Crystal JonesCrystal Jones

Office of Freight Office of Freight ManagementManagement

and Operationsand Operations

USDOTUSDOTFederal Highway Federal Highway

AdministrationAdministration

September 2007September 2007

•• 25% of the U.S. GDP is related to 25% of the U.S. GDP is related to international trade and is predicted to grow international trade and is predicted to grow to 35% in the next 20 years.to 35% in the next 20 years.

•• From 1980 to 2002, truck travel on US From 1980 to 2002, truck travel on US highways grew by 90% while lanehighways grew by 90% while lane--miles of miles of public roads grew by only 5%.public roads grew by only 5%.

•• Between 2002 and 2035, the highways Between 2002 and 2035, the highways carrying 10,000 or more trucks will carrying 10,000 or more trucks will increase from 10K miles to 34K miles.increase from 10K miles to 34K miles.

ContextContext

NNo Longer Just an Urban Issueo Longer Just an Urban Issue

•• Congestion impedes timely Congestion impedes timely and reliable freight and reliable freight movements and threatens movements and threatens business productivity.business productivity.

•• The travel growth rate has The travel growth rate has been even greater in rural been even greater in rural than in urban areasthan in urban areas

•• Freight volumes are expected Freight volumes are expected to increase 92% by 2035 from to increase 92% by 2035 from the 2002 levelthe 2002 level

•• If left unaddressed, by 2035 If left unaddressed, by 2035 congestion will clog many congestion will clog many major interstate corridorsmajor interstate corridors

National Highway System estimatedpeak period congestion (2020)

FHWA FHWA -- Office of Freight Management Office of Freight Management and Operations and Operations –– ObjectivesObjectives

•• Understand the magnitude and geography of freight Understand the magnitude and geography of freight moving on the nationmoving on the nation’’s transportation system, s transportation system, including international freight including international freight

•• Develop strategies, analytical tools, institutional Develop strategies, analytical tools, institutional arrangements, and professional capacities for all arrangements, and professional capacities for all levels of government to address freight movementlevels of government to address freight movement

•• Understand and promote the economic benefits of Understand and promote the economic benefits of freight transportationfreight transportation

•• Encourage innovative freight technology & operationsEncourage innovative freight technology & operations•• Enforce commercial vehicle size and weight Enforce commercial vehicle size and weight

requirementsrequirements

Measuring System PerformanceMeasuring System Performance

Strategic Objective Strategic Objective -- Global ConnectivityGlobal Connectivity““Facilitate a more efficient domestic and global Facilitate a more efficient domestic and global

transportation system that enables economic growth and transportation system that enables economic growth and developmentdevelopment””

GoalsGoals•• To reduce travel time in key highway freight corridors. To reduce travel time in key highway freight corridors. •• To reduce delays of commercial vehicles processed atTo reduce delays of commercial vehicles processed atNational Highway System border crossingsNational Highway System border crossings

Outcome MeasuresOutcome Measures•• Travel Time and Reliability on Freight Significant Travel Time and Reliability on Freight Significant

HighwaysHighways•• Border Crossing Time Border Crossing Time

What are Freight Performance What are Freight Performance Indicators?Indicators?

•• PointPoint--toto--point travel times on selected freightpoint travel times on selected freight--significant highways significant highways

•• Crossing times at international bordersCrossing times at international borders•• Condition of connectors between NHS and Condition of connectors between NHS and

intermodal terminalsintermodal terminals•• Cost of highway freight per tonCost of highway freight per ton--mile mile •• Cargo insurance ratesCargo insurance rates•• Customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction. •• Hours of delay per 1,000 vehicle miles on Hours of delay per 1,000 vehicle miles on

selected freightselected freight--significant highways significant highways

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/perform_meas/fpmtraveltime/index.htm

Freight Performance MeasurementFreight Performance Measurement –– Travel Travel Time on Freight Significant CorridorsTime on Freight Significant Corridors

•• What?What?•• Methodology use Trucks as ProbesMethodology use Trucks as Probes

•• Automatic Vehicle Automatic Vehicle Location(AVLLocation(AVL)/Satellite )/Satellite TechnologyTechnology

•• GPS Coordinates (Date and Time Stamped)GPS Coordinates (Date and Time Stamped)•• Unique Carrier IDUnique Carrier ID

•• How?How?•• Partnership with American Transportation Research Partnership with American Transportation Research

Institute, a Satellite Technology Vendors and Institute, a Satellite Technology Vendors and CarriersCarriers

•• Data Cleansing techniques allows collection of Data Cleansing techniques allows collection of collection data from all/most of the collection data from all/most of the vendo(svendo(s) carrier ) carrier subscribers (~300,000 vehicles)subscribers (~300,000 vehicles)

•• Where?Where?•• 25 Major US Interstates25 Major US Interstates•• Land Border CrossingsLand Border Crossings

•• 5 US/Canada Crossings5 US/Canada Crossings•• US/Mexico under developmentUS/Mexico under development

•• Why?Why?•• Provides a quantifiable basis to engage public Provides a quantifiable basis to engage public

and private sector and investigate and explore and private sector and investigate and explore causes of delaycauses of delay

•• One of several analytical tools that helps get One of several analytical tools that helps get us to solutions us to solutions –– target resources where target resources where greatest needs existsgreatest needs exists

Freight Performance Measurement Freight Performance Measurement –– Travel Travel Time on Freight Significant CorridorsTime on Freight Significant Corridors

25 Corridors25 Corridors

FPM Border Component (US/CN)FPM Border Component (US/CN)Data Collection Began 7/01/05 for 5 CrossingsData Collection Began 7/01/05 for 5 Crossings

Blaine (Pacific Highway): Blaine, WABlaine (Pacific Highway): Blaine, WAPembina: Pembina, NDPembina: Pembina, NDAmbassador Bridge: Detroit, MIAmbassador Bridge: Detroit, MIPeace Bridge: Buffalo, NYPeace Bridge: Buffalo, NYChamplain: Champlain, NYChamplain: Champlain, NY

Effort looks at crossings as well as transportation Effort looks at crossings as well as transportation network that supports the crossingsnetwork that supports the crossings

Data Collection at Data Collection at AmbassadorAmbassador

4 US Approaches

Michigan Route 3

Interstate 75

Interstate 94

Interstate 96

3 CN Approaches ON

Provincial 401 ON Provincial 3E.C. Row EXPY

•• Freight Significant CorridorsFreight Significant Corridors•• Average Operating Speeds (entire Average Operating Speeds (entire

Corridor)Corridor)•• Travel Time Reliability (Buffer Index)Travel Time Reliability (Buffer Index)

•• Borders (US/Canada)Borders (US/Canada)•• Total Crossing TimeTotal Crossing Time•• Crossing Time Reliability (Buffer Index)Crossing Time Reliability (Buffer Index)

Current MeasuresCurrent Measures --

What is travel time reliability?What is travel time reliability?

•• Consistency or dependability in travel Consistency or dependability in travel times measured from:times measured from:–– DayDay--toto--day; and/or day; and/or –– Across different times of dayAcross different times of day–– For Freight (for a trade lane, originFor Freight (for a trade lane, origin--

destination pair)destination pair)•• Not focused on typical delay (capacityNot focused on typical delay (capacity--

demand) so much as unexpected delaydemand) so much as unexpected delay

Buffer indexBuffer index

•• Definition: Definition: Extra timeExtra time (or time cushion) that should add to average (or time cushion) that should add to average travel time to ensure ontravel time to ensure on--time arrival at a given level of confidence time arrival at a given level of confidence (e.g. 95%, 90%)(e.g. 95%, 90%)

•• Buffer index (%) = Buffer index (%) =

•• Buffer time (hours) =buffer index (1.42) Buffer time (hours) =buffer index (1.42) ×× average travel time average travel time (22.69)(22.69)

95th95th-- percentile time (55hours) percentile time (55hours) ̶̶ average time(22.69 hours)average time(22.69 hours)average travel time (22.69hours)average travel time (22.69hours)

142%142%

For 95% onFor 95% on--time arrival you should add (buffer time)time arrival you should add (buffer time)

33 hours33 hoursto the average ofto the average of

22.69 hours22.69 hours

Planning time indexPlanning time index

•• Definition: Definition: Total timeTotal time a traveler should allow to ensure a traveler should allow to ensure onon--time arrivaltime arrival

•• Planning time index =Planning time index =

•• Results in index value >= 1 (3.93)Results in index value >= 1 (3.93)

•• Planning time (hours) = Planning time (hours) = planning time index (3.93) planning time index (3.93) ×× ideal or freeideal or free--flow travel flow travel

time (14 hours)time (14 hours)

95th95th--percentile travel time(55 hours)percentile travel time(55 hours)Ideal or freeIdeal or free--flow travel time (14 hours)flow travel time (14 hours)

With a desired onWith a desired on--time arrival of 95% ontime arrival of 95% on--time you time you should plan for (planning time)should plan for (planning time)

55 hours55 hours

I-5 I-10 I-45 I-65 I-70

Freight Corridor Reliability

20.80

30.78

6.82

11.14

20.26

35.55

6.67

18.90

13.07

18.31

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

Intestate Freight Corridor

Buf

fer I

ndex

(Rel

iabi

lity)

2005 2006

•• Jeff Add the most appropriate truck Jeff Add the most appropriate truck parking slide and speaker notesparking slide and speaker notes

Other Travel Time MeasuresOther Travel Time Measures

•• Measures of average travel time Measures of average travel time –– Average travel time in peak period in major metro areas Average travel time in peak period in major metro areas –– citycity--toto--city travel timecity travel time–– shipper pointshipper point--toto--point travel timepoint travel time

•• Measures of delay (or added travel time) Measures of delay (or added travel time) –– hours of delay per 1000 vehiclehours of delay per 1000 vehicle--milemile–– percent of corridor experiencing AM/PM peak delay percent of corridor experiencing AM/PM peak delay

•• Reliability MeasuresReliability Measures–– Annual hours of incidentAnnual hours of incident--based delaybased delay–– Annual hours of workAnnual hours of work--zone based delayzone based delay–– Annual hours of weatherAnnual hours of weather--based delaybased delay

Confidence the Data Can be Applied inConfidence the Data Can be Applied inthe Following Areasthe Following Areas

•• Decision MakingDecision Making•• Project Analysis and PrioritizationProject Analysis and Prioritization•• Trend Analysis and Historical Data (e.g. for performance Trend Analysis and Historical Data (e.g. for performance

measurement, public information, engaging freight measurement, public information, engaging freight stakeholders)stakeholders)

•• Analysis of the effects of varying operational conditions Analysis of the effects of varying operational conditions on the network (e.g. weather, incidents, work zones) on the network (e.g. weather, incidents, work zones)

•• IInvestment Decisions at the National Levelnvestment Decisions at the National Level•• Investment Decisions at the State or Local LevelInvestment Decisions at the State or Local Level•• Transportation PlanningTransportation Planning

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Potential Value of Data

Very Valuable

46%SomewhatValuable

38%

No Value0%

Too Early to Tell or Not Enough Information To

Conclude16%

How Likely to Use

Extremely

Unlikely14%

Somewhat Unlikely

6%

NeitherLikely

nor Unlikely11%Somewhat

Likely31%

Very Likely38%

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Decision MakingDecision Making

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Project Analysis and Project Analysis and PrioritizationPrioritization

Extremely Confident

11%

Somewhat Confident

52%

Little or No Confidence

26%

Too Early to Tell or Not Enough Information To

Conclude11%

Extremely Confident

11%

Somewhat Confident

56%

Little or No Confidence

8%

Too Early to Tell or Not

Enough Information

To Conclude25%

Trend Trend Analysis/HistoricalAnalysis/HistoricalDataData

Analysis varying Analysis varying operational conditionsoperational conditions

Extremely Confident

42%

Somewhat Confident

44%

Little or No Confidence

6%

Too Early to Tell or Not

Enough Information To

Conclude8%

Extremely Confident

31%

Somewhat Confident

50%

Little or No Confidence

11%

Too Early to Tell or Not

Enough Information

To Conclude8%

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Investment Decisions Investment Decisions ––NationalNational

Investment DecisionsInvestment Decisions--State and LocalState and Local

Extremely Confident

31%

Somewhat Confident

41%

Little or No Confidence

11%

Too Early to Tell or Not

Enough Information

To Conclude17%

Extremely Confident

17%

Somewhat Confident

50%

Little or No Confidence

25%

Too Early to Tell or Not

Enough Information

To Conclude8%

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Transportation Planning

Extremely Confident

33%

Somewhat Confident

48%

Little or No Confidence

8%

Too Early to Tell or Not

Enough Information

To Conclude

11%

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Future ResearchFuture Research

• Collecting and analyzing data for more roadways (e.g. arterials, US Highways, State Highways)

• Building FPM tools and products based on user defined requirements

• Using FPM data as an input to transportation models (e.g. Freight Models, Travel Time Models)

• Collecting data for the other modes (e.g. rail, water, air)

• Improving the Visualization Tool (e.g. adding more layers on things such as weather, work zones, VMT, AADTT)

What We Heard From the StatesWhat We Heard From the States

Key Next StepsKey Next Steps•• Develop a WebDevelop a Web--based tool to disseminate data based tool to disseminate data ––

primary audiences are State DOTs and MPOsprimary audiences are State DOTs and MPOs–– DirectionalDirectional–– Time of DayTime of Day–– City PairsCity Pairs

•• Assess expanding beyond the interstate systemAssess expanding beyond the interstate system•• Enhance data by adding additional vendors/fleetsEnhance data by adding additional vendors/fleets•• Partner with public agencies and universities to apply Partner with public agencies and universities to apply

the resultsthe results–– Trend AnalysisTrend Analysis–– Demand ModelingDemand Modeling–– Forecasting ModelsForecasting Models–– Cost Benefit/AnalysisCost Benefit/Analysis–– Before and After AssessmentsBefore and After Assessments

•• Expand Border Data Collection to US/MX BorderExpand Border Data Collection to US/MX Border

Additional informationAdditional information

•• January 2006 report:January 2006 report:–– Travel Time Reliability: Making It There On Travel Time Reliability: Making It There On

Time, All The TimeTime, All The Time–– http://http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.govwww.ops.fhwa.dot.gov

•• Contacts:Contacts:–– Crystal Jones, FHWA, 202Crystal Jones, FHWA, 202--366366--29762976