A significant increase in traffic-related pedestrian fatalities has been experienced in the United States since 2009. Detection-based pedestrian safety technologies have the potential to improve safety for pedestrians. This research was completed to improve ENTERPRISE members’ understanding of pedestrian traffic safety issues and explore recent advancements in detection-based pedestrian safety technologies. This project conducted a literature search to provide context for pedestrian safety issues and trends, completed an industry scan of detection-based pedestrian safety technologies, and identified potential future research for consideration by ENTERPRISE or other research entities. The literature search revealed several factors and conditions that have been found to contribute to higher rates of pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries, which can help agencies as they consider technology-based solutions. The industry scan identified numerous examples of detection-based technologies that are commercially available or being researched. While there is some evidence of deployments and testing, many technologies appeared to be in early stages of planning or implementation. Future research could consider investigating the effectiveness of signage or other alerts for pedestrians; demonstrating and evaluating commercially available pedestrian safety technologies, or research to correlate crash or conflict causes with appropriate safety technologies.
Completed
Patented and Proprietary Products Waiver Impact on ITS Procurements
In 2019, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued the Final Rule on Construction and Maintenance-Promoting Innovation in Use of Patented and Proprietary Products to encourage innovation in the development of highway transportation technology and methods. Per this rule, state departments of transportation (DOTs) are no longer required to provide certifications, make public interest findings, or develop research or experimental work plans to use patented or proprietary products in federal-aid projects. This project provides an overview of the rulemaking and documents through selected case studies describing how the change is being implemented by state DOTs. The case studies revealed that internal DOT processes for use of patented or proprietary products remained largely unchanged following the FHWA rule change, as DOTs continue to require approvals or documentation even though FHWA approval is no longer required. Most participating DOTs agreed that processes have been somewhat streamlined; however, the overall reduction in regulatory burden has been minimal because internal justifications, approvals, or documentation are still required. Most agencies noted that the rule change does have the potential to encourage innovation because it allows increased flexibility for the DOT to approve innovations internally.
Traffic Operations Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, many state department of transportation (DOT) employees with jobs that could be done remotely were ordered to work from home. This occurred very quickly and DOTs had to make a variety of adjustments, such as decentralizing work activities, transitioning information technology support actions to accommodate the new work environments, and, in some states, relocating transportation operations center staff members to their homes. The purpose of this research was to document and share ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study members’ initial operational responses to COVID-19 – gathered through phone interviews and a virtual peer exchange – for application to future events or as part of daily operations during the pandemic. It is important to note that the information gathered for this project focuses on ENTERPRISE member agencies’ experiences at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2020 through April 2021. At the time of this publication, ENTERPRISE members continue to plan and adjust to the prolonged pandemic.
State of Practice for Automated Traffic Incident Detection
Traffic Management Center (TMC) operators need to be alerted of roadway incidents (e.g., crashes, stalled vehicles, slowed or stopped traffic) in a timely manner to initiate response efforts and manage the resulting traffic implications. Commercially available products can provide automated incident detection (AID) functionality with alerts to TMC operators. This project researched the state of practice for commercially available AID systems. The project focused on products and tools that detect multiple types of common roadway incidents (e.g., crashes, stalled vehicles, debris, slow or stopped traffic) and provide alerts to TMC operators. The project objectives were to understand the various AID capabilities offered and to define common user needs for TMC operator use of AID systems. To accomplish the objectives, the project identified 42 common TMC operator user needs for AID that were used to guide seven vendor demonstrations of AID products to document their capabilities. Two transportation agencies also demonstrated platforms developed in-house to assist in AID. Finally, a peer exchange webinar featured seven transportation agencies highlighting their experiences with AID products. The AID systems reviewed for this project vary in detection capabilities, detection coverage, and detection environments. In addition, all products or agency platforms are configurable, provide alerts to TMC operators and can be integrated with an agency’s ATMS. The product capabilities documented and the TMC operator common user needs for AID can be used and modified by ENTERPRISE members to identify their agency’s specific needs for deploying AID systems.
Establishing a Framework for Communicating DOT Map Updates to Mapping Companies
The ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study conducted this project to develop a consistent communication approach for providing transportation agency map updates to mapping/navigation companies that utilize DOT-generated data for various applications such as route guidance. To accomplish the project objective, a survey was distributed to DOTs to document the processes used by those agencies that have provided map updates to mapping/navigation companies. Interviews were then conducted with select mapping/navigation companies to document their process for receiving map updates from DOTs to make updates to their digital maps. A webinar was held with ENTERPRISE members, survey respondents and mapping/navigation companies to gather additional input on the process. Based on the information gathered from the survey, webinar and interviews, a framework was developed to assist DOTs as they provide map updates to select mapping/navigation companies. The steps DOTs follow to submit a map change are similar, but because details may vary by each mapping/navigation company, a separate framework was developed for each company. The framework developed in this project offers a first step toward consistently submitting map updates to mapping/navigation companies and identifies additional efforts states may collectively consider for defining and standardizing the process nationally in the future.
Traveler Information Collaboration
ENTERPRISE initiated this project to review the current state of traveler information practice focused on reporting weather events and explore the concept of a traveler information community of practice (CoP). The CoP could enable information sharing among traveler information coordinators who manage state and local department of transportation (DOT) traveler information systems. To accomplish the project objectives an online survey was distributed to traveler information contact(s) in each U.S. state as well as the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The goals of the survey were to gather information about traveler information road weather reporting processes and activities and understand the current needs that might be met through a CoP. Based on the interest in a CoP gathered through the survey results, initial discussions were held with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) about the potential to accomplish a traveler information CoP, either by creating an activity or leveraging one or more existing activities. AASHTO has included an activity to create a traveler information CoP within AASHTO’s Committee on Transportation System Operations (CTSO).