Transportation Management Center Concepts of Operations

How Process Improvements Are MadeSince any process improvement in a TMC is likely to require changes to trainingand documentation and may impact the performance evaluation program, theconcept of operations should carefully consider how changes are implemented.The concept of operations should recognize entire process of:• Taking an identified opportunity for change• Verifying its value• Discovering and resolving any potential negative consequences from thechange• Building support for the change within management and the work force• Carrying the change to detailed design (if required)• Developing the support resources (such as software) for the change• Providing training after the change• Testing the change• Monitoring its performance• Amending it if requiredNonstandard OperationsNonstandard operations are a growing portion of the workload of TMCs.Nonstandard operations are broken into several categories: special events,emergency operations, and operation with partial functionality. The concept ofoperations should reflect the process of planning and general procedures forexecution of plans to deal with both. A third category, where the TMCexperiences failures of its own assets (internal, rather than external emergency)should also be addressed.Developing Operational StrategiesDeveloping operational strategies for nonstandard operations is commonly amultiagency activity. The efficient flow of persons leaving a major event isaffected by the actions of venue, law enforcement, transit, parking, and botharterial and freeway management organizations. The concept of operationsshould discuss the process these agencies will use to prepare and execute plansfor managing the flow of persons and vehicles. Planning includes such activitiesas the estimated timing of actions, the expected volumes, and the responses byeach of the participants. It should also reflect a “feedback loop” by which theeffectiveness of the plan is reviewed in real time, and adjustments made (andcommunicated) to respond to variations from the expected.4-42