AASHTO Standing Committee on Performance Management

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZATION

Task Force - System Operations:Francis Ziegler, North Dakota, Chair

John Cox – WyomingDavid Eckern – Virginia

System OperationsSystem Operations performance is measured by the operational efficiency and reliability provided by the existing system. The focus is on improving system operations through a broad range of operational strategies, rather than through investments in new capacity alone.

This group was tasked with;

• How do we measure the performance of system operations

2009 CEO LEADERSHIP FORUM

Goal AreaGoal Area Measures OnlyMeasures Only Measures Measures and Targetsand Targets NeitherNeither

Systems Operations

6 9 6

Cambridge Systematics, Inc. surveyed states that have established performance measures

and targets

AASHTO System Operations PM Recommendations*

• Travel Time Index– Used as a reliability measure that works toward the national goals of

enhancing system operation and management, economic competitiveness, and community quality of life. Can be used to monitor congestion trends over time.

• Planning Time Index– The Planning Time Index measures the effectiveness of system operations and

management in maintaining travel time reliability by comparing average peak-period travel times to near-worst case conditions.

• Incident Management Clearance Time– Defined as nonrecurring events that interrupt normal operations, incidents

include traffic accidents, disabled vehicles, debris, etc.• Lane Closures (Lost Lane-Hours) Due to Work Zones and Weather

Events– Evaluating the impacts of work zone lane closures help to develop

construction management plans to minimize traffic impacts. Weather performance measures are useful for not only assessing the effectiveness of weather management activities, but also for assessing how well weather-influenced activities (particularly maintenance) are being conducted.

* AASHTO Spring 2009 Report: “Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Performance Measures Aligned with National Transportation Goals”

System Operations Task Force Surveyed States on System Operation

Measures(August 2009 Survey)

1. Do you have any performance measures for operations that are funded by federal dollars (Example: ITS program)?

Yes ________ No _________If yes, please send basic overview and contact name.

2. Does your state have any performance measures for operations that are funded by state funds?

Yes ________ No _________If yes, do they consist of snow and ice, incident management, lane closure, or

others? Please send basic overview for each and contact name.

System Operations Survey Results• Received response from twenty two states

– Researched additional states online

• Most states reported performance measurement information for various categories and do not differentiate between funding sources

• Most states do not distinguish between system and maintenance operations

• Close definition between congestion, and system operations measures

System Operations Survey Results (Con’t.)

• Twenty two states respondedPreviously Identified AASHTO

PM’s

Travel Time Index

Planning Time Index

Incident Management

Clearance Time

Lane Closures due to Work

Zones

Lane Closures due to

Weather Events

States reported using

5 0 10 2 9

• Three states reported using Customer Satisfaction Results on system operations performance

Recommendations for System Operations Performance Measures

Due to the different circumstances that each state encounters, two overarching performance measures are recommended: states can select the appropriate subcategories that feed into the main performance measures.•Planned Incident

– Work Zone lane closures• Consistent with work zone mobility guidance

– Community events (i.e. parades)•Unplanned Incident

– Traffic Incidents– Weather events (snow, ice, flooding)– Other natural occurrences (mud/rock slides,

sink holes, pavement heaves)

Targets

Targets should be set by each state due to varying circumstances that could happen. •Planned Incident

– Work Zone management– Community events (i.e. parades)

•Unplanned Incident– Weather events– Traffic Incidents– Other natural occurrences (mud/rock slides, flooding,

Questions

• Most states reported mainly using state funds for system operations

• System operations performance measures are not conducive to federally mandated targets