Completed

The ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study has completed two previous efforts supporting transportation agencies integrating arrow board status information from the field into traveler information systems to alert TMC operators and travelers in real-time, for example, of a lane closure. Per direction from the ENTERPRISE Board, Phase 1 and Phase 2 were completed in 2017 in order to properly assess needs and potential solutions before deployment and evaluation of a real-time arrow board system at one or more ENTERPRISE agency sites.

In 2018, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) conducted a one year pilot project through a contract with a vendor (Street Smart) that installed a monitoring device on 20 arrow boards that provided arrow board status information (e.g. right arrow on, left arrow on) to the vendor’s server. The arrow board status information from the server was then integrated with MnDOT’s Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) and then their Road Condition Reporting System (RCRS). In 2019, the Iowa DOT had access to 5 equipped arrow boards with reporting capabilities (Street Smart, iCone, Ver-Mac) to provide real-time arrow board status information to the vendor’s server. This project evaluated the deployments of the arrow board concept in these two ENTERPRISE member states (Minnesota and Iowa). In addition, an overview of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada real-time arrow board reporting system deployment is included as another perspective. Overall the data analysis for MnDOT and the information gathered from interviews from MnDOT and Iowa DOT indicate a benefit to the traveling public and Transportation Management Center (TMC) operators with additional information on the overall network with the location of lane closures provided by arrow board reporting systems.

Transportation agencies continue to deploy and operate emerging technologies and ITS assets in both urban and rural areas. These assets serve key roles in operations of the transportation system. Maintaining the ability of these ITS assets to continue to be of value in the future is referred to as “future proofing the asset.” The focus of this project was on researching best practices and overall approaches towards future proofing ITS assets. As part of this research, seven categories of threats have been identified that present possible risks to the future of ITS assets, including: natural, human interactions, functional performance, extended use, financial, license/policy/regulatory, and security threats. The research also identified multiple approaches for mitigating the future proofing risks to ITS assets. A business model suggesting roles for seven existing DOT activities was drafted and an overall four-step approach to mitigating risks to ITS assets was developed. State and local DOTs can implement this research by reviewing the recommended actions and considering which are appropriate for their organization to mitigate risks to the future use of ITS assets. Lastly, the project recommends future research activities to further assist agencies with streamlining activities for future proofing ITS assets.

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.

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.