This section discusses the outreach efforts in other states related to their statewide transportation models. Several DOTs, e.g. Oregon DOT, Florida DOT, and Virginia DOT, have pursued interesting and effective model outreach activities, which are highlighted below. Examples of their outreach efforts include dedicated websites, newsletters, peer reviews, model steering/advisory committees, stakeholder meetings, and user groups.
2.8.1 Oregon DOT
The Oregon Modeling Steering Committee (OMSC) was formed in 1996 to provide direction and oversight to the Oregon Modeling Improvement Program (OMIP). The OMSC website can be found at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TPAU/OMSC.shtml. The main objective of the committee is to improve and promote land use and transportation modeling in the state of Oregon. The committee also
MD-11-SP009B4S Project Final Report UMD Transportation Systems Research Lab 74 serves as a consensus forum that coordinates the land use-transportation modeling efforts of federal, state, regional and local agencies. The main activities of OMSC are:
• Providing technical information and analyses to support informed decision-making. Support research, development and application of models at the local, regional and statewide level, improve and expand capabilities, support integration and the use of transportation models statewide.
• Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and encourage the use and the diffusion of current and future technology.
• Proactively educating policy-makers on the use of transportation models as an analytical tool to support decision-making, through coursework, training, symposiums and case studies.
• Serving as a technical and professional support group to members, agencies, local governments, consultants and others to foster transportation modeling knowledge and expertise and to maximize resources.
The OMSC is divided into several subcommittees as shown in the organization chart (Figure 41).
Figure 41. Organization Chart for the Oregon Modeling Steering Committee (FY2009-2010) (Source: OMSC 2009-2010 Report)
MD-11-SP009B4S Project Final Report UMD Transportation Systems Research Lab 75 The responsibility of each OMSC subcommittee is summarized below.
2.8.1.1 Long-Range Strategy
This subcommittee is responsible for developing an annual work plan, strategic activities and OMSC membership.
2.8.1.2 Applications
This subcommittee addresses the environment and the criteria under which models are applied, i.e., regulatory requirements and general applications. It focuses on peer review for local level model application and holds special meetings to identify possible research topics.
2.8.1.3 Oregon Household Activity Survey (OHAS) Ad Hoc Subcommittee
This subcommittee provides oversight for development and implementation of the Oregon statewide survey.
2.8.1.4 Climate Change Subcommittee (CCS) Ad Hoc Subcommittee
This subcommittee coordinates, provides technical guidance and oversights for model development and applications, and communicates results from analysis conducted on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and climate change.
2.8.1.5 Modeling Program Coordination Subcommittee
This subcommittee provides a technical and interactive forum for discussion of model development and application issues for MPOs and ODOT.
2.8.1.6 Professional Development
This subcommittee addresses technical model development, education, training and quality control. 2.8.1.7 Oregon Modeling Users Group (OMUG) Subcommittee
This subcommittee facilitates and encourages broad discussion and ideas on development and implementation of Oregon models throughout the Oregon modeling community.
2.8.2 Florida DOT
In Florida, a Model Task Force (MTF) establishes policy directions for transportation modeling and provides procedural guidelines for the development of the Florida Standard Model (FSUTMS). More information can be found at http://www.fsutmsonline.net/index.php. There are four technical committees serving the task force:
2.8.2.1 Data Committee
This committee provides guidance to the Florida Model Task Force and the Florida transportation modeling community regarding data needs, data collection, data analysis, archiving, and information management.
MD-11-SP009B4S Project Final Report UMD Transportation Systems Research Lab 76 2.8.2.2 GIS Committee
The mission of the GIS Committee is to support the Florida Model Task Force in evaluating, coordinating, facilitating, and improving the use of GIS in transportation modeling.
2.8.2.3 Transit Committee
The transit committee leads the Florida Model Task Force in improving transit modeling within Florida, and in addressing federal and state planning requirements as they relate to transit planning.
2.8.2.4 Model Advancement Committee
This committee evaluates the Florida standard model and identifies opportunities for improvement. It reviews alternative modeling methodologies based on relative strengths and weaknesses, and recommends enhancements to the current FSUTMS process. The model advancement committee is divided into three subcommittees: (1) Toll Modeling, (2) Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA), and (3) Time of Day. The Toll Modeling committee aims to incorporate toll facility pricing scheme, such as Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, into FSUTMS-Cube, as well as study the possibility to use innovative toll methodologies. The DTA subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the existing DTA models and software, identifying requirement of Florida demand modeling, and implementing a dynamic traffic assignment process within the FSUTMS environment. The Time-of–Day (TOD) subcommittee’s objective is to develop procedures that integrate econometric models for passive and active peak spreading and implements TOD into FSUTMS framework.
2.8.3 Virginia DOT
The Virginia Transportation Modeling program (VTM) was created in 2005 and acts as a forum for the improvements of the state-of-practice in travel demand modeling in Virginia. The main activities include: (1) discussing modeling activities in Virginia, (2) assisting and enhancing modeling policies to promote consistent best-practice modeling in Virginia, (3) serving as a peer exchange to discuss modeling techniques and procedures, and (4) sponsoring training activities pertinent to modeling.
One of the major contributions of this program was the development of the first Virginia Travel Demand Modeling Policies and Procedures Manual in 2006. This manual is the cornerstone of the new VTM modeling system and created minimum guidelines and standards for Virginia's metropolitan area travel demand models. These guidelines and standards are intended to promote consistent best modeling practice throughout the state.
The Virginia DOT publishes a quarterly newsletter named VTM Connection. It keeps agency, employees, planning district commissions, metropolitan planning organizations and university transportation planning staff informed on the latest travel demand modeling activities in the commonwealth. For instance, VTM Connection provided updated information on the statewide household travel survey data availability and elaborated incentives for participation in the 2008 NHTS add-on program. The VTM Connection also regularly highlights upcoming research projects and real- world applications related to statewide models. The newsletter also collects recent news from the VDOT districts and MPO areas. The program and newsletter’s website can be found at: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/vtm/newsletter.asp.
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2.8.4 Summary
State DOTs conduct outreach activities to support, improve and promote statewide modeling. The Oregon Modeling Steering Committee (OMSC) supports statewide model improvement by establishing different subcommittees with each subcommittee responsible for a particular aspect of model development. The committee is also in charge of the environmental program, such as climate change and green house gas emissions (GHG), which are emerging issues in transportation planning. In other states, outreach activities are more oriented toward model implementation. Florida DOT model task force (MTF) is an example, which focuses on the improvement of the statewide model by establishing a Model Advancement Committee. This committee identifies opportunities for Florida model improvement based on current planning and policy needs such as toll modeling, time of day considerations, and dynamic traffic assignment. Virginia DOT’s Transportation Modeling program (VTM) develops policy and procedures that provide guidelines and standards for the Virginia's metropolitan area travel demand model and for a consistent modeling practice throughout the state. VTM newsletters inform politicians, agency staff, practitioners, and researchers about model advancement and recent VTM activities.
Several statewide model outreach activities identified in this section could be implemented in Maryland to support MSTM improvement, promote MSTM applications at all levels, train potential MSTM users, and build strong stakeholder/user groups. These possibilities are discussed in greater detail in Section 4.7.
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