Sponsor Recognition
Presented by Mark Owens, Meridian Environmental Technology and ITS Rocky Mountain Chapter President

2011 Best of Rural ITS Awards
Presented by Steve Albert, Director, Western Transportation Institute and Rural SIG Chair

Transportation leaders will provide forward-looking insight into transportation breakthroughs – both technology and funding related – that have recently or are currently occurring at the national level. In particular, attendees will learn about how these efforts impact the rural ITS community.

LUNCH, this lunch sponsored by Trapeze Group

Luncheon Speakers:
Joerg “Nu” Rosenbohm, ITS America
Shelley Row, Director, ITS Joint Program Office, USDOT (presentation not available)

Session A1: ITS Planning Moves Forward - Lessons from Mexico and the US Department of Interior
This session will provide unique insight into ITS planning at both a national and agency level. In particular, attendees will follow Mexico as it unfolds and builds on its National ITS Architecture completed in 2005. Also presented will be a study of ITS in National Parks and other Department of Interior lands; including identification of needs, cost/benefit, staffing, etc. The results of this study has implications on how ITS is viewed within public lands units, in regions and states with dynamic public lands activity. It also provides pragmatic guidance for public lands units as to which technologies may offer the greatest returns based on specific unit characteristics. A roundtable discussion will follow the presentations to maximize interaction and question/answer time with presenters and experts.

Moderator: KK Saxena, Kimley-Horn & Associates

• Matthew Schiemer, Gannet Fleming, Inc.
  Development of Mexico's National ITS Strategic Plan (abstract) (presentation)
• Michael Clark, US Department of Transportation
  Intelligent Transportation Systems in National Parks & DOI Public Lands (abstract) (presentation)

Session A2: Clarus’ Impact on RWIS, Casco Bay
Clarus is an FHWA R&D initiative that provides near real-time atmospheric and pavement observations from participating states’ environmental sensor stations. This session will provide insight into recent enhancements, in particular Connected Vehicle integration, and demonstration projects. Individuals will learn more about Clarus and hear about real-world applications of this program.

Moderator: Tim Bean, Mississippi Department of Transportation

• Ray Murphy, Federal Highway Administration, USDOT
  Weather and the Connected Vehicle (abstract) (presentation)
• Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, NIATT, University of Idaho
  A Real-Time Weather Response System (abstract) (presentation)
• Paul Pisano, Federal Highway Administration, USDOT [presented by Ray Murphy]
  Clarus Regional Demonstrations (presentation not currently available)

SAFETY TRACK
Session S1: USDOT Addresses Safety - RESCUME and Rural Safety Innovation Program
Rural roads carry approximately 34 percent of the vehicle-miles traveled in the United States, yet annually account for nearly 56 percent of the fatalities. To address the safety challenges associated with rural travel, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is funding the Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management, and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.) and the Rural Safety Innovation Program (RSIP).

R.E.S.C.U.M.E. is a set of high-priority transformative applications identified by the USDOT’s Mobility Program for development in 2011. The focus of R.E.S.C.U.M.E. is to research, refine and potentially develop enhancements to, and support utilization of advanced emergency communication and technology systems. The RSIP was initiated in 2008 with the goal of improving rural road safety by assisting rural communities in addressing highway safety through the development and testing of innovative ITS solutions. This session will provide an overview and status update of both programs.

Moderator: Bill Legg, Washington State Department of Transportation

• Doug Galarus, Western Transportation Institute
  Augmented Speed Enforcement: Safety Cones from a Technical Perspective (presentation not currently available)
• Ted Smith, Noblis
  Response, Emergency Staging and Communications, Uniform Management and Evacuation (R.E.S.C.U.M.E.), An Overview and Status Update (presentation)
• Dean Deeter, Athey Creek Consultants
  Evaluating the USDOT Rural Safety Initiatives Program (RSIP) – Evaluation Approach and Preliminary Lessons Learned (presentation)

TRANSIT TRACK
Session T1: Transit Technology Enabling Improved Coordination
This session will highlight how three different transit initiatives are being utilized to make public transportation and mobility more accessible to all with “lessons learned” for those implementing transit technologies in rural communities.

Moderator: Gwo-Wei Torng, Noblis

• Heather Wheeler, Community Transportation
  I-way: Idaho's One-Stop Shop (abstract) (presentation)
• Chris Larsen, The Software Ranch, LLC
  Linx: A Case Study of Rural ITS Technology Development (abstract) (presentation)
• Aletha Goodine, Federal Transit Authority
  Successful Deployments of ITS for Coordinated Community Transportation Services in Rural Areas (abstract) (presentation)

Session C1: 511 - Involving the Individual
As the breadth and depth of state and regional 511 has grown, so has the opportunity for individual participation in the system via personalized services and condition reporting. This session will look at how three 511 systems are involving the individual - wether it is to collect data or to adapt a system to provide more personalized services. Two of the projects involve Pooled Fund studies and funding mechanisms for these projects will also be touched upon.

Moderator: Leslie Fowler, Kansas Department of Transportation

• Dean Deeter, Athey Creek Consultants
  Enhancing and Expanding Citizen Assisted Reporting (abstract) (presentation)
• Peter Davies, Castle Rock Consultants
  Personalized 511 Services (abstract) (presentation)
• David Jones, HNTB
  PUSH 511 (abstract) (presentation)

Session C2: Ensuring Superior Traffic Incident Management
This combined lecture/roundtable session will include presentations and discussion by national Traffic Incident Management (TIM) experts. It will include practical principals that can be used to enhance and improve your TIM program and will provide real life examples from successful programs.

Moderator: Matt Schiemer, Gannett Fleming

• Rita Brohman, Delcan Corporation
  Practical Traffic Incident Management (abstract) (presentation)
• John Corbin, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Chair, National Incident Management Coalition
  Traffic Incident Management Programs: State & Regional Foundations for National Success in Operations (presentation)
• Mike Haas, Haas Systems
  Good to Great Incident Management (presentation not currently available)

Panelist:
John Corbin, Wisconsin, Chair, National Incident Management Coalition

Session C3: Cooperative Transportation Systems (Connected Vehicle) Pooled Fund Study
**This session is the first of three sessions that made up a Connected Vehicle mini-track. Look for Sessions D3 and E3 to continue the topic.**

The Session on Cooperative Transportation Systems Pooled Fund Study (PFS) will provide an overview of the PFS, which is a collaborative research effort among 10 transportation agencies where the primary goal is to advance “connected vehicle to infrastructure” technology and applications to improve safety and mobility on the nation’s roadways. This session will walk through the projects and research that have been conducted to date and provide information on how other organizations can participate in the second phase of the study.

Moderator: Melissa Lance, Virginia Department of Transportation

Speakers:
Melissa Lance, Virginia Department of Transportation (presentation)
Bill Legg, Washington State Department of Transportation (presentation)
Rick McDonough, New York Department of Transportation Commercial Vehicle ITS Director (presentation)

Session D1: Rural Travel Times Implementation
In today’s ever changing technology-based world, new applications for traveler information are constantly emerging. This session will look at four different projects that are…(1) using third party data to provide arterial real time traveler information to motorists; (2) uses for Bluetooth technologies; and (3) technology comparisons for collecting volume, speed and travel time data in both urban and rural environments.

Moderator: Jim Larsen, Ada County Highway District

• Jon Jackels, Minnesota Department of Transportation
  INRIX Data in Work Zones A Case Study on I-35 in Minnesota (abstract) (presentation not currently available)
• Tim Janes, Advanced Traffic Products
  Blue Toad for MAC Address reading for Travel Times (abstract) (presentation not currently available)
• Lynne Randolph, Southwest Research Institute
  Investigation into the Usage of Bluetooth Signals for Roadway Speed Calculations (abstract) (presentation not currently available)

Session D2: CVO - Keeping Freight Moving
The movement of freight is critical to maintaining a vibrant local, regional and national economy. This session will highlight four different projects that are facilitating commercial vehicle operations. From ensuring that traveler information systems provide key CVO information to utilizing GPS to quantify truck performance to weight issues (both utilization of designated routes for oversize/overweight freight and virtual weigh stations), this session is a must attend for those working in the CVO arena.

Moderator: Carl Kuhnke, ITS Canada

• Edward McCormack, University of Washington
  Using Commercial GPS Data to Quantify Truck Performance on Rural Roads (abstract) (presentation)
• Dan Middelton, Texas Transportation Institute
  Using Designated Routes to Keep Oversize/Overweight Freight Moving in Texas (abstract) (presentation)
• Roy Czinku, International Road Dynamics
  Virtual Weigh Station Technology Best Practices (abstract) (presentation)
• Tracey Manzo, Cheval Research & Lisa Nelson, Telvent
  Bringing Vital CVO Information to San Diego and Imperial Counties’ Truckers (abstract) (presentation)

Session D3: Connected Vehicles - Perspectives and Experience, Casco Bay
The purpose of this session is to provide a variety of viewpoints and experiences in the connected vehicle program. Speakers will discuss work from the automobile industry, the telecommunications industry, commercial vehicle demonstrations and the AASHTO Deployment Plan.

Moderator: Jim Wright, AASHTO

Panelists:
Barbara Wendling, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc. (presentation)
Rick McDonough NYDOT Commercial Vehicle ITS Director (presentation)
Tao Zhang, Telecordia (presentation not available)
Chris Hill, Mixon & Hill (presentation)

TRANSIT TRACK
Session T4: Emerging Technology for Rural Transit (Part B)
This session will delve into the different technologies currently available to transit agencies. These include using Google Transit, Modes (a real-time transit tracking and incident reporting system developed by Castle Rock), DriverMate (handheld devices used to connect vehicles/dispatch center) and integration of smartphone technology. Each of these technologies has been designed or adapted for use in rural/remote areas.

Moderator: Acey Roberts, Mississippi Department of Transportation

• Aaron Antrim, Trillium Solutions, Inc
  Using Google Maps for Transit Information in a Rural 511 System (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties) (abstract) (presentation)
• Peter Davies and Kirsten Virshbo, Castle Rock Consultants
  Modes-Update: A Shared GTFS Editor for Rural Transit Providers (abstract) (presentation)
• Tom Smith, Trapeze Group
  Affordable Traveler Information Systems (abstract) (presentation not available)
• Travis Samms, Trapeze Group
  Emerging Technologies: Combine schedule and real-time information with passenger preferences to customize information services offered to passengers. (abstract) (presentation not available)

Session E1: Vendor Session - Cutting Edge Technology for Your Needs
This session was set aside to provide vendors an opportunity to present equipment, service or technology specific information to NRITS attendees. Five companies will be participating and will discuss: Traficon Video Detection, Wavetronix SmartSensors, LeddarTM 3D Detection Technology, Electrotechnics Corporation Rapid Flashing Beacons (for pedestrians), and Vaisala’s weather information applications.

Moderator: Pam O'Brien, DKS Associates

• Jon Tarleton, Vaisala
  Knowing What You Need to Know, and Making Sure They Hear It (abstract) (presentation)
• Ed Salkaus, Kar-Gor, Inc
  Traficon Video Detection (abstract) (presentation not currently available)
• Tim Janes, Advanced Traffic Products
  Wavetronix SmartSensors Utilizing Digital Wave Radar for accurate Counts, Speeds, Sizes of Vehicles. (abstract) (presentation)
• Susan Marshall, Electrotechnics Corp
  Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons: pedestrian safety improved (abstract) (presentation not available)
• Stewart Wilkerson, Leddar Tech
  Leddar tm: 3D Detection Technology for enhanced Mobility (abstract) (presentation not currently available)

Session E2: Wildlife Detection - Which System is Best for You?
It is estimated that collisions with large mammals cost society $6-12 billion annually in the US and $281 million in Canada. This session will begin with a project that is addressing the need for systematic, accurate data collection to improve identification and prioritization of sites for highway mitigation efforts. The presentations that follow will highlight different wildlife detection and warning systems currently deployed in Idaho, Minnesota and Montana.

Moderator: Brian Christensen, Horrocks Engineers

• Rob Ament, Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University
  The Roadkill Observation Collection System: Development of an Integrated Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to Gather Standardized Information (abstract) (presentation)
• Mark Gallagher, SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
  Improvements in Wildlife Detection and Warning Systems (abstract) (presentation)
• Jon Jackels, Minnesota Department of Transportation
  Minnesota’s Experience with Deer Warning Systems (abstract) (presentation)
• Marcel Huijser, Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University
  The Reliability of Two New Animal Detection Systems and Recommended REquirements for System Reliability (abstract) (presentation)

Session E3: Connected Vehicle Panel Discussion
This third and final Connected Vehicle session will be a panel discussion that includes national experts and speakers from the previous two sessions. It will briefly highlight where we have been and then focus on where are we going at both a regional, national and international level. Audience participation is encouraged.

Moderator: Marshall Elizer, Gresham, Smith and Partners

Panelists:

• Dennis Tesseralo, Ministry of Transport
  
• Bob Koeberlein, Idaho Transportation Department
  
• Shelley Row, ITS JPO, USDOT
  
• Jim Wright, AASHTO

TSAG PUBLIC SAFETY TRACK
This track convenes the four emergency responder groups (ERG) described in the NG9-1-1 What’s Next luncheon session - two concurrently in this slot and an additional two at 3:00 pm. Each group will invite participant discussion of specific findings and recommendations.

Law Enforcement ERG

Moderator: Sgt. Dan Dytchkowskyj, TSAG, National Sheriffs Association

Speakers:

• Jim Misener, TSAG, ITS America - Safety Forum
  
• Nancy Pollock, TSAG, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International

Law enforcement professionals uniquely serve community service functions, and as primary emergency responders. NG9-1-1 enhancements to law enforcement services extend across both functions, from traffic enforcement information, to emergency scene information, to criminal activity information. The group notes the significance of communications via NG9-1-1 systems, such as victim’s voice connection directly to responding officers; or, photographic or video images; or in the case of AVL technologies, communicating location information from remote areas to central dispatch or to field command centers.

Transportation Operations ERG, Bay 1B

Moderator: Ted Delbridge, MD, TSAG, National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians

Speakers:

• Dia Gainor, TSAG, National Association of State EMS Officials
  
• Rick Comerford, TSAG, International Association of Emergency Management (IAEM)
  
• Jim Goerke, TSAG, National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

Transportation operations professionals are a unique NG9-1-1 ‘partner’. Through traffic surveillance, management and control functions, transportation operators are first consumers of NG9-1-1, receiving data and information relating to minor traffic impediments such as disabled vehicles or roadway debris. Then at the time of a detected major incident, transportation operators become NG9-1-1 ‘partners’ through their function as data ‘providers’ for responders and management of incident scenes. NG9-1-1 systems recognize transportation operators scene management ‘responders’.

TRANSIT TRACK
Session T5: Transit Panel - Where do we go from here?

Moderator: Fred Kitchener, McFarland Management (presentation)

Panelists:

• Randy Kyrias, Division of Transportation Performance, Idaho Transportation Department
  
• Yehuda Gross, ITS JPO, USDOT (presentation)
  
• Tom Coogan, RouteMatch Software
  
• David Hunt, Pocatello Regional Transit
  

Much of the NRITS transit track has presented current achievements of transit technology deployments in rural and small urban environments. This panel discussion will use those successes as a launching pad to focus on “where do we go from here?” The session will include experts from USDOT, States, and transit operators and will be an interactive discussion with the audience to brainstorm ideas of where we need to focus future efforts in this arena.

This concludes the Transit Track. It began again on Wednesday with the Human Services Transportation Workshop.

Rural SIG Meeting, Casco Bay
The ITS America Rural Special Interest Group (SIG) Meeting held a meeting at this time. An agenda was as follows:

1. Introductions and round-table discussion on what is “new and exciting” (All) – 15 min
   
2. On-going Federal activities related to rural community (Ted Smith, Noblis) – 15 min
   
3. Report and discussion of Rural ITS Champion award (Steve Albert, Rural SIG Chair) – 10 min
   
4. Discussion of Lifetime Achievement Award (Steve Albert, Rural SIG Chair) – 10 min
   
5. Discussion of developing a scanning tour proposal (Ted Smith, Noblis) – 10 min
   
6. Discussion of future conference themes/focus (Steve Albert, Rural SIG Chair) – 10 min
   
7. Report and discussion of future conference sites (Steve Albert, Rural SIG Chair) – 10 min
   
8. Discussion of possible meeting at ITS World Congress in Orlando, FL (Bill Legg, WSDOT) – 10 min

This meeting concludes at 4:30 pm.

TSAG PUBLIC SAFETY TRACK
This track completes the four emergency responder groups (ERG) described in the NG9-1-1 What’s Next luncheon session. Each group will invite participant discussion of specific findings and recommendations. These sessions conclude at 4:30 pm.

Fire & Rescue ERG

Moderator: Mike Brown, TSAG, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

Speakers:

• TJ Nedrow, TSAG, National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
  
• Skip Yeakel, TSAG, American Trucking Association
  
• Jim Goerke, TSAG, National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

Emergency Medical Services ERG

Moderator: John Corbin, TSAG, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

Speakers:

• Tom West, TSAG, University Transportation Centers
  
• Bill Hinkle, TSAG, National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)

The EMS group addresses NG9-1-1 functionalities and information priorities that would clearly promote NG9-1-1 support for EMS. Examples include providing real-time, seamless sharing of priority information to first responders, to address key questions such as ‘what’s the situation’; ‘who else is going’; ‘who else can go’; etc. This information is transmitted through a stable platform and all the way to trauma centers and emergency rooms. Data can be communicated via multiple mediums, including SMS (text), photos, or meaningful and predictive vehicle telematics information to PSAPs and on to field responders.

TRANSIT TRACK
Human Services Transportation Workshop
This workshop, hosted by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) ITS Joint Program Office, invites all conference participants who are interested in coordinating community transportation utilizing ITS. The workshop aims to promote knowledge and information sharing on innovative community transportation practices and the usage of ITS technologies in advancing service coordination. Workshop speakers include representatives from selected Travel Management Coordination Center (TMCC) demonstration sites sponsored by the USDOT Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) and United We Ride (UWR) initiatives. These demonstration sites successfully deployed various ITS applications to improve the quality of public transportation in their respective communities through service coordination and technology integration. Adjourns at 4:00 pm.

Welcome and Workshop Overview

• Alan Eirls, Director, Citylink Transit
  
• TBA, USDOT
  
• Aletha Goodine, FTA, USDOT

Yehuda Gross and Doug Birnie, USDOT, Washington, DC
USDOT Update: United We Ride (UWR) and Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) Initiatives (presentation)

Doug Jamison, Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando, Florida
Orlando, FL TMCC Phased Implementation – building up ITS capabilities one step at a time(presentation)

Session G1: ITS Financing - Innovative Approaches to Revenue Generation, Kidd Island Bay
Many State DOTs face the challenge that there are more requests for ITS projects than funding. This session will highlight two tools that are available to help. One provides a cost/benefit tool for rural ITS deployments and the other is an example of revenue generation through 511. The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion on how some states are approaching project funding in these challenging economic times making this a must-attend session!

Moderator: Acey Roberts, Mississippi Department of Transportation

• Jorgen Pedersen, Telvent
  Dispelling the Myths of Self-Funding Systems (presentation not available)
• Dean Deeter, Athey Creek Consultants
  Cost/Benefit ITS Tool – Results of Testing to Date (abstract) (presentation)
• Matt Hamill, Global 5 Communications
  Revenue Generation through 511 for Rural States: (abstract) (presentation)
• Mike Haas, Haas Systems
  The Economics of Free Traveler Information: Understandign the Value of What DOT's Have to Sell and Who is Buying (presentation not available)