Traveler Information Projects

Athey Creek researched the need and feasibility of using existing Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) resources to generate and share traveler information to connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). The project featured extensive engagement of industry to determine automaker and third party needs and uses for traveler information, as well as their preference for how to receive it, including data standards. Athey Creek supported MnDOT in exploring options for consolidating data and generating messages for CAVs, including options for state, private, and national data exchange platforms. In its final stage, the project examined ways for MnDOT to improve its collection and sharing of traveler information for all travelers while readying the state for a CAV future.

The ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study initiated this project to review the current state of traveler information practice focused on reporting weather events and to explore the concept of initiating a traveler information community of practice (CoP) to enable information sharing among traveler information coordinators who manage state and local department of transportation traveler information systems. Athey Creek developed an online survey that was distributed to traveler information contacts in each of the U.S. states as well as the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The survey gathered information about road weather reporting processes and collected input to understand agency needs that might be met through a CoP. Based on the interest in a CoP gathered through the survey results, Athey Creek facilitated discussions with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) regarding interest in establishing a traveler information CoP within AASHTO’s committee structure. Due to efforts completed through this project, AASHTO has created a traveler information CoP within the Committee on Transportation System Operations.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Weather Savvy Roads initiative, conducted through the fourth round of Every Day Counts, includes two road weather management strategies – Pathfinder and Integrating Mobile Observations (IMO). Pathfinder is a collaborative effort between the National Weather Service, state DOTs, and state DOT support contractors who provide road weather information. IMO involves collecting supplemental data from fleet vehicles and ancillary sensors to provide maintenance managers with a detailed view of the weather and road conditions along the road network. Athey Creek was part of a team and provided technical support for the Pathfinder and IMO deployments. In this role, Athey Creek developed outreach materials including case studies, fact sheets and presentations. Athey Creek also coordinated and facilitated workshops and peer exchanges among road weather management and traveler information stakeholders. Athey Creek led the Pathfinder stakeholder workshop in Minnesota, which engaged stakeholders in discussing how their current business process for managing blizzards can be improved under Pathfinder.

Prior to updating Minnesota’s 511 traveler information system, MnDOT contracted with Athey Creek to assist in writing request for proposal and requirements documents. Athey Creek helped build consensus among MnDOT staff on what was being procured, prepared a system summary that incorporated critical sections of a typical concept of operations document, and provided a high-level description of the need and vision for the system, the roles of the contractor and MnDOT, and the products of the project, including the entry tool, 511 phone system, 511 website, and 511 mobile application. Athey Creek provided the details necessary for potential bidders to submit comprehensive technical and cost proposals. Athey Creek developed a set of functional requirements and walked MnDOT staff through each category and requirement, verified the applicability to Minnesota’s needs, and revised the requirements as necessary. Athey Creek worked with the MnDOT to identify and prepare content for the traveler information system RFP. Athey Creek also compared the technical proposals to the requirements, summarizing the proposals, and leading a walkthrough of the requirements. Finally, Athey Creek assisted in conceptualizing and drafting optional feature enhancements based on MnDOT’s needs and the features and functions offered by the selected contractor.