Metro Detroit Regional Transportation Operations – January 2019

MEETING MINUTES

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONSCOORDINATING COMMITTEE January 11, 2019

Committee Update

Aaron Raymond explained that the Regional Operations Coordinating Committee of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Michigan has been focused on traffic incident management, but it has a broader responsibility to promote better arterial street operations, improve traffic signal timing, and provide traveler information. The committee will try to identify champions in the areas of arterial operations and information dissemination to achieve broader goals.

Role of Public Works

Charles Hart, President of the Michigan Chapter of the American Public Works Association, outlined the role of public works in traffic incident and emergency management.  Flooding in Berkeley closed many roads during a recent storm event.  Emergency management can require waste hauling, and public works officials have contracts in place to handle waste hauling.  Public works services can be the first to arrive and the last to leave a site.  Forestry and snow removal services can be important in responding to weather events.  Interagency agreements and communication agreements can get heavy equipment on site quickly.  Public Works services can also provide the portable traffic control devices that may be needed for and incident or an emergency.

Regional Concept of Transportation Operations

Chris Williams from SEMCOG has outlined the process to update the Regional Concept of Transportation Operations.  In 2007 SEMCOG, in collaboration and coordination with transportation service providers, public safety agencies and stakeholders in southeast Michigan developed a regional concept for transportation operations (RCTO).  The effort set a vision and mission for guiding coordination and collaboration among transportation agencies, emergency services, and the media to improve regional operations.  The concept of operations was updated in 2018 to continue initiatives and efforts outlined in the previous RCTO and identify any shifted regional priorities or needs. 

Traffic Planning for Detroit Auto Show

Carl Berry reported on the planning for the Detroit Auto Show.  This is press day.  Atwater will be used for bus service.  The planning is intended to assure that attendees enter and exit the event safely and efficiently.  Security for these events is very important.  Planning for the Charity Preview at the Auto Show assumes that it is its own separate event because the requirements are different than those for the week-long event that follows. Street closures for this event begin in the area at 4 pm on Monday.  The event will draw 700 buses, and 1500 limousines dropping off at Cobo Hall..  The people mover is used by 40,000 people per day. The Auto Show will  move to June in 2020.  It will occur between the Grand Prix event and the fireworks

 FirstNet Presentation on Public Safety Broadband Network

Doug Clark from AVP FirstNet explained that FirstNet is the nationwide public safety broadband network that provides services and solutions that are dedicated to First Responders and those who support them.  The community to be served primarily includes fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical service, and public safety answering points.  It also serves healthcare, utilities, transportation, and critical infrastructure.  FirstNet subscribers receive access to resources first, ahead of others, without throttling of text or data.  In times of crisis, first responders within the network get first access to necessary resources through the automatic preemption capabilities of the network.  The incident management portal is accessed through  the Local Control home page, the portal allows local agency personnel to uplift and First Priority user to the highest priority on the network.

Fire Service Report

The First Net cell service for first responders is now available from both AT&T and Verizon.  This system gives priority to calls to and from first responders.  Developing a communication system is important for first responders. 

Wayne County Public Health is sponsoring training on the basics of working at a point of dispensing site during a local public health emergency.  The training covers dispensing site functions and roles; greeting and triage; screening and dispensing; and responder wellness.  February 2 training will be conducted at the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education, Wayne County Community College District – Downriver, 21000 Northline Road, Taylor, Michigan.

Statewide Traffic Incident Management Report

Dawn Miller reported that a statewide action plan for traffic incident management has been developed.  The goal is to have 50% of responders trained with the TIM training.  Training materials will be upgraded. 

The goals of the action plan are:

Increase compliance with high-visibility apparel requirements through educaon for all ‘workers’ at a traffic incident from  73.8% to 90% by December 31, 2022. 

Through a targeted public educaon campaign, increase public awareness of the Steer It, Clear – It Law from 47% to 80% and the Move Over Law from 88% to 95% by December 31, 2022

Continue MITIME Training to train 50% (16,250) of the first responder community by  December 31, 2022. 

Public education is needed on the Move Over Law.  It should be clear that you should slow down if you cannot move over.  Roadway clearance times are an important measure of incident management effectiveness, and MDOT is looking for ways to automate the collection of data on this metric.  Sarah Gill has been designated as the coordinator for traffic incident management training in southern Michigan   Some TIM training will be available online.

Next Meeting The next meeting for the Southeast Michigan Regional Transportations Operations Coordinating Committee is will be April 12, 2019 at the Southeast Michigan Transportation Operations Center.