Texas and Oklahoma transportation agencies are announcing a new initiative to enhance public safety, promote interstate coordination and efficient travel, and streamline planning processes. The effort builds on a nationwide push to improve transportation outcomes between states, regional agencies and local governments.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) have recently signed a bi-state data sharing agreement to encourage planning and coordination.
Through the agreement, both agencies will share real-time, system-to-system transportation data along critical corridors between each state. Types of key data points shared between each system will include:
- Traffic camera status and imagery.
- Incident data such as crashes, stalled vehicles and roadway hazards.
- Dynamic message sign status and messaging.
- Traffic flow data including speeds, volumes and lane-level conditions.
- Lane closures and work zone information.
- Travel time data.
- Environmental sensor data.
Full-scale deployment of the collaborative framework lays out the foundation for overhauling how Texas manages its transportation network. The system utilizes a center-to-center (C2C) data connection covering both traffic management systems, enabling each agency to integrate and visualize shared information in real-time.
The immediate delivery of critical information empowers TxDOT to accelerate response times to incidents along shared corridors, improving state and municipal emergency response rates. Better data access provides the support needed to save lives and ensure consistent, efficient travel experiences, traffic flow and condition updates.
The data sharing framework explores the potential for future system enhancements. In addition to current capabilities, TxDOT may integrate new data options and services such as truck parking availability, freight corridor restrictions and routing data, special event traffic coordination, and emergency and evacuation route data.
The agreement follows in the footsteps of other successful variations of the same concept. Real-time data sharing for critical transportation data has already seen significant success in other regions across the nation, each serving as a model for how these systems should operate and what their benefits are. The Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination Program (MATOC) stands as one of the most prominent examples of how these systems function and their potential to evolve and coordinate new capabilities as it matures and develops.
MATOC – composed of the Maryland DOT, Virginia DOT, D.C. DOT and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – relies on the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) to support cross-regional coordination. RITIS was originally created to allow each MATOC partner to collaborate in real-time and ensure efficient response to incidents.
What originally began as a system for basic incident coordination evolved to encompass far more nuanced and widespread impacts resulting from these occurrences. As of today, RITIS has spread to every state with more than 8,000 users trading billions of transportation-centric data points each day. The MATOC program as a whole has had significant success in optimizing transportation operations, providing timely information and improved technologies to keep travel along the nation’s roadways safe.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have their own matured version of this data sharing arrangement called TRANSCOM. Created in 1986, TRANSCOM connects 16 transportation and public safety agencies along the East Coast under a singular coordinated coalition designed to enhance regional traffic and transportation management systems.
The emphasis on inter-agency communication empowers participating entities to exchange real-time traffic data and better respond to planned and unplanned events. The TRANSCOM Data Feed consolidates real-time information provided by its member agencies and makes it freely available to the general public, commercial vendors, transportation agencies, researchers and media.
One of the largest examples of this coordinated effort to share information comes from the Eastern Transportation Coalition. Comprised of 20 states and D.C., it evolved from an informal group of professionals interested in implementing better methods for addressing incidents that affect interstate travel. Since its formation 25 years ago, it has matured into a sweeping organization covering the East Coast, working off the data provided by more than 200 public agencies to optimize transportation systems management, operations, freight movement and innovation.
Texas’ agreement with Oklahoma is still nascent in comparison to these more established systems. However, with proven models with decades of real-world use cases and results to speak for themselves, TxDOT will be able to further hone and refine its data-sharing vision into an idealized, accessible hub of information based on collaboration and coordination.
The arrangement isn’t the only fresh addition to the expanding national network of coordinated transportation network management systems. The Interstate-80: Expanded Coalition/ Next Gen Multi State Operation & Data Sharing Project stands as one of the more ambitious efforts to unify traffic and transportation management in the nation. Stretching from California to New York, the I-80 program covers 2,900 miles with six goals in mind:
- Improving situational awareness.
- Enhancing freight movement.
- Creating an interoperable and connected infrastructure.
- Maintaining momentum and collaboration.
- Expanding to city levels.
- Establishing data standards.
As a peer movement, Texas has the opportunity to innovate its own designs, leveraging the successes of similar programs and further elevate its own operations and efficacy.
Photo by Pixabay
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