 April 2006 - ODOT ITS NEWSLETTER - VOL. 4, NO. 2
We hope you enjoy the 2006 Spring/Summer edition of ITS News, a quarterly publication produced by the Oregon Department of Transportation Traffic Engineering and Operations Section, ITS Unit. Previous editions can be viewed at the ODOT ITS News and Events Web site. Please feel free to contact the newsletter editor, Jon Lazarus, ITS Project Manager, at (503) 986-6586, with any questions or comments.
David Fifer, Oregon Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division
David joined the program in 1999 as a technician. He was one of five original staff members of the ITS unit for Motor Carrier, at that time. His primary duties were helping to coordinate the construction process, and taking on transponder administration duties. Since then, once construction was complete and as staff retired or took on different jobs, all other ITS positions were eliminated as an efficiency measure. Now David is responsible for enrolling new carriers, helping to educate industry and the public about the program and its benefits, and serving as a “help desk” for carriers/drivers who may be having problems with the system. He also helps coordinate maintenance of each site, and respond to “Trouble Reports” initiated by weigh-station staff when there is a systems failure and provide on-site emergency technical service and repair.
ITS News: David, Thanks for agreeing on the interview. The Green Light program has had wonderful success since it started and its growth numbers are very impressive. Could you give us a background on the program? What started this need and how did it evolve?
David Fifer - Oregon DOT, Motor Carrier Division
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DF: Thank you for the opportunity. The idea behind the program was conceived in the early 1990’s. The original intent of having a weigh-in-motion (WIM) system was safety related as traffic in-and-around our weigh stations, at that time, had already reached capacity. As an example the Woodburn Port-of-Entry (POE), southbound on I-5 was designed and built in 1984 to handle 2,500 trucks a day. Having nearly reached that saturation total by the early 90’s, and anticipating that truck traffic would continue to increase, gave cause for concern not only for staff at the station, but also for the motor carrier industry and the motoring public. Recognizing, then, the potential of a serious problem a team from the Motor Carrier Transportation Division (MCTD) took a proactive approach and began to examine options that would accommodate the truck-traffic load.
One option was to simply expand our weigh stations by extending off-ramps, installing additional static scales, and including additional travel lanes in the station area. There were several drawbacks to this option though.
First, there were 14 or 15 stations that would require this type of expansion, however only 10 of them had enough surrounding property that ODOT could purchase in order to expand. The remaining four or five stations would have been rendered obsolete, which meant they would have been shut-down, and ODOT would have to search for property in proximal locations respectively, and rebuild new, bigger stations.
Second, this option was expensive. It was estimated then to cost upwards of 100-million Oregon tax dollars to upgrade/rebuild these stations. At that time there was no room in the state budget for that type of allocation. It would have been very difficult to obtain that kind of funding.
Finally, if MCTD chose that direction the problem may have been resolved for that time, but looking ahead further MCTD staff determined that the same problem would exist in the future as traffic continued to increase.
A second option was to manage the truck traffic on the highway rather than in the station area. This would not only solve the existing problem, but any future traffic increase as well. Fortunately about that same time there was a $20 million Research & Development (R&D) grant available from the federal DOT for this new technology called “Weigh-In-Motion” in which trucks could be weighed and identified out on the highway allowing those that are safe-and-legal to proceed past the weigh station without stopping. Seizing the opportunity MCTD applied for, and in 1995 received the grant. With an added $5 million state match, the project had a total budget of $25 million – a far cry from the estimated $150 million to remodel/rebuild.
Planning of the project began immediately. The team chose Oregon’s 21 busiest weigh stations for the R&D project which became known as Oregon Green Light. Construction began in January 1997 at the Woodburn POE. Eight months later, Oregon’s first automated weigh station became a reality. Construction of the remaining 20 original sites was completed by January 2001. Those sites include; Woodburn northbound , I-5 both north and south directions at Ashland, I-5 both north and south directions near Roseburg, I-84 eastbound at Cascade Locks POE, I-84 westbound at Wyeth, I-84 westbound at Emigrant Hill, I-84 eastbound at La Grande, I-84 westbound at Farewell Bend POE, I-84 eastbound at Olds Ferry, I-97 both north and south directions at Klamath Falls, I-97 both north and south directions near Madras, I-82 at Umatilla, Highway 26 both east and west directions at Brightwood, Highway 58 at Lowell, and Highway 30 at Rocky Point. One more site was added in 2005 along northbound I-97 just south of Bend.
In 1999, MCTD began keeping track of the number of trucks that “bypassed” these weigh stations. By then about 4,500 trucks were issued transponders, and just over 200,000 bypass events were recorded that year. Today there are nearly 38,000 transponder equipped trucks enrolled in the Green Light System bypassing Oregon’s weigh stations about 1.4 million times annually.
ITS News: How does the technology work? What about other states participation? Is there technology on the market that would work for a commercial trucker driving from L.A., California to Seattle, WA – or do they have to stop between states?
How it works diagram - from David Fifer Oregon DOT, Motor Carrier Division
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DF: The system as a whole incorporates several different technologies. First of all the truck must be equipped with a transponder, which is a communication device with a unique I.D. code that is assigned to the truck’s vehicle record as it appears in the MCTD registration database. The transponder is charged by a lithium battery that has a life expectancy of 5-7 years, and is attached to the windshield inside the truck using double-sided mounting tape. As the truck approaches a WIM site, about a mile upstream of the weigh station, an Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) Reader antenna which overhangs the highway pings the truck’s transponder and sends the I.D. number to a roadside computer that is linked to the MCTD registration mainframe. The computer interrogates the vehicle record associated with that transponder to ensure that the credentials of the truck, and business standing of the carrier are up-to-date. At the same time an infrared Overheight Detection System ensures the truck doesn’t exceed maximum height, and the WIM component weighs the truck.
The WIM, simply put, is a scale pad equipped with loops, single-load cell scales, and dynax axle sensors built right into the highway. The single load cells weigh each axle of the truck while the loops and axle sensors configure the distance between each axle. This information is also captured by the roadside computer and an algorithm software determines if the truck is of legal weight. The weight information interfaces with the vehicle record info, and a data packet is created with a sort decision to have the truck either bypass or report to the station. This data packet is sent to a second AVI antenna called the Writer located about 600 feet further down the highway. Based on the sort decision the Writer then pings the transponder with the appropriate signal – a red light signal to the transponder indicates that the truck must stop at the weigh station, a green light indicates that it can proceed without stopping.
Most states, including Oregon’s I-5 corridor neighbors California and Washington, now offer this same technology. That’s the good news to industry. The bad news is that, although the technology is compatible state-to-state, currently there are “business model” boundaries that prevent total interoperability among all states.
Today there are three preclearance programs in place nationally: Oregon Green Light; NORPASS which includes Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, and a number of eastern states, and PrePass which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, and about 20 or so other states. In addition to offering free transponders to qualifying carriers, participation in Green Light is 100% free to the user and is independent of the other two programs. Oregon has sort of an unofficial partnership with the NORPASS system though because, like Oregon, participation in their program is free, although they charge $30 for their transponder. PrePass however is a fee-based for-hire company that operates preclearance on behalf of their member states. And this is where the problem of interoperability begins. Free vs. fee.
ITS News: Where would you say Oregon ranks in comparison to other states?
DF: When it comes to this type of technology I believe Oregon is, and always has been, an industry leader in the ITS arena. We have nearly 38,000 transponders enrolled in our program, which on average, is more than any other state.
Awards - from David Fifer Oregon DOT, Motor Carrier Division
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Green Light also is the only program in America that operates free to the user and offers 100% compatibility with other systems. We’ve been nationally recognized for our success. In 2000 the Green Light Program won ITS America’s “Best of ITS Award for Deployment And Market Development Shown to Save Money.” In 2001 we were runners-up in JFK Harvard’s “Innovations in Government Award,” and in 2002 we were winners from among 64 national teams of the, “Exemplary Partner,” the top award given in the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Team Excellence Program. This is probably our most prestigious award, because we were voted on nationally by our peers.
ITS News: What are the benefits of implementing the Green Light program here in Oregon?
DF:I get asked this a lot, and honestly it’s the question I enjoy answering the most, because it’s been a win-win program for both industry and government.
On the industry side, we’ve been able to save carriers time by not having to stop at weigh stations, which in turn saves them money. The American Trucking Association has determined that the cost of operating a truck is about $1.21 per minute. An independent evaluation determined that the average time a truck spends in a weigh station is five-to-eight minutes. So, conservatively, if we can save a carrier five minutes by not having to stop, we’ve effectively saved them $6 each time they bypass. Based on these figures and the number of bypasses the carrier industry overall currently saves more than 116,000 hours of travel time annually which equates to more than $8.4 million.
The benefit to government is equally impressive. As an example nearly 57% of the total truck traffic at the Woodburn POE now stays on the highway. Not only does this create a safer environment in-and –around the station, but it also allows weigh station staff to focus more on trucks that may be over-loaded. This in turn helps to preserve the highway infrastructure as more overloads are identified. As a result an Oregon State University study projected that the Green Light Program will save Oregon tax payers $20 million a year in highway repair cost avoidance.
Also the raw WIM data has been useful to both the Highway and Bridge Sections of ODOT as every vehicle; cars, pickups, motor homes, trucks, etc. is recorded. Highway Planning can use this info for volume and classification tables, and minimum and peak frequency patterns. This allows for performance-based designs when it comes to building/renovating a stretch of highway. The same holds true for the Bridge Planning side. Designs can be based on local weight and configuration of vehicles. Any changes to traffic trends also can be monitored for possible repair or re-design of existing structures.
Finally, the Green Light Program has been proven to reduce emissions as a truck burns less fuel traveling than it does by slowing and re-accelerating.
ITS News:What future developments is the Green Light program working on? Are there any other applications Motor Carrier could use this technology?
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DF: Currently the MCTD executive management is considering the possibility of adding a 23rd WIM site. Also, the AVI technology is being considered for use in conjunction with Variable Message Signs (VMS) to display projected wait/travel times to the motoring public as they travel through highway construction or renovation project work-zone areas.
We’ve also been efficient with used WIM computer equipment, extending their life expectancy, by sharing them with ODOT’s Traffic Data Section (TDS) for use as data-collectors in other high-traffic areas in the state. This allowed them to upgrade their system to generate more accurate vehicle weight and classifications to their count data.
The versatility of the technology has allowed us to incorporate a Downhill Speed Information System (DSIS) at our Emigrant Hill site on I-84. Frequently trucks would lose speed control on this downhill stretch, causing a number of truck-related accidents even though there is a Runaway Truck Ramp. This system is designed to warn truckers of an impending six-percent downgrade, and offer a recommended safe downhill speed based on the trucks weight. Officials from Colorado used our design for similar downgrades along their highways.
We’ve also used the overheight component to construct an Overheight Detection System (ODS) for the Harrisburg Bridge. The bridge had a history of being damaged by the impact of vehicles exceeding the height limitations. The ODS now sends a warning to trucks that are too tall and directs them to an alternate route thus preserving the bridge.
The next generation of this technology allows for sites to become “Virtual Weigh Stations” by combining the WIM component with a digital camera AVI system accessible by a portable wireless display device like PDA. This will allow Motor Carrier Enforcement staff to regulate truck-traffic areas where a weigh station doesn’t exist.
As you can see, there are multiple uses for which our system can be adapted for. And as long as there’s traffic there will be a need.
ITS News: Thank you for taking the time time to meet with us today.
DF: Thanks again.
For additional information on these programs visit the Oregon Department of Transportation's ITS unit's web site: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/ITS/
Following is an update on select Transportation Application Development (TAD) and ITS Unit projects currently underway. For more information on a specific project, see the ITS Internet projects page at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/ITS/projects.shtml.
TripCheck Bend Cable TV Update -
In an effort to expand the information to TripCheck's users, a partnership with Bend Cable Television was formed years ago to bring highway camera images to Bend cable. We hi-lighted this story in our ITS news for October 2005.
Cable TV example for Bend Cable - TripCheck Channel 48
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Now it is official. TripCheck 48 will roll out on cable television in Bend, Oregon in late May 2006. For several years, ODOT has been partnering with the Bend Broadband, the cable TV service provider in Bend Oregon to provide camera images and road condition information to their cable audience.
ODOT recently completed a project to upgrade that service carried on channel 48 in Bend. ODOT’s ITS group and region staff, working with Bend Broadband, has implemented a new system based on the Infocaster software product from the Canadian firm Inscriber.
The new system will allow ODOT to provide cable TV companies a higher quality presentation with enhanced graphics, clearer text and audio based content, in addition to the multiple still and motion images from ODOT’s roadside cameras. The new system is more flexible when updating content and is easier to maintain with a GUI interface and PC based platform.
This upgrade also supports ODOT’s path to provide more digitally based contents across its TripCheck traveler information systems. Discussions are underway with other Oregon cable systems to expand the new TripCheck cable product to other cities in Oregon.
For more information, contact Jim Basile, James.A.BASILE@odot.state.or.us, at (503) 986-4383.
 TripCheck 2.0 Update -
We've added a statistics section to our ODOT web site for frequently asked questions about our statistics. Click here to see the latest and greatest stats or type this into your browser address line: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/ITS/its_stats.shtml
Check it out at http://www.tripcheck.com and find useful road and weather conditions at ODOT's TripCheck.com web site.
You've provided us with feedback and we've responded. Here are some of the excellent suggestions and changes we've made because of the feedback we've received:
- Update of the Statewide and regional maps - TripCheck updated the statewide map to include more cities and make the graphic clear for folks. The regional maps were also updated to show the navigation arrows better. These new black arrows make it more clear as to how to navigate between each map. The request also took into account our users that are color blind, which is why other more popular colors were not chosen.
- Update
I-84 at Ladd Creek Camera Screenshot
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of TripCheck maps to show more cities, that you requested - There have been several requests to update our maps to show more popular cities for reference points. This was completed. Please have a look for the cities of Newport, Cottage Grove, Sisters, and many others on our pages.
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Updated icon placements on maps for more efficiency - We found a couple misplaced icons that were covering city names with your feedback. We moved the icons to more accurately show their locations and re-arranged some of the city names based on your feedback.
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Added 16 new cameras - I-84 at Ladd Creek and Battle Mountain on US395 were ODOT cameras. We also partnered with WADOT and added 12 Vancouver camera images. We added a Medford Viaduct northbound camera and replaced the Barnett road camera.
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Updated our Bus/Rail content page.
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If you have any suggestions or feedback for us you can email us at TripCheck.Support.ODOT@odot.state.or.us
What to look for:
- CalTrans District 1 (Coastline) Camera images - We are currently discussing a partnership with CalTrans district 1 to add 3 new cameras, 2 on US101 and 1 on US199.
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Oregon Travel Information Council (OTIC) - More businesses are signing up to be featured on TripCheck and they have requested a slightly different color to distinguish themselves from the site a bit more. The partnership with the Oregon Travel Information Council (OTIC) is showing increased traffic on our site as users look for hotel, restaurant, fuel, and attraction information.
- New Highway ORE238 in Medford requires re-work on TripCheck - This and other changes to our highways requires new maps and graphics for TripCheck as new highways and sections of highways are completed. Have a look for these upcoming changes.
- If you have any suggestions or feedback for us you can email us at TripCheck.Support.ODOT@odot.state.or.us
For more information related to TripCheck, please contact Glen Hammer, Glen.A.HAMMER@odot.state.or.us, at (503) 986-3977.
For more information related to the Oregon Travel Information Council, please contact Craig Tutor, craig@oregontic.com, at (800) 574-9397.
Regional Trip Planner -
This project is developing a system that will collect and deliver comprehensive public transportation information (bus, train, shuttles and taxi's) to the public in Oregon and Washington state. The information will be delivered to the users via a Web site in each state. ODOT and the Washington State Department of Transportation are continuing to work on the system design. ODOT has contracted with Pacific Intermedia Inc., from Portland Oregon, to develop and implement the data system for the Web sites of each agency. This work will include development of public and provider data administration interfaces. The project is currently in the System Design phase and user interface and internal construction activities are expected to continue into summer 2006.
In November 2005, several stakeholder workshops were held in Oregon and Washington, including an in-depth usability survey that went out to over 450 project stakeholders. This event was conducted on schedule and within budget. Results from the stakeholder workshops and usability survey resulted in several key adjustments to the website’s wireframe design. This activity was scheduled to be completed in January 2006. Due to stakeholder feedback, the steering committee approved adjustments to functionality and scope which pushed out the approval of the wireframe’s design to February 2006.
Development and testing will occur later in 2006 and it is anticipated that the Web sites will go live in both states in the first quarter of 2007. For more information on the Regional Trip Planner project, please visit
 TransPort Advanced Traveler Information Implementation (TTIP) -
The old TATII project, now called the TripCheck Traveler Information Portal (TTIP), was completed around the end of March 2006. The portal is providing production feeds as the final supporting web infrastructure was completed. The TTIP deliverables include a map of the Portland regional area for use by partner agencies. TTIP also includes public and agency data sharing feeds. The public data feed can be used by Internet Service Providers to publish to public web sites for a wide dissemination of Oregon and Portland regional traveler information. The agency feed will be used by other public agencies to enhance their internal traffic management.
If you would like to subscribe and receive XML feeds of our TripCheck data, click on this link and follow the instructions:
http://highway.odot.state.or.us/cf/ttip/
It is expected that additional data sources and enhancements will continue to be added over the next few months and years as the traveling public demands more up-to-date views of our highway infrastructure.
Transportation Operations Center System: Event Management -
Region 1 TOC - Transportation Operations Center
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Oregon has four Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs) with the goal to provide and track transportation information for dissemination to ODOT operations, law enforcement, other State and public transportation systems, and the general public through a series of mission critical services. The purpose of the TOCS project is two-fold.
- Enable all of Oregon’s TOCs to work in a coordinated and more tightly integrated manner by consolidating stand-alone systems, devices and processes into one.
- Provide enhanced communication, more complete information and immediate dissemination to ODOT customers and partners, both public and private.
ODOT has contracted with Oregon State University, in Corvallis, Oregon, to design and develop the TOC system. This work will include development of system features that support the activity of event management. Other vendors are being hired as needed to provide specific expertise. Development and testing will occur through summer of 2007 and it is anticipated that the TOCS will go live in the fall of that year.
Contact Lorena Lambert, Lorena.LAMBERT@odot.state.or.us, at (503) 986-4017 for more information.
RWIS Strategy and Project work Update -
A typical RWIS site
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In the ITS News article for January 2006, we discussed how there were three aspects to focus on for the RWIS strategy:
- Conduct winter operations training sessions focusing on RWIS data and understanding weather behavior
- Provide easy access to RWIS data and other weather related information through a kiosk type system at maintenance stations
- Create an RWIS notification system to alert users via e-mail or page of certain weather conditions.
Training Update -
Currently RWIS components are obtained through a contract with Surface Systems Inc. (SSI), so it was thought best to use an SSI representative to present a winter operations training workshop throughout the state. This was the first element of the RWIS strategy and completed on October 13, 2006. 4 TOC's participated and attendees of the workshops were mostly maintenance managers as well as district and area managers.
Training sessions on the use of RWIS data in winter operations were held at several locations around the state. The four hour training revolved around RWIS and how weather information could be incorporated into better maintenance practices. Topics included RWIS hardware, software, weather, and application.
Kiosk Interface
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Kiosk Update -
The second element of the RWIS strategy was the installation of a kiosk at maintenance stations. Currently there is a list of 46 maintenance stations planned to have a Kiosk installed. There are two phases to complete this project. Maintenance stations with an existing network are phase one, totaling 43 and this was completed on February 28, 2006. The other three stations are phase 2 because they have no network availability. Phase two is to be completed about winter season 2006, but will solely depend on network availability. These locations are distributed over all five regions of the state. The purpose of the kiosk is to provide road and weather information to crew members 24 hours per day.
The system is always on and can be used by any member of the crew, particularly those who have no login ID or internet access. The systems are generally place in the crew's break room. The kiosk consists of a, monitor, mouse, and PC connected to the network. It uses special software to restrict internet access to only the following:
- Tripcheck - Incident maps, road camera and conditions
- Scanweb - RWIS data, history and graphs
- NOAA - weather forecasts, radar, satellite, etc.
- Digital Video Log - screenshots of every state highway (every 0.01 mile) in both direction.
A screen-print of the RWIS network interface
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RWIS Paging Update -
After several months of testing the RWIS Notification System was put into production on April 12th, 2006. The notification system allows users to be alerted via text page or e-mail when certain weather conditions are met at the RWIS stations. Depending on the sensors at an RWIS, four alerts are possible:
- Frost/Ice Alert - preset condition based on pavement status and dew point.
- Fog Alert - preset condition using air temperature and dew point
- Wind speed alert - user defined
- Visibility alert - user defined. Each RWIS will display only alerts that are available for that particular site.
The target audience for the RWIS Notification System is ODOT maintenance managers, supervisors, and others members of the maintenance crew that have a role in decision making. The system alerts are intended to be used as a guide to assist in highway maintenance decisions. Users that have tested the system in pre-production mode have been very pleased with its functionality and find it to be a useful tool.
New users may subscribe by clicking here and entering their user ID. The subscription process should be fairly straightforward. Any comments or questions can be sent via the “Questions/Feedback” link.
Contact Adam Bradford, Adam.P.BRADFORD@odot.state.or.us, at (503) 986-3475 for more information.
ITS HARE project (High Availability, Relocation & Enhancement) -
The HARE project has evolved out of a number of business needs in the ITS organization. The business needs for an exception from merging the unique ITS operations with the State Data Center, coupled with aging systems and desire to move to state-of-the-art backend and development infrastructures, have merged into a single project to move an enhanced ITS infrastructure to a new home. This project touches all aspects of the ITS organization, as well as many parts of the ODOT whole. Most important of all is the public presence these systems represent. Millions of web 'hits' each year make this critical infrastructure project for ODOT.
March 13, 2006 UPDATE -
Can you hear me now? ? ?
The Highway Advisory Telephone System allows callers to get current road conditions by dialing 511. This system receives thousands of calls each day, and is a vital component in the traffic operations environment. The key to handling this call volume is a group of T-1 circuits, provisioned to provide the incoming lines. This last week, a new set of T1’s were installed in the NWTOC, and are now available for testing. These new T1’s will eventually replace the existing infrastructure in theRevenue Building. Thanks to Rich Fiertl, Vance Snook and Mike Forrest for their work in making this happen.
Your Put Your Right Foot In . . .
Moving a production environment to a new location requires a lot of careful time and advance coordination. At a conceptual level, the HARE project will be installing the backup systems at the NWTOC, moving production over to the backup system, then turning off the production application at the Revenue Building. Once all applications from a given server are moved, the server will be retired or reused, depending on its role. More shuffling will follow as the various production, standby, backup and test systems are fully deployed. Jim Weisgram and Joey Mendoza will be ‘dancing’ with these problems over the next several weeks, coordinating with the various stakeholders to make sure the move happens with minimum impact to the ITS operation and the travelling public.
It's Alive ! ! !
The finishing touches have been made to the installation of the server hardware suite purchased for the HARE project. Twelve stand-alone servers and a 2-server cluster have been prepared by DeWayne Weaver, Dan Hande, Sherrie Andrews and others in the Technology Management Team. However, the heaviest lifting was done by Rod Radke, who did a super job of turning a diverse pile of parts into a professional server environment. THANKS!!!!
Contact John Warsinske, Robert.J.WARSINSKE@odot.state.or.us, at (503) 986-4324 for more information.
ITS CONSTRUCTION - List of current ITS construction projects
Following is a list of projects that are currently under construction:
US395 Battle Mountain Camera Screenshot
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- Baker City VMS (Old Oregon Trail Highway, I-84 at MP 309 WB). Construction is complete. The sign is operational.
- Doak Mountain RWIS (Hwy 140 at MP 53.70). Project is currently under construction.
- I-5 Hugo (I-5 at MP 64.22, NB); Glendale Road (I-5 at MP 83.32, SB); and Crowson Road (I-5 at MP 13.17, SB). Construction is complete and the signs are operational.
- I-5 North Santiam Highway to Kuebler Boulevard. This project includes two cameras to be operated by the NWTOC. The project is currently under construction.
- Lake Creek VMS and CCTV (I-5 at MP 214.53 NB). Construction is complete. The VMS 30-day acceptance testing started April 5th, 2006.
I-205 at Mill Plain Camera Screenshot
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- I-5 Siskiyou Summit VMS (I-5, MP SIS 66.51 NB in California). Construction is complete and the sign is operational.
- I-5 South Medford Interchange (I-5 at MP 27.3), Camera and fiber optic installation. Bids were opened March 16, 2006.
- Modoc Point RWIS (US 97 north of Klamath Falls). Project is under construction.
- Portland Area VMS (I-205 at MP 11.66, SB; I-205 at MP 24.5, SB; and OR 99W at MP 7.87, NB). Design is complete. Project is currently being re-advertized with a second bid opening scheduled for May 18th, 2006.
- Region 1 Rural VMS (US 26 at MP 61.82, WB). Bids were opened February 16, 2006.
- Region 5 VMS (I-84 at MP 214.00 EB and OR 207 at MP 26.5 NB). Construction is expected complete and the signs are operational.
- Region 2 Miscellaneous Operations: This project consists of 3 Highway Advisory Radios (HARs), with warning signals in the Eugene-Springfield area and an upgrade to the Cushman Flood Warning System near Florence on US 101. This system will report status into HTCRS, 511, and TripCheck systems. A camera will also be added for verification purposes. This project is currently under construction.
- US97 South Madras VMS (MP 214.11 NB) and ORE138 Junction VMS (MP 97.13 NB). The project is currently under construction.
Select projects in design include the following:
- I-5 North Albany VMS and Camera (I-5 at MP 236.8 NB). This project is currently under design. Anticipate a December 2006 bid opening.
- Region 2 VMS and Traffic Cameras (I-5 at MP 186.9, NB; I-5 at MP 190.99, SB; OR 69 at MP 7.84, EB; US 20 at MP 31.25, EB; OR 22 at MP 48.77, EB; and OR 126 at MP 48.6, EB. This project includes six VMSs and traffic cameras located in and around Eugene and Springfield. The project is currently under design.
- Region 5, 2007 ITS project. This project consists of 1 Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) transmitter with three warning signs and traffic gates at three on-ramps to I-84. These three gates will prevent traffic from entering I-84 during emergencies such as snow storms.
ITS METRICS - Get the Latest ITS Statistics
 TripCheck usage data -
A quarterly summary of the TripCheck and ODOT travel information phone system usage numbers follow. The ITS unit homepage added a statistics section to our ODOT web site for frequently asked questions about our statistics. Click here to see the latest and greatest stats or type this into your browser address line: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/ITS/its_stats.shtml
This page includes graphs of the current month's usage data for TripCheck visits, pages views, hits, and calls to the ODOT phone system.
The approximate TripCheck averages for the first quarter of 2006 (January, February, and March) are:
1,959,167 visits per month
17,725,375 million page views per month
89,670,331 million hits per month.
The phone system (including 511 calls) for this quarter-period is:
387,198 calls in January
128,889 calls in February
272,911 calls in March*
The average for this period is 263,026 calls per month.The average for this quarter last year was 154,532 calls.
*March 2006 was the highest number of call in any March since we began keeping records; This was also was the 6th highest call month in the history of our data records. March 2005 had 61,314 calls.
Green Light Metrics -
The Green Light weigh station preclearance program is now serving 3,900 trucking companies with 37,000 trucks equipped with transponders.
There are only 21 Green Light sites in operation now as construction work has closed the southbound Wilbur weigh station near Roseburg. This site has been in the way of bridge and overpass projects for more than a year and motor carrier enforcement officers were unable to use it to check truck traffic during 11 of the last 14 months. Motor Carrier Transportation Division managers are discussing permanently relocating the weigh station and its Green Light system to the site of a dormant rest area several miles south.
Green Light Web site -- http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT/GREEN.shtml
 Trucking Online Metrics -
More than 9,000 companies are signed up for Trucking Online, including 2,400 based in Oregon. There are about 24,000 companies with trucks registered in Oregon so now the ones doing business online include 44% of those based in another state or Canada and 27% of those based in Oregon. From January 2003 through March 2006, these companies have used a home or office computer for over 550,000 transactions or record inquiries that formerly required a phone call, fax, mail delivery or field office visit.
The Trucking Online developers continue to expand the list of services available, particular in the area of records inquiries. In fact, in the 1st Quarter 2006 there were slightly more records inquiries than business transactions. One new, increasingly popular inquiry feature of Trucking Online lets companies use a home or office computer to view Oregon safety inspection reports and make sure they’ve met all inspection follow-up requirements.
The service can be especially helpful to companies with large fleets because it’s not uncommon for a driver to take his copy of an inspection report and then forget to turn it in to his boss. The oversight can lead to enforcement actions that ultimately include a $1,000 penalty and a five-day suspension of Oregon operating authority. Now safety managers can stay on top of things and independently check inspection reports.
Visit the site for more information, the Trucking Online Web site at Oregon.gov is – http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT/TOL.shtml
OregonTruckingOnline.com gets a new look -
Oregon Trucking Online Website
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Late last year the Motor Carrier Transportation Division reserved the unique Internet address ― http://OregonTruckingOnline.com ― so that it could better promote the online service. Division staff who help trucking companies transact business by phone reported that it was difficult to refer companies to the Oregon.gov address for Trucking Online for information about how to get started doing things the easy way.
After obtaining the simpler pathway to a Trucking Online home page, Division staff began imagining how to make the site a popular jump-off point for trucking companies doing business online and others accessing public information. In mid-March everyone began seeing the newly-designed site.
The Trucking Online Web site at Oregon.gov – http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT/TOL.shtml
is still operational and, in fact, many of the pages on the new site simply pull information from pages on the Oregon.gov site. There also is no change to the secure Web pages that authorized users access to complete transactions or make records inquiries.
ITS MAINTENANCE - System Maintenance Updates
 ITS System Maintenance Report -
This section update shows some of the requests for work completed by our staff and gives a break-down of high-lights and areas where maintenance and enhancement work was done. TripCheck.com, 511 phone line, Herbicide line, and HTCRS are examples of the systems supported.
January 1-March 31, 2006
60 new Requests for Work were received. 41 were completed; 29 for repairing system failures, 12 for creating new capabilities, making system enhancements, or generating special reports.
Here is a sampling of significant ITS system maintenance work completed in the last 3 months:
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Maintenance Kiosk rollout: Installed the final “round 1” workstations.
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Highway Advisory Radio: New HAR sites require updated software to function. We have customized the latest software from Highway Information Systems to work better for ODOT’s needs.
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TripCheck: updated to bring back the statewide camera page and made other usability changes.
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TripCheck: added Vancouver and California cameras to TripCheck camera pages.
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RWIS: added a second anemometer to the Yaquina Bay bridge
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MicroMain: installed new software for TOC’s and ITS Support Coordinators to track field devices and work orders.
For questions contact Jim Weisgram at (503) 986-3211 or James.D.WEISGRAM@odot.state.or.us
ITS update on New Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) –
The Micromain project is well underway and being used daily by ITS Technicians and ODOT Dispatchers. The Web interface is complete and allows Dispatchers a very simple way to create a trouble ticket (WorkOrder) for any of the hundreds of ITS devices throughout Oregon. When a call for repair comes in, Dispatch simply points their browser to the web site, picks from a list of Equipment, enters a description of the problem, clicks the Submit button and the WorkOrder is entered into the system.
Once in the system, an email is automatically sent to the Supervisor of that Region alerting them of the problem. This information is also automatically uploaded into the ITS Technicians PDA. The Technician then goes to the job site, repairs the problem and enters the details in their PDA. When they get back to the shop, the PDA is placed into the cradle and all of that detail is automatically uploaded into the MicroMain database. Managers and Technicians then have access to Reports that show what a device costs to operate, downtime reports, parts usage and much more.
MicroMain is giving a lot of visibility to what it costs to operate the ITS department and how to better prepare budgets, staffing and inventory. Up next on the project is creating the ability to schedule Preventative Maintenance, which will show ITS personnel exactly what amount of work needs to be scheduled and budgeted for a year in advance.
For ODOT employees: click here to access Micromain.
For questions contact Jason Shaddix (503) 378-2645 or jason.p.shaddix@odot.state.or.us
ITS in the News
Northwest Transportation Conference Booth
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Article update from David Crout for ITS Oregon:
ITSOregon hosted the ITS track at the Northwest Transportation Conference held at Oregon State University last February. This track consisted of three well-attended sessions: ITS & Performance Measures, ITS & Congestion Management, and ITS & Operations.
Professor Robert Bertini, Director of the Center for Transportation Studies at Portland State University, opened the Performance Measures session by presenting “PORTAL: Implementing a New Generation Archived Data User Service in Portland, Oregon,” and how the project can make available data that can lead to more effective performance measurement. Tom Maze from Iowa State University discussed winter maintenance performance measures, and Michelle Teel from Missouri DOT gave a presentation on Missouri ’s Statewide Traffic Data and Traveler Information Project that will use cell phones as traffic probes.
Nick Thompson from Minnesota DOT opened the Congestion Management session by describing the I-394 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes project and some of the lessons learned. Art James of ODOT’s Office of Innovative Partnerships discussed some of the projects his office is involved with, including a possible tolled expressway in southeast Portland, and the Newberg-Dundee Improvement Project. Allen Clelland from Siemens and Peter Koonce from Kittelson & Associates explained the concept of--and provided examples of--integrated corridor management, one of the major USDOT ITS initiatives begun in 2004.
Nick Thompson also presented during the Operations track by providing a status report of FHWA’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) Pooled-Fund Study. Tom Maze presented additional research in his “Practitioner’s View of ITS in Work Zones.” And Bill Kloos from the City of Portland discussed ITS and freight operations.
Most of the presentations have been uploaded to:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/docs/2006_NWTC/2006_brochure.pdf
ITS Oregon, which serves as the state chapter of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), is a volunteer organization whose members foster ITS deployment through partnership building, education and outreach. For more information, visit the ITS Oregon web site at www.itsoregon.org.
Article on Integrated Corridor Management Pioneer Sites
http://hosting.bronto.com/8856-78fea2c3/ntocicmrfaarticle.pdf
Category > Breaking News: April 12, 2006 (ITSA)
ITS Lesson of the Month for April
http://www.itslessons.its.dot.gov/its/benecost.nsf/DisplayXOTM?OpenForm&LOTM%5eLOTM
Category > Now Available: April 12, 2006 (ITS JPO)
ITS Benefit of the Month for April: Washington State DOT Road Weather Information Web Site
http://www.itsbenefits.its.dot.gov/its/benecost.nsf/ByLink/BOTM-April2006
Category > Now Available: April 12, 2006 (ITS JPO)
New ITS America Web Site Launched http://www.itsa.org/press_release_content/c255_d69/News/Newsroom/Press_Releases_/Press_Release.html
Category > Breaking News: March 29, 2006 (ITS America)
Two Brochures on ITS Technologies for Human Services Transportation Now Available
http://www.its.dot.gov/press/itstech.htm
Category > Now Available: March 29, 2006 (ITS JPO)
*Verizon Adds On-Screen Local Traffic and Weather Info
transport-communications] Monday, March 20, 2006 Link to story in Multichannel News: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6317009.html?display=Breaking+News Link to additional information on Verizon FiOS TV: http://www22.verizon.com/FiosForHome/Channels/FiosTV/FiosTVHome.aspx
T3 Session Announcement: Guidelines for Successful ITS Procurement
(http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/T3/T3session29.htm)
Category > Opportunity: March 15, 2006 (ITS JPO)
Why bother providing ITS technologies to drivers?
Issue Date: W/c 13th March 2006
http://www.itsinternational.com/News/article.cfm?recordID=8866
A new US national survey reveals that 57 per cent of American drivers admit they don't use their turn signal when changing lanes. According to Response Insurance, a national US car insurer, 42 per cent of those dri...
*MapQuest Introduces Beta Version of Free Mapping and Routing Technology Platform for Web Developers
[transport-communications] Wednesday, March 8, 2006
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060307005204&newsLang=en
*New Auto Tracking Law inNevada
[transport-communications] Friday, February 24, 2006 Link to story on KLAS-TV: http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4309416&nav=menu102_1_2
*Understanding ITS: New Brochures Explain Intelligent Transportation Systems
[transport-communications] Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Link to article in MAGAZine from the Maricopa Association of Governments: http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/pdf/cms.resource/MAGazine-Feb0650313.pdf (page 7) Link to Web version of brochure: http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/archive/itsystems/
Portland sloshes through wettest January in 3 decades
The Oregonian, Portland Oregon
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1138679713171160.xml&coll=7
New and Improved ITS Operations Resource Guide Website Now Available (http://www.its.dot.gov/guide.htm)
Category > New Resource: January 30, 2006 (ITS Joint Program Office)
The Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) Offers Introduction and Advanced Telecommunications as "Blended" Courses in February and April (www.citeconsortium.org)
Category > Opportunity: January 30, 2006 (CITE)
*ITS Presentations by US DOT at 2006 TRB Annual Meeting Now Available
[transport-communications] Friday, January 27, 2006 - State of ITS Industry http://www.its.dot.gov/press/1TRBITSProgram06_files/frame.htm - Operations, ITS, and Freight Provisions http://www.its.dot.gov/press/2TRBSAFETEALUOpsFreigt06_files/frame.htm - Integrating Surface Transportation Weather Information Systems - The DOT Role http://www.its.dot.gov/press/3TRBWeather06_files/frame.htm
*Cars Get PCs Despite Safety Concerns
[transport-communications] Thursday, January 26, 2006
Link to story from The Wall Street Journal:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06026/644908.stm
*A Fourth Traffic Camera Goes On Line inWenatchee, Washington
[transport-communications] Monday, January 23, 2006
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/NorthCentral/news/2005/012006NWenatcheeCamera.htm Link to Wenatchee cameras: http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/wenatchee/default.aspx
*White House Releases GPS Upgrades
[transport-communications] Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Link to story in RCR Wireless News: http://rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=25430 Link to remarks prepared for Deputy Commerce Secretary David A. Sampson: http://www.commerce.gov/opa/speeches/Dep_Sec_Sampson/2006/January/25_Next-Generation_GPS_Washington.htm
*Tech Could Redefine “Car Talk”
[transport-communications] Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Federal Highway Administration is researching ways to enable cars to communicate with traffic signals. Link to story in Federal Computer Week: http://www.fcw.com/article92069-01-24-06-Web Link to additional information from the US Department of Transportation: http://www.its.dot.gov/explore/explore_vii_mobility.htm
*These stories provided by Bernie Wagenblast and The Daily ITS news, in the Transportation Communications Newsletter. For a free subscription send an e-mail to transport-communications-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or contact the editor, Bernie Wagenblast, at i95berniew@aol.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Stay informed about ODOT ITS activities across the state.
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 ITS OREGON Meeting
The next ITS Oregon Meeting, May 18th, 2006, 9:00 am, location TBD
Scholarships Available - ITS Oregon will be awarding two $500 scholarships this spring. See here for details: http://www.its.pdx.edu/itsoregon/index.html
Training:
4/25: Traveler Information Workshop at Metro.
4/27: Congestion Management Workshop at Metro.
5/4: Using the Regional ITS Architecture as a Planning Tool.
Visit the ITS site for more information about upcoming events.http://www.its.pdx.edu/itsoregon/
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ITS America Annual Meeting & Exhibition – May 7-9 – Philadelphia
Link to site:
http://www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html
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CTS Transportation Research Conference
http://www.cts.umn.edu/events/rescon/index.html
The 17th annual Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) Transportation Research Conference will take place May 24–25, 2006 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The conference acts as a forum for researchers and practitioners from Minnesota and the Upper Midwest to share their research findings in a variety of transportation-related areas. The conference will cover all modes of transportation including highway, transit, rail, air, water and others.
The conference audience consists of individuals from multiple disciplines and organizations involved in transportation, including policymakers and practitioners from state, regional and local government; private sector consultants, shippers, carriers and providers; and faculty, students, and staff from the University of Minnesota and other educational institutions.
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Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
TRANSPORTATION COURSES
Non-degree students may take classes via Quick Entry:
http://www.pdx.edu/admissions/ugrad_qkentry.html
Tuition and fee information: http://www.pdx.edu/registration/tuition.html
Winter Class Schedule: http://www.pdx.edu/registration/class_schedule.html
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ITS World Congress
http://www.itsworldcongress.com/its_1024/home/index.cfm
The United Kingdom is hosting the 13th ITS World Congress and Exhibition in London on October 8-12, 2006. This annual event rotates between Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific region and comes to the UK for the first time in 2006.
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