[Federal Register: April 18, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 20026-20027]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ap01-114]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
National Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture;
New User Service
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to announce that FHWA will
begin the incorporation of a new user service, Maintenance and
Construction Operations (MCO), into the National ITS Architecture. The
need for the MCO User Service was identified by stakeholders of the
rural ITS deployment community so that more comprehensive rural
regional ITS architectures could be developed. This user service was
developed, with stakeholder participation, through development
workshops in April 1999 and June 2000 and at a presentation session at
the Rural Advanced Transportation Technology Systems (RATTS) conference
in August 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on National ITS
Architecture Development: Mr. Lee Simmons, (202) 366-8048, ITS Joint
Program Office (HOIT-1). For information on the Maintenance and
Construction Operations User Service: Mr. James Pol, (202) 366-4374,
ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1), Mr. Michael Freitas, (202) 366-9292,
ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1). For Legal Questions: Ms. Gloria
Hardiman-Tobin, (202) 366-1397, Office of the Chief Counsel (HCC-40).
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through
Friday, except Federal Holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202)
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's
home page at: http:www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing
Office's web site at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
An electronic copy of the Maintenance and Construction Operations
User Service can be retrieved from the ITS web site: http://
www.its.dot.gov.
[[Page 20027]]
Background
The Maintenance and Construction Operations (MCO) User Service
describes the need for effectively integrating ITS maintenance and
construction services with other ITS services. Generally, key MCO
services include monitoring, operating, maintaining, improving, and
managing the physical condition of the roadway, associated
infrastructure equipment on the roadway, and the available resources
necessary to conduct these activities. The functional areas addressed
in the Maintenance and Construction Operations User Service are those
that involve ITS technologies, integration with other transportation
systems that are represented in the National ITS Architecture, and
those that will benefit surface transportation efficiency and safety.
The MCO User Service requires ITS-related systems and processes to
have the capability to monitor, analyze, and disseminate roadway
conditions data for operational, maintenance, and managerial uses. It
prescribes the need to coordinate and integrate MCO activities within
diverse organizations in order to reduce costs, maintain or improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of these activities, and increase the
level of reusability of systems and technologies. In spite of its rural
origin, the MCO User Service is applicable to urban, interurban, and
rural environments.
The focus for the MCO User Service will be on the following four
functional areas: 1. Maintenance Vehicle Fleet Management: Systems that
monitor/track vehicle location, support enhanced routing, scheduling,
and dispatching functions, and use on-board diagnostic systems to
assist in vehicle operations and maintenance activities. An example
would be snow removal equipment dispatch and monitoring systems.
2. Roadway Management: Systems that provide automated monitoring of
traffic, road surface, and weather conditions (from both roadside
components and vehicles), contain coordinated dispatching, perform
hazardous road conditions remediation, and have the ability to alert
public operating agencies of changes in these conditions.
3. Work Zone Management and Safety: Systems that ensure safe
roadway operations during construction and other work zone activities
and communicate with the traveler.
4. Roadway Maintenance Conditions and Work Plan Dissemination:
Systems that disseminate/coordinate MCO work plans to affected
personnel/staff within/between public agencies and private sector
firms.
Stakeholder Participation
Interested parties are invited to participate in the incorporation
of the Maintenance and Construction Operations User Service into the
National ITS Architecture. A one day workshop to kick off the new user
service effort to incorporate changes into the National ITS
Architecture will be scheduled in the near future. If you are
interested in participating with us in this effort please contact Mr.
James Pol (202) 366-4374, ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1), or Mr.
Michael Freitas, (202) 366-9292, ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1).
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 101, 106, 109, 133, 315, and 508; sec
5206(e), Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 457 (23 U.S.C. 502 note); and 49
CFR 1.48.
Issued on: April 11, 2001.
Vincent F. Schimmoller,
Deputy Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 01-9539 Filed 4-17-01; 8:45 am]
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