentatively scheduled for Spring, 2003. This Forum is intended to be the only event scheduled and will include an international audience. This Forum will be a high-profile event as it addresses pertinent topics in concert with the federal goal of achieving CVISN compliance in over 50% of the states by 2003.

Project 8-4B: CVISN Eastern US Forum
FMCSA and the I-95 Corridor Coalition have been working cooperatively and successfully in project efforts within the corridor states since the Coalition’s inception. Specifically, the CVO Program Track has focused efforts on Field Operational Tests, which proved a test bed for nationwide projects in the areas of safety, screening and credentialing, and Training and CVISN Deployment Workshops, which have helped corridor states achieve federal goals toward deployment. In an effort to showcase successfully deployed technologies related to CVISN program goals, FMCSA approached the Coalition and CVO Program Track leadership to partner in the event.

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

Project 9-4D and 10-4C: CVISN Training and Design Project
The I-95 Corridor Coalition since 1998 has sponsored CVISN training and technical support activities to help member states move through the CVISN deployment process. The objective of this project, which began in 2002, was to provide continued support to the next round of interested states, which were initially to include Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Later, some dialog was held with, and assistance provided to, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Project 8-4B: CVISN Eastern US Forum
Showcase deployments, developments, and technological advancements related to the federal CVISN program areas delivered to an International audience in promotion of CVISN deployment goals.

View PDF file of Scope of Project 10a-4A.

Project 8-4B: CVISN Eastern US Forum

Report Name	Report
I-95 CT CVISN Proof of Concept - Project Briefing Booklet	View

Project 9-4D and 10-4C: CVISN Training and Design Project

• A training course, “Understanding ITS/CVO Technologies”, was presented to the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont in Concord, New Hampshire.
• ITS/CVO business plans from Maine and Rhode Island were reviewed for their completeness and currency, as the initial plans had been drafted some years before.
• ITS/CVO business plans were drafted for New Hampshire and Vermont, which had not previously completed such plans. Information gathering and planning and facilitation of a day-long session with stakeholders were important components of the plan development process. In each stakeholder session, several agencies came together to discuss how to make ITS/CVO and CVISN a reality in their states. These plans were completed to the 80-90% level by the consultant with the remainder to be completed by the respective states. Each business plan was later submitted to FMCSA and accepted.
• Information was provided to several states on the requirements to meet CVISN Level One or Core capabilities. Included as part of providing this information were discussions with FMCSA representatives to discuss how certain states could meet FMCSA CVISN requirements. It was agreed through these discussions that states could abbreviate their processes somewhat and still meet FMSCA requirements.
• In particular, the State of Maine was involved in these discussions, as Maine wanted to establish itself as having met CVISN Level One or Core capabilities. The Coalition consultant staff reviewed materials completed by Maine and commented on their strengths/weaknesses, which were essentially equivalent to FMCSA’s later analysis. While Maine did not achieve acceptance as a Core-compliant state at that time, the discussions did advise Maine as to how it might gain Core compliance.
• After Delaware indicated an interest in moving towards CVISN Core compliance, Coalition staff and consultants worked with Delaware to advise on what was needed, especially from an institutional perspective. Another activity was a review of Delaware’s ITS/CVO business plan and providing comments with regard to what was need for updating it to effectively meet FMCSA requirements. Delaware built on its existing institutional arrangements to develop a strong foundation for moving forward.
• Consultant staff provided advice and assistance to Vermont on how to wrap CVISN planning and design into an overall revamping of its motor carrier systems.
• Coalition staff and consultants met with Pennsylvania State Police and DOT representatives to discuss providing assistance in moving forward with CVISN.
• Discussion was facilitated by consultant staff at Coalition CVO Committee meetings and other venues on how to provide incentives for the states in moving to CVISN deployment.
• Advice was provided to Coalition and FMCSA staff on how to move forward after the passage of SAFETEA-LU, which provided incentives for the states to deploy CVISN. Coalition consultant staff provided their knowledge of the seven CVISN “gap” states to help jump-start FMCSA’s renewed efforts. (“Gap” states were the six mentioned above plus the District of Columbia.)

As part of this project, several different deliverables were provided including the ITS/CVO training course, ITS/CVO business plan reviews, drafting of ITS/CVO business plans, guidance on achieving CVISN compliance, general advice and guidance through phone calls, e-mail, etc. Some of the anticipated key outcomes of the project were not met, e.g., CVISN workshops and Program Plans, because the states did not indicate a strong interest in moving forward with CVISN – at least not through the process required by FMCSA. However, the interest level has changed since the passage of SAFETEA-LU and the willingness of FMCSA to modify its compliance process.

Project 8-4B: CVISN Eastern US Forum
The Eastern States ITS-CVO Deployment Forum, was successfully executed over a three-day event held during November 2000, in Crystal City, Virginia. Sessions offered panel presentations and demonstrations in the areas of CVISN Safety, Communications, Data Collection for Highway Safety, CVISN Screening, International Issues and Border Crossing, Supporting Success, CVISN Credentialing, Industry Initiatives in ITS-CVO Technologies, and Freight Movement. The event was the first of its kind and proved beneficial, and based on its success, FMCSA held a Western States ITS-CVO Forum. The forum offered a great opportunity to involve high-level and mid-level ITS-CVO management and personnel as well as individuals that may not have had opportunity to participate in events such as TRB or ITSA. Attendance exceeded 100 participants excluding presenters and staff.

Project 9-4D and 10-4C: CVISN Training and Design Project
This project was to provide a range of guidance on ITS/CVO and CVISN to several states. The project was originally designed to help the identified states become CVISN Core-compliant. The identified states, however, did not perceive significant benefits, e.g., extra federal funding, or faced significant constraints, e.g., resource shortfalls, senior-level disinterest, with regard to CVISN deployment. Maine and Delaware proved to be exceptions and, indeed, their interest increased with the passage of SAFETEA-LU and expanded federal funding.

The passage of SAFETEA-LU has greatly changed the CVISN deployment landscape. States have become more interested in deployment, while FMCSA, knowing it had more to offer states, has taken a more proactive stance. In fact, FMCSA has provided its own consultant resources to assist those states which expressed an interest, thereby eliminating the need for Coalition consultant support.

Issues noted:

1 - The states had not achieved some of the precursor expectations for the project. For example, the project was undertaken with the expectation that Vermont and New Hampshire would have completed their ITS/CVO business plans, a requirement of FMCSA as a state moves to plan for CVISN deployment. To offset this issue, the Coalition and FMCSA decided to apply resources – via a statement of work change – to assist those states in developing their business plans. This would then position these states as other opportunities arose, either within the states and/or thru FMCSA and/or SAFETEA-LU, to move forward with the pre-requisite business plans in place.

2 - While this project contemplated the states moving forward as a bloc, the states in fact moved at quite different paces due to their internal incentives or constraints. Where the project envisioned collective activities, e.g., CVISN workshops, the states were at different levels of preparedness and could not effectively come together in one forum. Through the course of this project, the “gap” states have been at different stages in the project.

Recognizing that the Coalition region as a whole is impacted by the “readiness” of other states to address CVISN, the Coalition CVO Committee leadership and Coalition staff took the initiative to modify the project tasks to provide some support that would ensure at least some base level positioning of states to move forward in the CVISN planning process (e.g., completed or updated business plans, training). This better positioned the states to respond to renewed efforts by FMCSA to generate interest by states in achieving levels of CVISN compliance and/or for FMCSA to support the states’ CVISN training and planning progress.

Project 8-4B: CVISN Eastern US Forum
The results of the Forum were successfully transferring knowledge and education related to deployments, developments, and technological advancements in ITS-CVO. The partnership between FMCSA and the Coalition continues to foster and promote the deployment of CVISN nationally; the success of this event led to the Western States Deployment.

Project 9-4D and 10-4C: CVISN Training and Design Project
Original Project Budget:
Original budget - $275K;
University of Maryland carryover budget - $134,000

Amended Project Budget:
Some of budget (approx $27K) was retained by ConnDOT and not transferred to University of Maryland

Reason for change, if any: Project scope of work modified, funds not required.

Final Project Expenditures:
Original project - $114K;
University of Maryland carryover - $67K

Project 8-4B: CVISN Eastern US Forum
Amount allocated from Year 8: $39,000 (Not project in Business Plan with this name.) Amount Spent: $32,945