Detroit Regional Transportation Operations – July 2016
MEETING MINUTES
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
COORDINATING COMMITTEE
Date: July 15, 2016
Time: 9:00 AM
Meeting Held: Southeast Michigan Transportation Operations Center (SEMTOC), Detroit, Michigan
Freeway Operations Report
Sarah Gill and Walter Ison reported on freeway operations activities. Sarah mentioned several staffing changes at SEMTOC and STOC. The Freeway Courtesy Patrol contract has been awarded to ERR.
Walter mentioned that MDOT, SEMCOG, Macomb County Department of Roads, City of Ann Arbor and Wayne State University have been meeting to discuss uses and issues regarding the HERE (probe) data. This data is being used to determine the benefits of the integrated corridor management corridor in Macomb, traffic incident management (MDOT) and corridor/area-wide performance (MDOT, SEMCOG and WSU). Some of the presentations from this group will be provided at future Coordinating Committee meetings.
Review of TIM Self-Assessment Comments and Recommended Blueprint for Action
Sarah Gill reported that the Planning Subcommittee has met to begin filling out the 2015 TIM Self Assessment. Both she and Walter are meeting regularly to continue filling out the assessment. The assessment needs to be submitted to FHWA sometime in August.
Tom Bruff reported that SEMCOG has drafted a plan for updating the regional concept for transportation operations (RCTO). The Transportation Operations Coordinating Committee will provide oversight of this update. Several stakeholder outreach meetings are being proposed in order to verify the RCTO vision/mission and goals, as well as identify new objectives. Other resources that will aid in this effort are the TIM self assessment (areas where we scored low) and the capability maturity model assessments (MDOT Lansing Operations and MDOT SEMTOC). Once the update plan is finalized it will be presented to the Coordinating Committee (possibly in October)
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Master Plan and Funding
Tiffany Gunter, Deputy CEO, COO, RTA provided a overview of the RTA’s charge, present activities and regional master transit plan. Copies of the Executive Summary of the master plan were p at the meeting. Additional copies along with other materials can be found on the RTA’s website, http://www.rtamichigan.org/.
Arterial Traffic Management Report
Mia Silver reported that the arterial traffic management group had recently met for the second time. The meetings are quarterly (the next meeting will be in September/October). The group has had a good start sharing information amongst each other as well as simply networking with one another.
Statewide Traffic Incident Management Report
Dawn Miller from MDOT reported that statewide traffic incident management. Training for Traffic Incident Management continues. In Michigan 4,335 trainers have been trained in 210 sessions. The goal is to have 6,500 trained by the end of 2016.Dawn also reported that the TIM Action Team has posted 2015 accomplishments on the website and the TIM Action Plan for the 2017-2018 is being updated.On Monday (July 18) MSP/OHSP will be holding a press conference to educate the public on the Move Over Michigan law. The press conference is taking place at MSP Metro North offices at 10am.Dawn also mentioned that HB 5247 passed (effective September 7, 2016) allowing “Flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber or green lights, placed in a position as to be visible throughout an arc of 360 degrees, shall be used by a state, county, or municipal vehicle engaged in the removal of ice, snow, or other material from the highway and in other operations designed to control ice and snow, or engaged in other non-winter operations. This subdivision does not prohibit the use of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating green light by a fire service.”Dawn also discussed a kickoff meeting held for the research project: “Further Assessment of Safe, Quick Clearance Strategies- Phase II”. Gannett-Fleming will be conducting the project. The project will develop a strategic plan for TIM and conduct regional workshops in late summer/early fall. The workshops are for local assessment to gather information on local TIM needs and successes, and to determine next steps in TIM.
Paula Wiese noted that MDOT has been collecting first responder contact information for the purpose of developing a listserv for communicating education and training opportunities.The next meeting of the TIM Action will be held on August 3 in Lansing.
Next Meeting
The next meeting for the Southeast Michigan Regional Transportations Operations Coordinating Committee is will be October 21, 2016 at the Southeast Michigan Transportation Operations Center. These Minutes are to be a summary of those items discussed. Any corrections and/or comments should be noted to the writer as soon as possible.
Respectfully submitted,
TomBruff
Tom Bruff, Manager
SEMCOG Plan and Policy Development
pc: All present