The 2nd workshop held on December 16 focused onhow agencies can work together to plan, implement,

and operate ITS technologies. Representativesincluded municipalities, emergency managers, lawenforcement, industry, university parking, and transitmanagers from Beatrice, Jefferson County, Falls City,Lincoln, Raymond Central, Saline County, and Seward.

More than 40 participants attended this workshop,titled, "How Do the Pieces Fit Together." The focuswas on how effective collaboration can result in theimplementation of ITS technologies that are cost-effective and user friendly.

Communication technologies offer a good example.A common thread between all agencies is the needto communicate effectively. Technology is a criticallink in lieu of face-to-face communication. If eachagency independently selects a technology to meettheir immediate needs, opportunities can be missed.For example, 2-way radios may be selected as a wayto enhance geographic coverage, but what aboutother needs in the region? Examples include sharinginformation between mobile computers or placingautomatic vehicle location units in emergencyvehicles and buses. This study, and other similarefforts, facilitates ongoing collaboration.

"We must be able to communicate across countylines," said John McKee, Emergency Manager forJefferson County. "The architecture could helpintegrate a number of things we are doing now," headded.

Many of the attendees had attended the firstworkshop and previously provided feedback. Muchof the input gathered at the second workshopcomplimented and built on what had beencollected earlier.

For school buses serving multiple counties, real-timeinformation on road conditions is a high priority. TomRother, representing Raymond Central, saidtechnologies that assist in monitoring school busesalso would be beneficial.

For the Seward Police Department, knowing aboutclosures along I-80 as soon as possible would be

helpful. With Highways 15 and 34 both comingthrough Seward, travelers are frequently in the area.

Representatives from trucking organizations said ITSapplications are very important when the need arisesto distribute a message quickly and over a largegeographic area. Amber Alerts and disaster responseand recovery incidents are good examples.

Jason McMahon of Cargill in Lincoln is concernedabout getting semi-trucks in and out of Cargill whilekeeping the nearby 27th Street and CornhuskerHighway intersection safe for all drivers. "During thepeak summer and fall harvests, there is a lot ofheavy truck activity entering the driveway near thisintersection, and it gets backed up," he said.

The last hour of the workshop was spent discussing thepotential of various market packages to address theneeds identified throughout the region. Please seepage 3 for more information on market packages.

"The architecturecould help integrate anumber of things we

are doing now,"

-John McKeeEmergency Managerfor Jefferson County

Effective Collaboration Takes Shape at Second Workshop

2

It is one thing for an agency to implement a technology to improve agency effectiveness or to improvecustomer service. It is a far different thing for several agencies to work together to plan, implement and

operate technologies.

Examples are cameras used for traffic monitoring (CCTV) and dynamicmessage signs (DMS) used for incident, event and work zone travelerinformation. At the present time the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR),the City of Lincoln and the University of Nebraska are all implementing andoperating traffic monitoring CCTV systems in the SENEARCH region, includingthe City of Lincoln. These systems are independent and at the present timethere is no provision for shared viewing or pan-tilt-zoom control of cameras ofcommon interest.

So what can be done to create cooperation on CCTV, DMS and other ITStechnologies? SENEARCH stakeholders have identified organizational"champions." The champions will be meeting to identify how they can worktogether and to enter into some type of "agreement" to formalize this working relationship. The agreements maytake the form of "handshakes" or informal agreements. Another option includes more formal, inter-localagreements for funding or operations. In any case the agreements will describe stakeholder roles andexpectations.

In the CCTV and DMS examples, the agreements will address sharing of images and control. When control isshared, the agreements will describe a hierarchy of control depending on the need and agency's reason forusing the device. A DMS showing parking information may be changed byNDOR when it is needed to alert motorists of a road closure due to a crash.

Examples of projects identified in SENEARCH that will require inter-organizationalagreements for design, implementation and operations include:

• Local emergency servicesEmergency services coordinationComputer-aided dispatchEmergency vehicle route guidance

• Regional communication improvements• City of Lincoln joint operations center• Infrastructure security monitoring• Transit improvements

Multi-jurisdictional transit coordinationLocal transit operations upgrade

• Vehicle tracking systemsLocal county maintenance vehiclesSchool busesLocal transit vehicles

• Transit signal priority

Champions are individuals who will pursue agreements for cooperation and collaboration where it makes senseto achieve maximum benefits from ITS investments. These individuals may be County Commissioners,Departmental Directors, Emergency Managers, or others who have a strong desire to see ITS progress. Betweennow and the end of the SENEARCH planning project, the consultant project team will be meeting withstakeholder champions to identify opportunities for and to facilitate the development of agreements forcollaboration and cooperation.

If you have identified an ITS project that is important to your agency, but have not stepped forward as achampion, now is the time to ask yourself:

• How can ITS help my organization or my organization's customers?• How can collaboration create momentum for ITS implementation for my organization?• How can I help bring ITS benefits to my organization?

Collaboration and Cooperation: ITS Benefits Come from Working Together

3

Stakeholders who are involved with development of the Southeast Nebraska Regional ITS Architecture (SENEARCH)have identified a broad range of ITS Market Packages that could be implemented to meet transportation needs

in the 13-county region. A market package is a specific recommendation for addressing a transportation problemthrough the identification and implementation of ITS goals.

The National ITS Architecture identifies a total of 85 market packages that reflect the current national definition ofITS and the evolving technology market. More information on market packages can be seen through the projectwebsite at www.iteris.com/senearch or www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/index.htm

At the 2nd workshop held on December 16, participants were provided a list of all the market packages identifiedto-date that are applicable to the Southeast Nebraska region. In a group setting, each participant was asked tocomment on specific market packages that addressed transportation needs in their counties.

Market packages will be implemented through the collaborative efforts between the various State and LocalAgencies within the 13-county region. Some market packages would largely be implemented within a singleagency but involve several departmentswithin the agency. These marketpackages will be the basis for ongoingdiscussions at stakeholder meetings andworkshops that will be held over the nextcouple months.

An example market package isInteractive Traveler Information. Thismarket package provides tailoredinformation in response to a travelerrequest. Both real-time interactive requestand response systems and informationsystems provide a tailored stream ofinformation to the traveler based on asubmitted profile.

The traveler can obtain currentinformation regarding traffic conditions,roadway maintenance and construction,transit services, ride share/ride match,parking management, detours andpricing information. A variety of interactivedevices may be used by the traveler toaccess information prior to a trip orenroute including by phone (dial 511),kiosk, Personal Digital Assistant, personal computer, and a variety of in-vehicle devices. This market package alsoallows value-added resellers to collect transportation information and then make these available via personaldevices or remote traveler systems. The intent is to better inform their customers of transportation conditions. Oneexample of this is 24-hour traffic channels. These can be subscribed to over satellite radio. Successful deploymentof this market package relies on availability of real-time transportation data from roadway instrumentation, transit,probe vehicles or other means.

Interactive Traveler Information can support the following transportation goals:

• Increase Transportation System Efficiency and Capacity

• Enhance Mobility

• Reduce Energy Consumption and Environmental Costs

• Create an Environment for an ITS Market

Stakeholders specifically commented on over 35 potential applications of market packages at the workshop.Examples included HAZMAT management, work zone safety, school bus tracking, railroad crossings and safety, andemergency communications between agencies. The market packages help define the ITS projects that will bediscussed at Workshop Number 3

Market Packages: Addressing Transportation Needs inSoutheast Nebraska

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Up to now discussions with SENEARCH stakeholders has focused on transportation needs and ITS services to addressthose. The stakeholders have identified over 50 ITS services or Market Packages that are applicable to the SENEARCH

region. The next step is to translate these Market Packages toprojects. The projects will be grouped in accordance with thefollowing list and the graphic to the right:

• Projects in the Nebraska Statewide ITS Regional Architecture that relate to SENEARCH.

• New projects in the SENEARCH will be divided into two groupings:• Projects applicable to the 13-county region• Projects applicable only to Lincoln &

Lancaster County

Projects will be listed in sequential order (short term, mid term,and long-term projects). Early projects will typically includethose that are needed to implement subsequent projects.Examples of early projects may include development ofinteroperable wireless voice and data communicationnetworks and development of common hardware andsoftware platforms for sharing camera images and pan-tilt-zoom camera controls between agencies. The wirelessdata network would allow implementation of other projects such as tracking systems for rural transit vehicles, forcounty maintenance vehicles, or for school buses.

A step that typically occurs in conjunction with project sequencing is project prioritization. The project prioritizationis not directly reflected in the final architecture. This is in accordance with the federal guidelines for conducting aregional architecture.

Project priorities will describe implementation priorities for projects in the same sequential order. The near term projectsmay include several projects that can be implemented without another enabling project. These will be classified as"high priority" "near term" projects.

An example high priority, near termproject is the Star Tran vehicle trackingsystem. Federal and local funds areavailable and Star Tran is ready to beginfinal design and implementation. Noother projects are required to beimplemented in advance. In theSENEARCH the Star Tran vehicle trackingsystem will be listed as a "near term"project applicable only to Lincoln andLancaster County. In the project prioritylisting, the Star Tran vehicle tracking

system will be listed as a "high priority", "near term"project. Dependent on vehicle tracking are real-timebus arrival times at transit stations and other transitmanagement systems.

Stakeholders are asked to provide input on theirfavorite projects, project sequencing, and projectpriorities from now until the next SENEARCH workshopscheduled for January 27, 2005.

Next Workshop: Projects and Project Sequencing

5

Formal development of the Southeast Nebraska Regional ITS Architecture began in mid September 2004.As shown in the graphic below, the study is about 60% complete.

Up to now we have been focused on identifying needs and ITS services that can meet those needs. Wehave identified projects that are needed to create cooperative and collaborative ITS services for SoutheastNebraska. Starting now and early in the New Year, we will be focused on elements needed to allow projectsto proceed. These activities include beginning to develop inter-agency agreements for collaboration andcooperation, identification of common standards, and developing a plan for maintenance of SENEARCH soit can remain a useful and living ITS planning document far into the future. It is expected SENEARCH will beready to use for ITS project development by the April 8, 2005 Federal deadline.

SENEARCH Study Status

SE Nebraska Regional ITSPO Box 84608Lincoln, NE 68501

SE Nebraska ITS CountiesButler Otoe Cass PawneeGage RichardsonJefferson SalineJohnson SaundersLancaster SewardNemaha

If you would like additional projectinformation contact:

Mr. Virendra Singh Project Manager Ph. 402-441-7711 / Email vsingh@ci.lincoln.ne.us

Consultant TeamMike Malone, Iteris, Inc. Ph. 402-476-5101 / Email msm3@iteris.com

Duane Eitel, Olsson AssociatesPh. 402-458-5000 / Email deitel@oaconsulting.com

Upcoming Workshops

Thursday, January 27Project Sequencing/Agency Agreements

Thursday, March 3Final Report

Times and Location for both workshops:2 - 4:30 p.m.Walt Library 6701 S. 14th StreetLincoln, NE

Project website: www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/index.htm orwww.iteris.com/senearch