Contents

PART II (ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS)

Chapter 5 (Office of Operations)

1. What is the mission of the Office of Operations? To provide national leadership for the management and operation of the surface transportation system, including the deployment of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and the development of an intermodal approach to freight operations.
   
   
2. What are the functions of the Office of Operations?
   
   
1. Advocacy. Serves as FHWA's advocate and national leader for the management and operations of the transportation system; the deployment of ITS to highway transportation;
   and an intermodal approach to freight operations, including the flow of goods within the U.S., along multi-state trade and transportation corridors, and across international borders.
   
   
2. Strategic Planning and Quality. Develops and implements policy and program initiatives for transportation operations and management, including both supply and demand management strategies, ITS, and freight operations and border crossings to advance DOT and FHWA Strategic Goals, Objectives, and Corporate Management Strategies. Initiates business plans, quality self-assessments, program evaluations, and system and process improvements to continually improve the quality of the office's programs, products, and services. Coordinates with the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) on ITS initiatives.
   
   
3. Legislation, Regulations, Policy, and Guidance. Develops legislative recommendations and administers statutory provisions related to transportation operations and management, ITS, and freight operations, including enforcement of truck size and weight. Develops regulations, policies, and guidance for these laws. Carries out these functions in cooperation with other DOT and Federal agencies, as well as FHWA Headquarters and field offices.
   
   
4. Technology Delivery. Leads the development of agencywide plans for transportation operations and management, including ITS, and freight. Ensures that technology investments in these areas are linked to the DOT and Agency strategic and performance plans. In partnership with the resource centers, designs and implements programs which deploy new technologies and training to continuously advance the "state-of-the-best-practice" industrywide, thereby improving the performance of the surface transportation system.
   
   
5. Customer Outreach and Consultation. Seeks the views of the FHWA's field offices and public and private-sector customers on transportation management and operations, ITS, and freight operations issues and uses that information in carrying out office functions.
   
   
6. Monitoring and Evaluation. Conducts evaluations to assess policy and program effectiveness. Uses results to improve program performance and guide future program development. In partnership with the resource centers, designs and implements feedback systems to identify and evaluate new technologies and trends for future Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) plans and programs.
   
   
7. Strategic and Performance Planning. In coordination with the Office of Corporate Management, facilitates the advancement of the DOT and FHWA Strategic Plans, the annual Performance Plan, and the Administrator's Accountability Contract with the Secretary. Tracks the progress of the Operations offices against these plans/agreements.
   
   
8. Intermodal Freight. Provides national leadership and develops strategy in partnership with other modes for enhancing the national and international movement of goods, and enhances the competitive position of the U.S. goods movement industry.
   
   
9. International Border Clearance Planning and Deployment Committee (IBCPDC). Represents the DOT on the U.S. Department of Treasury IBCPDC and provides cross-departmental coordination.
   
   
10. Emergency Preparedness.In support of our national security, develops plans and programs to ensure that the Agency is prepared to respond appropriately to emergency situations.
    
    
11. Infrastructure Protection. Reports through the Administrator to the OST Office of Intelligence and Security (S-60) as the FHWA point of contact for the assurance of critical infrastructure protection as required by Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63.
    
    
12. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Updates and maintains the MUTCD and supporting documentation. In partnership with the field offices, promotes and assures correct application.
    
    
13. ITS Architecture and Standards. Facilitates the development and use of regional ITS Architecture and ITS standards. In partnership with the field offices, promotes and assures correct application.
    
    
14. Congestion Management. Serves as FHWA's lead for congestion management, including serving as the co-lead for Congestion Management Systems with the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty.
    
    
15. Program Support.Provides personnel, budget, accounting, and information technology support to the Operations offices. Coordinates with the Office of Administration.
    
    
3. The Associate Administrator for Operations provides executive direction over the activities of the following organizational elements:

• Office of Freight Management and Operations

• Office of Transportation Management

• Office of Transportation Operations

1. What is the mission of the Office of Freight Management and Operations? To provide programs, policies, research, and technology transfer that promote efficient and seamless freight flow on the highway system and its intermodal connectors, within the U.S. and across its borders.
   
   
2. What are the functions of the Office of Freight Management and Operations?
1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA advocate and national leader for issues relating to the highway freight industry. Represents FHWA in several national and international freight industry forums, and works with other Federal agencies involved with trade policy. Facilitates and supports the development of coalitions among shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, and public agencies to improve freight operations. Supports the existing National Freight Partnership and encourages the development of multi-state relationships and projects aimed at expediting freight flow in the U.S. Facilitates the identification and resolution of legal, institutional, and standards issues that impede the efficient movement of goods.
   
   
2. Strategic Planning, Legislation, Policy, and Guidance. Takes a leadership role in developing the intermodal goods movement vision, mission, strategies, and tactics for the FHWA, and represents the organization in developing the same for DOT. Develops policies and programs that promote efficient and seamless freight flow on the highway system and its intermodal connectors within the U.S. and across its borders. Where appropriate, develops legislative recommendations and interprets statutory provisions impacting the efficiency and productivity of freight operation. In particular, focuses on legislation, regulation, and development of programs that: ensure compliance with truck size and weight requirements, promote efficient movement across international borders, and encourage harmonization of standards and regulations affecting the freight industry.
   
   
3. Program Management. In collaboration with industry partners, FHWA field resources and state and local agencies, facilitates the development of partnerships, networks, associations, and agreements to develop efficient freight operations on high speed, multi-state trade / transportation corridors, and at key intermodal connectors. Works with the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty in administering the National Corridor Planning and Development Program and the Coordinated Border Infrastructure and Safety Program. Serves as the lead office within FHWA to provide support and management for the International Border Clearance Planning and Deployment Committee initiatives. Leads integrated product teams for cross-cutting freight programs and technology implementation.
   
   
4. Information and Analysis. Develops metrics for freight productivity and engages in a program of data collection and analysis to assess goods movement trends and needs, gauge productivity of key corridors and intermodal connectors, and assess highway program contribution to freight productivity. In partnership with other U.S. DOT partners, industry, and public agencies, uses the information to identify and evaluate effectiveness of policies, programs, and technology applications. Conducts special studies, competitive analyses, benchmarking studies and economic analyses necessary to develop policy strategy and legislative programs necessary to continually improve freight productivity.
   
   
5. Monitoring and Evaluation.Conducts evaluations to periodically assess program effectiveness. Uses results to improve program performance and guide future program development. Initiates system and process improvements to continually improve the quality of the Office of Freight Management and Operations.
   
   
6. Research, Demonstration, and Technology Testing. In collaboration with the Office of Research, Development, and Technology, industry and public sector stakeholders, defines a freight research agenda. Working with partners within FHWA, DOT, industry, and state and local governments, carries out demonstrations and evaluations of innovative practices, new technology applications and infrastructure designed to expedite the flow of goods movement, including hazardous cargo. In partnership with the resource centers and the Office of Professional Development, develops training material to expand the understanding of the logistics discipline by FHWA staff and its traditional partners.
   
   
7. Professional Development. Works with the Office of Professional Development, the resource centers, and the university community to coordinate the resources and efforts necessary to support the development and execution of new training, and to advance the development of transportation operations curricula in universities. Similarly works with RD&T to coordinate resources and efforts necessary to package marketing materials, mobile demonstrations, exhibits, and the like. Coordinating with other FHWA offices, supports participation of the Office of Operations in external communications, Internet communications, publications, correspondence, and media responses.
   
   
8. Customer Outreach and Consultation. Seeks the views of key DOT partners and external stakeholders on ways to improve freight productivity, and on issues that affect it. Provides information to these partners and stakeholders on current and emerging technologies, practices, and programs designed to improve efficiency.
   
   
9. Truck Size and Weight Enforcement. Provides guidance and support to FHWA field offices regarding the annual state certification of compliance with truck size and weight regulations, recommends penalties as appropriate, and reports annually on overall compliance. Develops training and guidance as needed to support FHWA field staff and state and local governments in enforcing these requirements. Conducts studies and regulatory changes as required for more effective, efficient, and equitable enforcement of these provisions.

1. What is the mission of the Office of Transportation Management? To provide products, services, technical support, and assistance to the FHWA field organizations for the planning, development, and deployment of integrated transportation management and information systems. To focus on area-wide policies, programs, and systems that are multi-modal or multi-agency in their implementation.

2. What are the functions of the Office of Transportation Management?
   

1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA advocate and a national leader for advancing the state of the art and practice in the operations of metropolitan, rural, and statewide surface transportation systems to enhance mobility, efficiency, productivity, and safety. Represents FHWA in various national and international forums dealing with these issues. Facilitates and supports the Incident Management Coalition and the ITS National Association Working Group. Advocates and supports the FHWA field structure in developing strong relationships with city and county level surface transportation operators.

2. Strategic Planning and Quality. Takes a leadership role in defining and developing the vision, mission, performance targets, strategies, and tactics for the Office of Operations. Develops and executes national policies and program initiatives designed to enhance travel management for the purpose of achieving the mobility efficiency, productivity, and national security goals established in the FHWA and DOT Strategic Plans.

3. Legislation, Regulations, Policy, and Guidance. Develops legislative initiatives, recommendations, statutory interpretations, and guidance related to integrated travel management, including ITS architecture and standards consistency, and Congestion Management Systems (co-responsibility with the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty).

4. Program Management. Co-leads the administration of the Congestion Management Systems Program and requirements with the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty. Administers various demonstration programs dealing with supply and demand management, including value pricing, and ITS deployment.

5. Technology Delivery. Develops the technology applications, products, practices, standards, and tools to improve routine and emergency travel management, including urban and rural traffic management systems, highway capacity analysis, traffic flow, access management, traveler information systems, crash notification systems, and travel demand management techniques (including value pricing). In partnership with the Resource Center, designs and implements programs that deploy market-ready technologies, tools, procedures, and planning to continuously improve the state-of-the-practice, as well as associated training. Also, in partnership with the Office of Infrastructure's Office of Asset Management, develops the concepts, principles, and tools necessary to include consideration of operational requirements in State and local comprehensive Asset Management decision-making frameworks.

6. Advanced Product, Development Testing and Demonstration. In collaboration with the ITS Joint Program Office, RD&T, as well as external stakeholders, defines the Operations research agenda within FHWA and provides leadership in coordinating national research in this area. Supports the development, demonstration, field operational testing and evaluation of practices, policies, technology systems, standards, and architecture designed to enhance the efficient operation of the surface transportation system. Participates in cross-cutting integrated product teams and takes a lead where the primary mission is enhanced systems management. Supports the development, application, and dissemination of simulation models designed to enhance operating decisions. Participates in cross-cutting integrated product teams and takes the lead where the primary mission is operations improvement.

7. Customer Outreach and Consultation. Seeks the views of DOT field offices, and public and private-sector customers on the development and implementation of transportation management technologies and strategies and uses that information in carrying out office functions. Provides leadership on value pricing, pricing outreach, project development and project awards. Disseminates information on value pricing projects and provides technical assistance to State and local agencies interested in value pricing. In partnership with the Resource Center, provides information to its customers on the current and emerging technologies and strategies to improve transportation management.

8. Professional Development. Works with the Office of Professional and Corporate Development, the Resource Center, and the university community to coordinate the resources and efforts necessary to support the development and execution of new training, and to advance the development of transportation operations curricula in universities. Similarly works with RD&T to coordinate resources and efforts necessary to package marketing materials, mobile demonstrations, exhibits, and the like. Coordinating with other FHWA offices, supports participation of the Office of Operations in external communications, Internet communications, publications, correspondence, and media responses.

9. Information and Analysis. Develops measures and indices of traffic congestion and system efficiency. Collects appropriate data and develops models, and simulation tools to monitor system efficiency, identify problems and estimate the value of new technologies, strategies, and programs in achieving Agency goals. Conducts special studies as required.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation. Conducts evaluations to assess policy and program effectiveness. Uses results to improve program performance and guide future program development. Initiates system and process improvements to continually improve the quality of the Office of Transportation Management’s programs, products, and services.

11. ITS Deployment. Provides support to the field structure for ITS deployment.

1. What is the mission of the Office of Transportation Operations? To provide products, services, technical support, and assistance to the FHWA field organization for the development, design, and implementation of transportation operations technologies and practices. To focus on traffic operations relating to work zone mobility, security, traffic incident management, road weather management, and traffic control devices.
   
   
2. What are the functions of the Office of Transportation Operations?
   
1. Advocacy. Serves as the FHWA advocate and a national leader for advancing the state of the art and practice in traffic operations. Represents FHWA on a variety of national and international technical forums dealing with traffic control, weather response, Security, and traffic incident management. Coordinates with other departments dealing with weather and represents the Agency's interests with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services. Facilitates and supports the Incident Management Coalition and the National Associations Working Group. Advocates and supports the FHWA field structure in developing strong relationships with city and county level surface transportation operators.
   
   
2. Strategic Planning. Where appropriate, develops and executes national policies and program initiatives in support of the DOT and FHWA Strategic Plans, to facilitate the safe and efficient operation of the surface transportation system.
   
   
3. Legislation, Regulations, Policy, and Guidance. Develops legislative recommendations and interprets statutory provisions related to transportation operations. Develops and issues regulations, polices and guidance for transportation operations, including the MUTCD.
   
   
4. Technology Delivery. Develops and demonstrates products, tools, and practices to improve traffic operations relating to work zone mobility in coordination with the Office of Safety, security and traffic incident management, road weather management, and traffic control devices. Leads the FHWA Work Zone Integrated Product Team and has primary responsibility for improving work zone mobility. Working with the Office of Infrastructure, develops strategies and techniques for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance management in the area of weather response practices. In partnership with the resource centers, develops training material to advance the state of the practice in operations and system maintenance. Working with both the resource centers and industry, designs and implements programs to advance the adoption of market-ready technologies.
   
   
5. Advanced Product Development, Testing and Demonstration: In collaboration with the Office of Transportation Management, and RD&T, defines the transportation operations research agenda. Supports the development, demonstration, field operational testing, and evaluation of advanced technologies, standards, and practices designed to improve the mobility of people and goods, and/or enhance the efficiency of the surface transportation system. Supports the development, application and dissemination of simulation models designed to enhance operating decisions. Participates in cross cutting integrated product teams and takes a lead where the primary mission is operations improvement.
   
   
6. Customer Outreach and Consultation. Seeks the views of DOT's field offices, and public and private-sector customers on the development and implementation of transportation operations technologies and strategies and uses that information in carrying out office functions. Provides information to its customers on the current and emerging technologies and strategies to improve transportation operations.
   
   
7. Professional Development. Works with the Office of Professional Development, the resource centers, and the university community to coordinate the resources and efforts necessary to support the development and execution of new training, and to advance the development of transportation operations curricula in universities. Similarly works with RD&T to coordinate resources and efforts necessary to package marketing materials, mobile demonstrations, exhibits, and the like. Coordinating with other FHWA offices, supports participation of the Office of Operations in external communications, Internet communications, publications, correspondence, and media responses.
   
   
8. Information and Analysis. Develops appropriate data, modeling and simulation tools to carry out analyses necessary to support a transportation operations mission, science, and practice. In partnership with other FHWA offices, public agencies, and the private sector, uses the information developed to identify and evaluate new technologies, standards, practices, regulations, and programs.
   
   
9. Monitoring and Evaluation. Conducts evaluations to assess policy and program effectiveness. Uses results to improve program performance and guide future program development. Initiates system and process improvements to continually improve the quality of the Office of Transportation Operations programs, products, and services.
   
   
10. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Updates and maintains the MUTCD and supporting documentation. In partnership with the field offices, promotes and assures correct application.
    
    
11. Emergency Preparedness. Coordinates the development of FHWA emergency preparedness plans, including the development and implementation of a continuity of operations plan for Headquarters. Maintains reliable emergency communications system for the agency and provides emergency preparedness training. Supports the Research and Special Program Administration's Office of Emergency Transportation with monitoring and reporting of crisis situations.

Office of Operations

Figure 5-1