Major Initiatives > ICM

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ICMS?

The "ICM Concept of Operations for a Generic Corridor" defines an ICMS as a "system of systems," involving multiple agencies and stakeholders[1]. ICM may result in the deployment of an actual transportation management system, which may be referred to as an integrated corridor management system or "ICMS." Such a system would connect the individual network-based transportation management systems (complete with ICMS central hardware and servers, database, decision support software, joint sharing of command and control activities). ICM may just consist of a set of procedures agreed to by network owners with appropriate linkages between their respective systems. Network owners are strongly encouraged to follow the ICM life-cycle process described in the Generic CONOPS, which is based on the systems engineering management process, in the development and implementation of an ICMS.

What makes ICM different from traditional transportation management approaches?

ICM is different from traditional transportation management approaches in its emphasis both on coordinated, multimodal cross-network operations within a corridor and on the efficient use of existing network assets to manage congestion and empower travelers through better information and more choice.

ICM builds upon regional information sharing and management approaches to provide integrated operations along various corridors within a region. ICM takes the next step from integrated management at a regional level to integrated operations at a corridor level. One or more corridors will likely be found in a region—in other words, a corridor is a subset of a region. ICM is distinct from regional approaches in that, whereas regional management focuses primarily on information sharing and coordination and collaboration between agencies, ICM goes beyond this to include cross-operations of the various networks within the region.

These integrated operations within a corridor apply to a variety of scenarios and challenges, including incident management, special event management, emergency management, managed lanes and recurring congestion. While regional management encompasses many similar activities, it is important to consider just what these various operation activities entail and how they get accomplished from both a corridor and broader regional perspective. For example, while traveler information has a regional focus in terms of where the information is obtained and how it is distributed, to facilitate individual traveler trip needs, corridor traveler information must provide travelers with a means to compare their individual travel alternatives through a corridor and assist them to make their daily travel choices. This means that the corridor travel conditions must be presented in a way that is network and mode-neutral so that each alternative can be easily compared.

Please see the "Relationship Between Corridor Management and Regional Management" technical memorandum in the ICM Knowledgebase available at http://www.its.dot.gov/icms/index.htm for more information.

How does ICM relate to the USDOT's Congestion Initiative?

The USDOT's Focus on Congestion Relief Web site describes the USDOT's Congestion Initiative:

"In May 2006, then Secretary Norman Mineta announced the National Strategy to Reduce Congestion America's Transportation Network. This strategy provides the framework for government officials, the private sector, and most importantly, the citizen-user to take the necessary steps to make today's traffic congestion a thing of the past." It further states that "solutions will require… improved productivity of existing transportation assets." ICM is one tool in the congestion management toolbox to accomplish just that: improved productivity of existing assets.

The USDOT's ICM Initiative focuses on providing real-time traveler information, multimodal operations and the use of technology to reduce congestion. Ms. Shelley Row, Director of USDOT's ITS Joint Program Office, notes that the USDOT’s ICM Initiative "provides a synergistic approach to the Congestion Initiative as it offers the opportunity to truly advance transportation operations in a multimodal manner." Ms. Row further notes that "many cities have invested significant resources in an ITS infrastructure for highways, arterials, and transit systems. It is time to leverage this investment and operate the system in a coordinated manner that encompasses technical, operation, and institutional coordination."

Visit the USDOT's National Strategy to Reduce Congestion Web site at www.fightgridlocknow.gov for more information on the USDOT's Congestion Initiative. See the USDOT's ICM Web site at http://www.its.dot.gov/icms/index.htm for more information on ICM and how it can help regions improve the productivity of their existing transportation network assets, as well as improve travel time reliability.

Updated October 9, 2008 4:12 PM