Transportation System Management and Operations in the U.S.

Introduction

Data and analyses confirm that the U.S. transportation system has reached saturation levels. Traffic is becoming ever more congested, and the growth of traffic is outpacing the capacity of authorities to expand the transportation network. There is a need for a balanced approach to this challenge. It is still possible to expand highways and transit capacity, but it also requires cultivating a new attitude toward road usage — one of efficiency and focus. The situation calls for a renewed approach that incorporates strong engineering practices alongside new technology, supported by a customer-focused strategy that ensures greater performance under both current and emerging circumstances (Paniati, 2004).

Traffic congestion is costing the United States both lives and resources. Data indicates that tens of thousands of people are losing not only the capacity to cope with economic challenges but also their lives. Road accidents are claiming lives and invaluable human productivity as a direct result of road congestion. Statistical data points to a dire situation in which population growth is rapidly outpacing the rate at which surface transport infrastructure can be expanded to meet public needs. There is no single solution that addresses all the problems afflicting the system, and no proposed solution is free from its own complications, such as environmental impacts. Staying at home is an unrealistic option that would benefit neither the general economy nor individual road users. A balanced strategy is needed — one that creates space for expanding road infrastructure while simultaneously improving management (Paniati, 2004; Chalotra, 2014).

High-growth areas are the most practical locations in which transportation systems can be expanded. Management operations must be integrated into transportation delivery policies across the United States. This does not refer to the old operational systems of previous decades, but rather a more assertive and innovative stance toward operational strategies. While this approach will not eliminate accidents or guarantee a problem-free transportation system, it will add value to public resources and improve quality of life to a meaningful extent. The aim of any intervention is to make the system more reliable and to provide travelers with updated information on time, route, and mode of travel (Paniati, 2004).

Traveler Information Systems

The transportation sector is a central driver of national economic well-being. Effective management of transport systems ensures that goods reach the right people within acceptable timeframes, thereby delivering customer satisfaction. Additional benefits of an efficient transport system include broader market coverage, a reduced gap between producers and consumers, increased product acceptance, and enhanced global reach. Transport systems are widely regarded as key determinants of economic efficiency and effectiveness (Paniati, 2004; Giuliano & Narayan, 2003).

Dynamic message signs are widespread across American highway systems. However, it is often observed that carefully designed transportation systems are not meeting their objectives. Many signs are presented to the public with ominous warnings about possible congestion ahead, rather than actionable information. The situation must be viewed from a balanced perspective. Some jurisdictions are doing an excellent job of providing useful real-time information to travelers. States such as Georgia, for example, provide up-to-date traffic conditions and projected travel times, accounting for incidents and accidents. In cases where alternative freeway routes exist — such as Interstate 285, accessible via either Interstate 85 or Interstate 75 — travel times are provided along each route so drivers can choose the most convenient option. Several other states, including Wisconsin, have similarly provided alternative routes and updated travel-time information.

The number of areas offering real-time travel information is growing. San Francisco, for instance, developed the 511 travel information system, which uses telephone communication to provide travel times for user-requested routes and makes this information available on its website. Dynamic message signs can also be instrumental in delivering route-specific travel times. Information about road incidents can be broadcast in real time. Dark dynamic signs that have fallen out of use and no longer display travel time information should be decommissioned or restored. Travelers should always have access to current road information — whether through a 511 telephone service or online — before and during their journeys (Paniati, 2004).

Traffic Signal Timing

Research data indicates that of approximately 30,000 traffic signals in the United States, more than three-quarters could be improved by adjusting their timing or replacing outdated equipment. According to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, poor signal timing costs the public 296 million hours of travel time annually (Chin, Franzese, Greene, Hwang, & Gibson, 2004). This represents a massive waste of economic productivity and missed opportunity. Traffic signal retiming has been found to be highly cost-effective, with the potential to generate a benefit-to-cost ratio of 40 to 1.

In the Oakland region, for example, the Road Commission of Oakland County was tasked with developing, implementing, and coordinating over 900 traffic signals by the end of 2005, with a plan to recondition all of them within that timeframe. The commission was also engaged in developing a policy to establish regular signal timing updates for drivers. An interactive approach was to be used to develop these solutions. Well-timed traffic signals are a hallmark of an efficiently managed transportation system. It is unacceptable for a traffic signal system to go without updates for five years — the recommended update cycle is every two years, and even that interval represents a compromise for many agencies (Paniati, 2004).

Conclusion

Cooperation at all levels of governance will help develop and grow a culture that identifies with systems management and operations. It will not be an overnight or easy achievement, but it is critical, given the imperative to deliver reliable, safe, and secure transportation systems in the 21st century. The question is not whether such a transformation will occur, but when. Progress can be accelerated by taking a more proactive stance in promoting awareness of the systems management approach and its benefits. The advantages of applying systems management and operations principles — through traffic engineering, traveler information tools, and transportation management strategies — must be clearly communicated to decision-makers and the public alike to ensure widespread adoption.