ODOT faces some key challenges. One challenge is the lack of resources available to improve its transportation planning, in terms of the required number of staff and relevant data. It is assumed that information required by decision-makers can be extracted readily from available data. In reality, this seldom is the case. Often, providing decision-makers with relevant data that support agencies' goals and objectives requires processing, manipulation, and analysis. Dwindling revenues also pose challenges to current obligations to provide and develop and report on new information. In addition, ODOT faces the following resource-related challenges:
Freight data are often proprietary and difficult to obtain. ODOT believes the agency's analysis and modeling capacity will improve if reliable data on regional truck movements are obtained/made available. Several datasets couple improve the agency's planning capabilities. For example, link speeds, by time of day, could help model calibration (possible sources are TomTom, INRIX, and FHWA's NPMRDS dataset), national county-to-county trip tables could help the agency understand long-distance travel, both in and outside or Oregon (possible data sources include AirSage and INRIX, which collect cellphone location data).
ODOT is currently exploring options to fund additional data collection efforts and development of new methods and tools for analysis. Recent progress in this initiative includes moving toward a comprehensive dataset that includes all streets in the state to meet network data needs, making progress on bicycle and pedestrian count standardization and developing a database on bike network attributes.
ODOT and its modeling partners have multiple analysis tools, but the needs of decision-makers are continuously evolving. Analysts must anticipate future questions and develop tools to address such questions. The Oregon Modeling Steering Committee (OMSC) conducts periodic inquiries with decision-makers, inquiring about emerging issues. The last inquiry was conducted in 2012, and several areas of interest emerged. Participants provided valuable feedback related to several topic areas, including, but not limited to: communication of technical information, data, performance measures, analytical techniques, training and education, research, freight modeling and data, public health, MAP-21, and travel demand model improvements.
As a direct result of these meetings, the OMSC established two new ad hoc subcommittees to explore two topic areas: freight and public health. The committees will evaluate how to integrate features into current tools and methods to address needs related to these two areas of information.
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