Attachment 1 - IDOT SMART Grant Application Exerpt .pdf

INTEGRATING WORK ZONE DATA EXCHANGE IN ILLINOIS FOR A SAFER ROADWAY SYSTEM

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Contents

1. Overview/Project Description

Real-World Issues and Challenges to be Addressed Proposed Technologies To Be Used Desired Outcomes for Potential Stage 2 Grant Goals of the SMART Program & Improving on the Status Quo

2. Project Location

3. Community Impact

4. Technical Merit Overview

5. Project Readiness Overview

Appendices Appendix I - Resumes (REMOVED) Appendix II - Summary Budget Narrative (REMOVED)

Tables Table 1. Project Schedule (REDACTED) Table 2. Project Budget and Schedule (REMOVED)..................................................................................... Appendix II-1

Figures Figure 1. Project map using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to identify historically disadvantaged communities Figure 2. Project map identifying work zone (WZ) interstate collision hotspots from 2017-2021 nathan.peck Highlight nathan.peck Highlight nathan.peck Highlight nathan.peck Highlight

1. Overview/Project Description

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) requests $REDACTED in U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant Program funding for planning efforts to develop a framework for the advancement of Work-Zone Data Exchange (WZDx)-compliant systems that will make travel on roadways safer and more efficient by harmonizing work zone activity data, increasing the quantity of available data fields, and making data available for third-party use. IDOT currently lacks a comprehensive inventory of the data sources, quality of data available, and understanding of data architecture systems, that along with the lack of common data standards across the industry is making it difficult and costly for third parties and IDOT to implement safety solutions that need data to provide information to road users and other stakeholders (i.e., contractors, emergency responders, etc.). During this SMART Stage 1 project, the proposed project will develop a comprehensive plan for the publication of WZDx-compliant data feeds in Illinois. The project tasks will include evaluating statewide availability of work zone data, identification of data collection processes, evaluation of data systems architecture, and identification of gaps in data fields and processes. The funding will support planning activities to develop a pilot prototype in the state of Illinois [ REDACTED ].

Planning will include meetings with stakeholders to build buy-in and to refine project concepts.

Implementation will consist of data automation and data inconsistency reduction to advance the management, availability, deployment, and integration of work zone data.

Figure 1. Project map using the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to identify historically disadvantaged communities.

Figure 2. Project map identifying work zone (WZ) interstate collision hotspots from 2017-2021.

https://www.transportation.gov/av/data/wzdx nathan.peck Highlight

REAL-WORLD ISSUES AND CHALLENGES TO BE ADDRESSED

The state of Illinois is intersected by 2,185 miles of interstate highways that require consistent maintenance and improvements to ensure the safety of the 8.91 million people who traverse them each day. Due to the extremes of the Illinois climate, IDOT roadways are especially prone to maintenance needs. Winter is especially challenging due to the impact sleet has on roads and roadway visibility, increasing the probability of crashes. Commerce also exerts a significant toll on Illinois roadways. As one of the nation’s busiest economic corridors, 21% of all interstate traffic is trucks, imposing an especially high toll on roads, with heavy vehicles rapidly deteriorating them and necessitating roadway work to support commerce while continuing to meet local community needs.

Work zones are a known hazard for motorists and the dedicated essential workers who maintain critical roadways, contributing to the high death toll on IDOT’s interstates. In the last 5 years, 139 fatalities (at a life value of $1.6 billion) occurred in work zones, with five worker fatalities. The high volume of commercial motor vehicles combined with increasing exposure to work zones led to the state being identified as a top 10 opportunity state by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for Commercial Motor Vehicle-related work zone incidents. Recognizing the problem, IDOT has made a commitment to strive for zero deaths from traffic incidents on its roadways through the Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The Integrating Work Zone Data Exchange in Illinois for a Safer Roadway System project is an integral component of achieving this vision in the future because a broadly adopted WZDx will lead to improved safety with the potential to save lives.

The state of Illinois is divided into nine IDOT districts, with each district managing its traffic management data collection, storage, use, and dissemination. While differences in work zone management allow for flexibility to address district unique needs, there is inconsistency in reporting, making statewide coordination and communications challenging. Only District 1 has more automated lance closure data entry and management processes, while other districts generally rely on manual data entry, which is time consuming, cumbersome, and can result in errors, all factors that can lead to a delayed communications response, potentially contributing to collisions that could have been avoided.

PROPOSED TECHNOLOGIES TO BE USED

The proposed technology, systems integration through the development of a WZDx-compliant data feed, will result in enhanced data management practices that are compliant with USDOT work zone data standards, improving third-party accessibility. Data are currently collected from a variety of sources such as vehicle detectors, video cameras, and CADD systems, with future automation providing real-time responses to changing traffic conditions. Standardization of work zone data collection and reporting through systems integration will crucially improve incident response and clearance, improve mobility, increase safety, and improve network reliability. Stage 1 will consist of pilot implementation of the subject project on a subset of interstate highway corridors to support the long-term vision of a seamless, statewide work zone data repository that supports real-time communications.

DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR POTENTIAL STAGE 2 GRANT

Statewide implementation of the WZDx standard by all IDOT districts is the desired outcome of Stage 2.

Implementation is essential to IDOT’s goal of zero traffic related deaths on roadways in the state of Illinois and USDOT’s guidance for incorporating resiliency in transportation. WZDx-compliant feeds will provide standardized, real-time open data for third parties to prevent work zone crashes and injuries.

Standardized, real-time data will be able to be used to direct safety messages to inform automated driving systems as well as human motorists to warn vehicles of roadway hazards, harmonize speeds, improve mobility, and prevent roadway incidents that may lead to injuries and fatalities. Through advanced traffic https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Manuals-Guides-&-Handbooks/Safety/Strategic%20Highway%20Safety%20Plan%202022.pdf https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop21029/fhwahop21029.pdf https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop21029/fhwahop21029.pdf guidance and rerouting to improve traffic flows in work zones, traffic congestion, delays, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be reduced, effectively decreasing fossil fuel consumption. Implementation will optimize vehicular travel flows and reduce crashes in work zones, resulting in reduced construction times and numerous benefits to communities that use IDOT roadways with WZDx-compliant systems.

GOALS OF THE SMART PROGRAM & IMPROVING ON THE STATUS QUO

This replicable project will allow IDOT to share lessons learned from WZDx-compliant data feed development to allow other jurisdictions and agencies nationwide to replicate the project and contribute to reduced third-party data accessibility costs. The proposed project proposes to achieve the SMART program’s goals of advancing smart city systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety during Stage 2. The status quo of the transportation system will be improved upon implementation of the project through increased efficiencies in the existing transportation system to reduce GHG emissions while saving invaluable human lives, including the lives of essential work zone employees because no one should be killed in the line of duty.

2. Project Location

Implementation of the framework for the improvement for WZDx-compliant data systems will be prioritized for [REDACTED] interstate highways throughout the state of Illinois during Stage 1, likely in rural communities since 93% of the state area is rural. In the past, IDOT has invested in work zone data enhancements in urban areas, “traditional hot spots” of work zone collisions. With this project, IDOT will aim to apply this hot spot approach in primarily rural areas statewide. All interstate corridors lacking such investments will be considered for pilot project implementation, with Stage 1 funding providing IDOT with the necessary funds for planning efforts to determine the specific interstate corridors where the pilot will be implemented. The scale of benefit to historically disadvantaged communities (HDCs), the number of fatal work zone interstate collisions, data availability, and stakeholder input will be analyzed to make a final project location determination to ensure the project provides benefits to communities in greatest need. HDC potential benefits will be determined through an analysis of HDC needs, community size, and community impact inclusive of past work zones and collisions. While the project will not be entirely located in HDCs, corridors impacting HDCs will be prioritized for selection. Lastly, while IDOT is not in a regional partnership, IDOT is a regional organization and will be coordinating with local IDOT divisions and other various local stakeholders throughout the project stages to ensure community input is the guiding force of the project.

3. Community Impact

The proposed project will create a variety of benefits for HDCs if selected for funding. First and foremost, a reduction in the number of lives lost in work zone collisions will be expected in the long-term. Today, low-income Americans and Black Americans are more likely to die in a passenger vehicle crash than other Americans, meaning traffic deaths disproportionately tear apart disadvantaged families. Saved lives will reduce the number of households that lose a breadwinner, a single parent, or a beloved spouse. The estimated benefits of these life-saving improvements come to a value of $11.8 million per life saved according to USDOT guidance. Following WZDx implementation, crash rates in work zones on IDOT roadways will be compared to prior years to measure system integration performance.

In addition, reductions in GHG emissions will be measured through air quality comparisons (PM 2.5 levels, etc.) via the Climate and Economic Justice Tool to past years. Additional benefits of reduced GHG https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/briefing/traffic-deaths-class-race-covid.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/briefing/traffic-deaths-class-race-covid.html https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 emissions to community members are expected through reductions in air pollution-caused diseases such as asthma and reduced healthcare costs due to pollution level declines, especially beneficial when accounting for the fact that individuals in HDCs struggle with sufficient and affordable healthcare coverage.

Traffic congestion reductions are also expected, helping community members have better access to education, jobs, and other various essential services through reduced travel times, which is especially critical to increasing equity in rural, disadvantaged communities. HDCs outside of the specific project area will also benefit from reductions in fatalities, GHG emissions through reduced fossil fuel consumption, and traffic congestion reductions when using the selected project corridors. No potential negative externalities are expected of the proposed project due of construction activities.

4. Technical Merit Overview

IDENTIFICATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

From 2002 to 2022, 36 workers died in Illinois work zones, calling to attention the critical need to invest in work zone safety. The state’s four-season climate, heavy road usage, and the inevitable fact of aging roadway infrastructure means work zones will continue to be part of the future for Illinois’ roadways. Work zones are prone to traffic collisions due to two primary factors: driver propensity for distracted driving and lack of navigable room to avoid a collision caused by speeding. While distracted driving is difficult to address, collisions caused by speeding can be reduced by effectively steering drivers into appropriate lanes at reduced speeds ahead of a work zone, where drivers are restrained in navigable room, thereby decreasing the potential for work-zone-related congestion and speed differentials, preventing collisions.

Intelligent, sensor-based guidance is dependent on automated and standardized systems that can instantaneously react to changing roadway conditions, rapidly communicating with drivers and infrastructure owners. Outside of District 1 (encompassing the Chicago area), the other eight IDOT districts lack such automated data entry and management processes, resulting in delayed and therefore ineffective communication to drivers. Publication of a new, WZDx-compliant data feed is therefore crucial in providing IDOT districts, other agencies, and third parties with data that can be incorporated into future smart, intelligent sensor-based infrastructure responses. With the number of fatal collisions increasing in work zones over time, integration of the WZDx system will be crucial in reducing fatal collisions to save lives.

APPROPRIATENESS OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTION

The proposed project would develop and publish a WZDx-compliant data feed that will be prototyped within the selected prioritized interstate corridors to test systems integration during Stage 1 and pave the way for agency-wide integration during Stage 2. Data automation and standardization of processes will harmonize data for third-party utilization. This will allow for the deployment of a uniform system to process real-time data from roadside sensors and roadway users into safety messages that inform automated driving systems and human drivers. WZDx demonstration projects have been employed in 13 states recently, with the FHWA stating WZDx implementation will have the potential for improved roadway safety and efficiency.

For agencies with an existing system of sensors, the proposed solution will be easily repeatable and scalable since solution implementation will not directly affect the public, instead requiring work on the back-end through an internal overhaul or transformation of data systems. For agencies without an existing system of sensors, the proposed solution is likewise repeatable but will require additional effort to implement sensors, potentially requiring construction, thereby creating temporary inconveniences to the public. The extent of sensors and communication systems is the only limit to the scale of implementation and is therefore an appropriate solution for any location with sufficient sensor and communication infrastructure in place. As such, the proposed project is appropriate for any setting and population density within IDOT’s management responsibilities and will benefit the entire existing transportation system, including public transportation. Public transportation will benefit similarly through the discussed benefits for vehicles but will especially benefit low-income and minority groups who typically make up most of public transportation ridership. With the potential to reduce GHG emissions, reduce or even end fatal work zone collisions, and create cost savings, the proposed solution is certainly a demonstratable improvement over the status quo for the entire transportation system at a time when fatal collisions have been increasing, traffic congestion has been rising, and drivers have found themselves increasingly short on time.

EXPECTED BENEFITS

The proposed project expects to provide benefits that align with USDOT’s identified departmental priorities during Stage 2. Real-time, accurate dissemination of roadway conditions will improve the reliability of the system, providing faster and more reliable response times to traffic incidents, increasing the safety of road users and emergency responders. Rapid, automated responses will adeptly alter traffic ahead of work zones to effectively steer drivers at reduced speeds ahead of the work zone, reducing the likelihood of speeding collisions within work zones and consequently increasing the safety of the system.

Standardization of work zone collection and reporting into an automated system will fulfill the goal of systems integration, providing infrastructure connectivity for the broader traveling public and connected vehicles in the future. Climate benefits will be expected through improved traffic flows in work zones, with reduced traffic congestion leading to a reduction in GHGs. Resiliency will be expected through improved transportation resiliency to climate change effects, with the proposed system designed to respond to a variety of incidents and conditions, including natural disasters and dangerous weather conditions.

Cybersecurity measures will be incorporated into project development to take into account potential cybersecurity threats. Equity and access will be achieved through improved access to jobs, education, and essential services due to reduced travel times because of reduced traffic congestion, especially beneficial to underserved or disadvantaged communities that use the corridors along which the project will be implemented. Partnerships will be achieved through committed leadership from IDOT to actively engage with the community to ensure community input is actively integrated into guiding the development of the project.

Furthermore, the proposed project is capable of being integrated within the existing transportation system.

With sensors and communication systems in place, only data collection methods, data management, and data deployment procedures will need to be altered and combined into an integrated and intelligent system.

Data sharing will be promoted to the extent that it follows best practices regarding individual privacy, with the intent to promote public and private data sharing for project replicability and alternate uses. IDOT will share lessons learned, collaborate with other agencies, and provide documentation regarding the compliant data feed for others to be able to produce a similar data feed. The complexity and mix of urban and rural areas within the state makes Illinois the perfect candidate for data sharing with agencies in a variety of environments. Crucially, workforce development will be ensured through partnerships with Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) throughout Stages 1 and 2 of the project, with IDOT imposing a requirement of [REDACTED] DBE participation through the consultant selection process.

5. Project Readiness Overview

FEASIBILITY OF WORKPLAN

Stage 1 of the project will consist of an [REDACTED] work plan (Table 1), carried out by a qualified contractor with IDOT team oversight and guidance throughout the entire process. As a state agency with 50 years of expertise, IDOT has over 5,000 employees who have been responsible for countless successful transformational transportation projects across the state of Illinois. Employees such as those on the proposed leadership team have demonstrated the ability to complete projects within proposed periods of performance and will continue to do so with this project. Leadership has incorporated additional time for unexpected delays within the proposed work plan, to ensure any unexpected delays do not delay the proposed project timeline to keep the project on track for Stage 2. Since all data will be provided by and collected by IDOT, with any physical implementation efforts to be conducted in IDOT-owned jurisdictions, no waivers, permits, or special permissions are expected to be needed to conduct the proposed project at either stage. Expected benefits to the community will be measured and validated through comparisons of corridors prior to and during project implementation through a variety of mechanisms. Traffic collision numbers will support safety analyses; travel-time variability indices and traffic counts will support transportation efficiency analyses; and air quality indices will support GHG evaluations.

Cost savings will be identified through analyses of construction project timelines to determine whether the proposed project did not adversely impact the project timeline, potentially even helping to reduce it.

Through Task 1 of Stage 1 to select a qualified contractor, the contractor will be required to adopt IDOT’s vision for workforce development to hire and outsource work equitably through [REDACTED] DBE participation requirement. Internally, IDOT will be committed to offering opportunities to existing employees for growth and advancement to ensure internal workforce capacity for data and technology projects. Currently, sufficient skilled and trained personnel exist within the workforce to carry out the project during and following project implementation, with the number of qualified personnel expected to grow in the future due to the number of specialized trainings IDOT offers to develop a skilled and diverse workforce. Construction and technical trainings are offered to help optimize workforce self-development.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

A community-centered approach will be at the heart of this project, through meaningful, continuous, and accessible engagement such as meetings with the Illinois Work Zone Safety Committee (IWZSC) [REDACTED]. The IWZSC has served as the guide for collaborative safety efforts since 1989, providing input from internal agency divisions and external stakeholders such as the American Traffic Safety Services Association, FHWA, and the Illinois State Police. [REDACTED]

IDOT plans to build sustainable partnerships across sectors by aiming to work with a variety of subject matter experts to gather best practices and knowledge from peer DOT agencies, IDOT divisions, and the IWZSC. Coordination with these stakeholders will allow IDOT to learn and share lessons learned, nathan.peck Highlight nathan.peck Highlight nathan.peck Highlight especially following project implementation. Knowledge transfer activities as part of this grant process will be crucial in building connections across the nation to continue to improve the project following the culmination of the project schedule. Technical experts will be employed throughout the duration of the project as determined during Task 1, to critique and build proposed solution implementation.

LEADERSHIP AND QUALIFICATIONS

IDOT successfully manages nearly 150,000 centerline miles of roadway statewide with a leadership track record of managing projects of any size, from a $19 million bypass to a $1.2 billion corridor improvement project including USDOT-funded projects. As an agency that manages a $10 billion budget, IDOT is committed to maintain and operate the project after Stage 2. The selected project leadership team consists of individuals with over a decade each of experience in the transportation field, working on a variety of projects involving the community and multiple stakeholders. Ms. Bieneman, the Office of Planning and Programming Director, has experience in carrying out statewide plans (Long-Range Transportation Plan, Rail Plan, etc.) that involved extensive community and public agency stakeholder engagement. Mr. Pava and Mr. Armstrong are both licensed engineers with experience managing work zone safety and traffic-related programs. Through his work in implementing statewide safety programs, Mr. Pava has multi-stakeholder project experience coordinating with other agencies. All three have a long history at IDOT and are committed to remaining at the agency in the long-term to successfully carry out the proposed project and other future projects. Furthermore, IDOT has an extensive and skilled workforce that will be able to provide additional technical support as needed.

Table 1. Project Schedule Phase Activity Timeframe

[REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED]

https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/About-IDOT/Reports/2021_IDOT_Annual_Report.pdf nathan.peck Highlight nathan.peck Highlight