MINUTES OF MEETING (FINAL) PROJECT: PURPOSE OF MEETING: LOCATION: PENNDOT Agreement E00229 Open-end Agreement for ITS, Traffic and Highway Safety Engineering Services Work Order 018- District 2-0 Regional Operations Plan (ROP) District 2-0 Regional Operations Plan Task Force Meeting: Traveler Information Clearfield County Emergency Management Office Clearfield, PA DATE OF MEETING: June 12 th, 2007 8:30 AM 10:00 AM ATTENDEES: PennDOT Engineering District 2-0 (D-2) Kevin Kline (814-765-0410 / kekline@state.pa.us) Dennis Prestash (814-765-0402 / dprestash@state.pa.us) Michael Preston (814-571-2258 / mipreston@state.pa.us) Jeffrey Walker (814-375-4378 / jewalker@state.pa.us) Mark A. Schultz (814-768-0728 / markschult@state.pa.us) Jim Roman (814-765-0501 / jaroman@state.pa.us) Mike Baglio (814-765-0498 / mbaglio@state.pa.us) Rhonda Stankavich (814-205-1190 / rstankavic@state.pa.us) PennDOT Engineering District 10-0 (D10) Dave Tomaswick (724-357-2844 / dtomaswick@state.pa.us) PennDOT BHSTE Brenda Murphy (412-429-6038 / bremurphy@state.pa.us) Clearfield County Emergency Management Agency Jerry Pollock (814-765-5357 / pollock@clearfield911.com) Pennsylvania State University Clifford Lutz (814-863-1444 / cel3@psu.edu) Centre County MPO Tom Zilla (814-231-3050 / tzilla@crcog.net) Area Transportation Authority (ATA) Mike Trunzo (814-965-2111 / mtrunzo@atatrans.com) North Central RPO Jim Swanson (814-773-3162 / jswanson@ncentral.com) Page 1 of 6
Jacobs Edwards and Kelcey (JEK) Keith Mullins (215-355-3577 / kmullins@ekmail.com) Stan Niemczak (215-355-3577 / sniemczak@ekmail.com) Stephen Cunningham (215-355-3577 / scunningham@ekmail.com) Megan Gould (215-355-3577 / mgould@ekmail.com) The purpose of the Regional Operations Plan (ROP) Task Force Meeting: Traveler Information is to confirm the high level needs identified during Workshop #1 for Traveler Information. The needs were reviewed to help develop projects based on those recommended in the District 2-0 ITS Strategic Plan and from the information addressed by stakeholders at the Workshop Meeting. Overview/Operations Concepts and Projects The meeting opened with introductions and Keith Mullins (JEK) gave an overview of the ROPs purpose and how the Task Force Meetings will provide the opportunity to define projects for the District 2-0 Region. Bob Pento (BHSTE) had provided a handout on the 511 system and Traveler Information Position Paper from a statewide perspective. The handout for the 511 system implementation went over a statewide need for information or content on: Weather, Construction, Incidents/Road Closures, Tourism, Travel Service, and Intermodal. The 511 concept will initially use the telephone and internet to disseminate traveler information and then the second wave of implementation will involve kiosks and in-vehicle systems. There is a 511 Coalition that can provide the District the opportunity to stay informed on the progress of implementing 511 statewide. The coalition meets quarterly or as needed for strategic guidance on the project. Any interest in participating in the coalition can be sent via email to Bob Pento (rpento@state.pa.us) for updates on 511. The schedule for 511 currently is ongoing with Web 511 Turn-on in July 2008 and Voice Turn-On in April 2009. The Traveler Information Position Paper was handed out to give the Stakeholders the opportunity to learn the state s position on traveler information. The paper captured the importance of the 511 program and the Road Closure Reporting System (RCRS). District 2-0 Needs Discussion Keith began by addressing the District 2-0 Regional Operations Plan: High Level Needs for Traveler Information that was distributed to attendees. He explained that the high level needs were developed out of the Workshop Meeting in April and the District 2-0 ITS Strategic Plan that was completed in 2004. The needs were used to develop the recommended projects to be programmed in the ROP. A handout of the recommended projects was provided to the Stakeholders for review. As a group the focus was to update the project tables and identify additional projects for the region. Page 2 of 6
The needs specific to Traveler Information that are listed for the District 2-0 Region included: En-Route Traveler Information Provide emergency bridge postings/closures/detours to the public Deploy HAR and DMS at key locations Develop an Event Management Plan for Penn State University/State College Roadway Weather Conditions disseminated Pre-trip Traveler Information Improve coordination with the media 511 System Implementation o Phone o Web Tourist / Visitor Information related to transportation Transit Traveler Information Provide real-time arrival information via DMS and the web Improve Transit services through AVL, dynamic dispatching and computer-aided trip reservation system Improve travel time for transit journeys and coordinate transit operations to help increase ridership Implement a regional fare card Improve intermodal/multi-modal connections Once the needs were reviewed the floor was opened up to the Stakeholders for their thoughts on other needs. The group was in agreement with the needs listed as well as the adding that Road Closure information be posted so bus routes can have access to them and are aware of the roadway conditions. ATA expressed interest in roadway sensors on vehicles and is looking for the availability of grant money for this project. Currently, some ATA vehicles have CNG software but no way to transmit information back to the office. Jim Swanson (North Central) spoke about the wireless communications capability that they have at specific sites in the region. He shared with the group the possibility of ITS field devices being connected to the wireless sites. Currently ATA is using the wireless system. The following counties have wireless sites: Jefferson Elk Clearfield Cameron Bradford Potter The ability to connect ITS field devices to the wireless sites will be programmed in the ROP. There is an interest in PennDOT and the Transit Agencies sharing AVL information. This ability is something that Page 3 of 6
PennDOT and SEPTA in Philadelphia are currently investigating and can be identified as an institutional recommendation. District 2-0 Recommended Projects Discussion The discussion on Traveler Information was centered on potential project deployments that were documented on the tables distributed to each of the attendees. The projects were prepared based on the needs and recommended projects in the District 2-0 ITS Strategic Plan. Transit Operation projects were included as part of Traveler Information because improving the dissemination of transit traveler information can encourage an increase in ridership. An important need identified for the District 2-0 Region is the deployment of gates at the access ramps to the Interstate. This need can be addressed as part of Traveler Information and Incident and Emergency Management. When Interstate roadway conditions are poor, it is important that traffic be restricted from entering onto the Interstate until traffic operations improve. Large trucks that can be stopped prior to getting onto the interstate can help reduce traffic congestion and allow the roadway to be cleared first and then allow traffic back on the Interstate. The task force then engaged in a discussion about the project deployments listed in the table, recommendations included: 511 System It was decided that the District 2-0 Region would coordinate their efforts of implementing the 511 system with the statewide plans through coordination with BHSTE. Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) Deployment Deploy HAR to provide traveler information at strategic locations: o Bradford Bypass o Potters Mills o Reedsville Make portable HAR permanent in key locations: o PA 26 & Zion Rd. in Centre Co. o SR 220 in Centre Co. (Milesburg) o SR 22 in Mifflin Co. (Lewistown) o SR 22 in Juniata Co. (Mifflintown) Evaluate existing HAR for improve working condition Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) Deployment Deploy DMS at key locations: o Clearfield at Exit 111 o I-80 ITS Completion Locations includes ITS locations for CCTV, DMS and HAR along the entire I-80 corridor for District 2-0 Small DMS deployed at the approaches to I-80 o US 219 o US 255 o US 322 o US 220 Page 4 of 6
o US 22 o US 6 DMS located in State College for Detour Route and Parking Option o PA 26 in Centre County As directed by PennDOT Central Office, District 2-0 mapped out ITS Devices on I-80 that would close gaps throughout the region. The initiative is being completed statewide and identifies the high priority locations for deployment of proposed devices as well as the existing locations. The proposed locations will be programmed in the District 2-0 ROP. Roadway Weather Information Deployment of CASTNET program at key locations or kiosks o Roadside Centers o Truck Stops o Welcome Centers Investigate a contract with the National Weather Service Penn State University Traveler Information Investigate possibility of Penn State University partnering with the Centre County Visitors Center Develop an Event Management Plan for Penn State University / State College Develop a park and ride outside of downtown State College for visitors Transit Traveler Information Integrate CATA AVL system with the District 2-0 TMC AVL currently in-testing Improve Transit Services by deploying AVL Deploy a Computer-Aided Trip Reservation System, scheduling and dispatch (CARSD) o CATA o DuFAST Implement Advanced Fleet Maintenance Support Investigation of State College Multi-modal Facility ATA Transit Traveler Information CATA Transit Traveler Information Regional Fare Card for all District 2-0 Transit Agencies The list above reviews the projects that were discussed at the Task Force Meeting as being a priority for the region. Traveler Information for motorists to the region is important. The HAR messages that disseminate traveler information to motorists do not always provide clear messages. The radio message is static and often this discourages travelers from tuning in or listening. The ability of the private sector (i.e. Satellite Radio) to broadcast a more localized traffic report is needed. The possibility of getting a traffic report for the State College region on Sirius and/or XM satellite radio is to be investigated. There is also an interest in the pre-emption of the car radio station to the current traffic report at the on-set of an incident and/or congestion. On-Star and other in-vehicle technology that is available for disseminating traveler information should be researched. The completion of the new District 2-0 TMC is going to promote traveler information and the deployment of additional devices and improvements to existing devices will benefit from a central location to be controlled from. Page 5 of 6
As part of a Homeland Security initiative, Penn State University is working on a project that plans to deploy CCTV and DMS at heavily traveled visitor locations on campus, such as the Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium. The plan is to help direct visitors at these locations out of the State College area once the event is over. There is an interest to share these video images with PennDOT on roadways. Questions / Comments If additional information is needed or documents wanted about the ROP, the ROP website is www.paits.org/rop. The website includes updated information on meetings, ROP background and the process. Next Steps / Action Items Workshop #2 will gather all the stakeholders as a large group and bring together the entire list of projects developed from all three (5) Task Force Groups. The stakeholders will be given the opportunity to prioritize each project that is to be programmed in the ROP by voting. Projects will be prioritized and programmed in the ROP as short-term (immediately to 2 years) and long-term (2 to 4 years) for deployment. Workshop Meeting #2 has been set for June 20 th at 10:00 am at the North Central RPO Office in Ridgway, PA. JEK needs to research gates for the access ramps to I-80 JEK will investigate the ability to get traffic reports for the State College area on Sirius and/or XM Satellite Radio JEK will investigate other in-vehicle Traveler Information technology JEK will develop the Prioritized Project Deployments voting sheets based on the recommended projects discussed at the Task Force meeting JEK will send out an invitation to all Stakeholders for Workshop #2 We believe the foregoing minutes to be an accurate summary of the meeting and related decisions. Failing written notification to the contrary, after ten (10) days, we will consider these minutes a statement of facts. Minutes prepared by: Keith R. Mullins, P.E. Edwards and Kelcey cc: All Meeting Attendees EK Project File 040015.038 EK Project Team Y:\2004 Projects\040015.038\WO-15\Documents\Project Management\Meetings\ROF Meeting 12-12-06\PENNDOT D 1-0 ROF Meeting Minutes DRAFT.doc Page 6 of 6