National Academies Press: OpenBook

A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability (2013)

Chapter: Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix E - Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2013. A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22532.
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102 Introduction In preparing this white paper, the L17 team identified a num- ber of research reports and resources developed by the trans- portation industry relevant to this topic: • University of Maryland Operations Academy (1). Spon- sored by the I-95 Corridor Coalition, this “two-week, total immersion transportation management and opera- tions program” for transportation systems operations and management (TSM&O) mid-level and senior man- agers represents industry efforts to provide support for current TSM&O practitioners. The preliminary self- study curriculum for the Operations Academy was used as the foundation for the TSM&O knowledge framework, which summarizes the industry’s perspective on the tech- nical knowledge TSM&O practitioners should have. • FHWA’s National Transportation Training Resource (NTTR) database (2). This database is the repository for the results of the NCHRP 20-77 project which created and populated a transportation operations training framework (3). This project focused both on professional development and academic courses offered by “industry associations, federal government, universities, state departments of transporta- tion, and private industry.” The resulting list of courses captures many, but certainly not all, TSM&O-related top- ics. The NTTR database was used to validate the TSM&O knowledge framework and is a source of information on current TSM&O-related courses. • The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Education Council, Curriculum Subcommittee knowledge tables and learning outcomes (4). ITE is developing “knowledge tables” as well as course learning outcomes to help guide educators in the selection of specific course material for transporta- tion engineering students. The knowledge tables identify concepts, processes, and tools students should learn as well as how to apply the knowledge. Knowledge tables have been completed for Traffic Operations and Highway Capac- ity, Geometric Design, Transportation Planning and Land Development, and Finance and Economics. Tables for Traffic Safety and for Transit and Non-Motorized are par- tially complete. Additional knowledge tables identified but not yet started include Systems, Asset Management, Pave- ment, and User Behavior/Human Factors. The relevant knowledge tables were used to validate technical knowledge information summarized from the Operations Academy curricula and the NTTR database. • Value-Added Employee Framework (5). The resources listed previously were developed by the transportation industry and focus on the technical knowledge TSM&O practitioners need. To help identify required technical skills, abilities, and nontechnical competencies, the L17 team used a framework developed by Edward J. Cripe and Richard S. Mansfield in their 2002 book The Value Added Employee: 31 Competencies to Make You Irresistible to Any Company. The Value-Added framework includes 31 core competencies grouped into three categories: People, Business, and Self-Management. A link provided in the Core Competencies section will pro- vide the definitions of the 31 competencies. This information was used to identify the full spectrum of core competencies— technical and nontechnical—that shape a well-rounded TSM&O practitioner. • The Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) (6). CITE is composed of university and industry associations to provide online advanced transportation training and education. CITE offers a combination of individual-study, instructor-led, and certificate programs focused on traffic engineering and ITS courses. The courses identified were captured in the NTTR database and are therefore included in this research. These resources were used to identify both TSM&O core competencies and the courses and trainings that are available to develop those competencies. A p p e n d I x e Available Curricula for Future TSM&O Practitioners This academic white paper was prepared by ICF International.

103 purpose In a time when funding is shrinking and travel demand is growing, increasing congestion on our transportation system must be addressed with all available resources and strategies. Travel interruptions and delays resulting from unanticipated events contribute significantly to congestion and represent an area in which transportation agencies can make significant gains. The benefits of reducing nonrecurring congestion— fewer crashes, reduced vehicle emissions and fuel consump- tion, and others—can be realized through better understanding of strategies, new technology and practices, as well as reducing institutional barriers. The main goal of TRB’s SHRP 2 Reliability focus area is to reduce nonrecurring congestion and improve travel time reliability through incident reduction, management, response, and mitigation. As the capstone proj- ect for the Reliability program, L17 will play a critical role in integrating the findings, methods, and recommendations of all other Reliability research, in addition to providing a bridge to key elements of the SHRP 2 Capacity program. The objective of L17 is to advance the integration of TSM&O into main- stream transportation agency practice. The most important product of the L17 research, and the Reliability program over- all, is a Knowledge Transfer System (KTS) that will serve as an effective means for moving research findings and products into everyday practice (7). An important facet of advancing TSM&O into mainstream agency practice is ensuring that there are professionals avail- able to staff and support TSM&O activities. While there is a strong need for TSM&O practitioners to fill vacancies in transportation agencies, as well as in the consulting firms that support them, the number of qualified candidates is limited. As transportation agencies shift from construction to a more “operate and maintain” focus, the need for entry- and mid- level TSM&O practitioners is anticipated to grow. This need will be exacerbated as practitioners in the Baby Boomer gen- eration continue to retire. The resulting workforce gaps can be partly addressed through training for current transportation professionals, but it is also necessary to ensure that there are academic supports for developing future TSM&O profes- sionals. Undergraduate and graduate programs provide the entry-level workforce necessary to support the TSM&O field in the long term. There has been significant interest in academic support for TSM&O over the past several years. Research studies and working groups have addressed this issue either directly or indirectly. This paper compiles lessons learned and founda- tional support from prior National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) studies and industry-led efforts identified through the L17 research to present the current sta- tus of undergraduate and graduate level curricula to address the need for entry-level TSM&O practitioners. First, the paper presents a framework of core competencies, the skills and knowledge (technical and nontechnical), generally required for entry-level positions within TSM&O. This frame- work is then used to analyze current TSM&O curriculum offerings with a focus on courses for undergraduate and grad- uate students. This analysis offers lessons learned that highlight gaps within the transportation engineering curriculum that need to be addressed to ensure that more students are exposed to and prepared for careers in TSM&O. What the Beginning practitioner needs In a recent study, Attracting, Recruiting, and Retaining Skilled Staff for Transportation System Operations and Management, Cronin et al. 2012 identifies some of the barriers to introduc- ing future transportation professionals to the TSM&O field. The report states the following about system operations and management (SOM): SOM interfaces with many disciplines and transportation modes, both internal and external to the organization, as well as with functions such as emergency management and public safety, and the concerns of the general public. . . . As the empha- sis on transportation management and operations increases, the demand for personnel with skills in these areas is also increasing. Transportation agencies are experiencing a shortage of SOM professionals with the suitable skills and knowledge to move beyond more traditional civil engineering functions to the broader and more diverse SOM activities (8). The NCHRP 20-86 project found that leaders in the field recognize the challenge in finding candidates with the neces- sary broad background among current graduates. Many have also observed that students rarely become aware of TSM&O as a unique transportation discipline prior to graduation, and therefore are unprepared for this career path. One of the rec- ommendations included in the NCHRP 20-86 report is to develop TSM&O curriculum content for higher education courses and training programs. These recommendations address the fundamental and inter- related issues of course availability and student interest in the subject area. In order for transportation agencies to recruit individuals for entry-level positions within TSM&O, colleges and universities must provide an introduction to this area of transportation practice and equip students with the basic skills required for TSM&O work. Students primarily select courses to meet graduation requirements, and then to obtain the necessary background for an entry-level position. Cur- rently, these two objectives may not align for TSM&O careers. The unique skills required of TSM&O professionals draw on a combination of engineering, planning, communications,

104 technology, and systems management that requires a multi- disciplinary education. Although this mix of topic areas may be very attractive to students considering the field, their knowl- edge of TSM&O career opportunities needs to be increased. The challenge, therefore, is to both provide relevant course- work and to raise awareness of the field and the skills needed for TSM&O practitioners, so that students will be able to pursue the proper coursework. Any successful effort to close the gap in supplying entry-level TSM&O professionals must deal with both the knowledge and skills needed and the lack of awareness of TSM&O as a potential career path. One of the most significant challenges in preparing this academic white paper has been to identify the core compe- tencies, both technical and nontechnical, that an entry level TSM&O professional should have. Core competencies are the essential skills, knowledge, abilities, and qualities that are required to successfully perform a specific position. Research for this project did not uncover any information that identified specific TSM&O core competencies. Therefore, the approach was to “back into” core competencies from other studies and initiatives under way to address gaps in TSM&O academic coursework and professional training. A framework was neces- sary to make the connection between academic and training courses and core competencies. The best foundation for this framework is the Operations Academy preparatory reading material. As a training course for practitioners, the Operations Academy curriculum does not repeat academic course work, but rather builds from that foundation. However, recognizing that participants enter the Academy at different stages in their career, pre-program self- study materials specific enough to help identify entry-level skills and competencies are provided as background to the training. While there are many TSM&O-related courses and training classes available, the Operations Academy is the only TSM&O “curriculum” specifically designed for existing TSM&O practi- tioners and, therefore, this represents the industry’s best thinking on what is needed to create a well-rounded TSM&O practitioner. For the purpose of this white paper, the Opera- tions Academy material is used as a starting point to identify technical knowledge expected of undergraduate or graduate students as they enter the TSM&O field as practitioners. In order to categorize the type of knowledge needed for entry into the TSM&O field, the pre-study materials in the Operations Academy were divided into focus areas to serve as the basis for examination of the current state of the practice for TSM&O academic curricula. The focus areas are • Traffic Operations Analysis; • Traffic Safety; • Social and Institutional Issues; • Transportation Planning; • ITS Awareness/Devices/National Architecture; • Data, Networks, and Telecommunications; • Project Management; and • Emergency Management. This framework for technical knowledge was validated in two ways. First, the courses and training included in the NTTR database represent a subset of the knowledge that the NCHRP 20-77 research team identified as relevant for TSM&O practitioners. These offerings were mapped to this framework to identify inconsistencies and gaps. The two sets of categories are strongly related, and this provides validation that the Oper- ations Academy categories developed from the pre-study materials are a useful surrogate for the entry-level technical knowledge needed for a career in TSM&O. As a final cross- check, the team compared the results of the Operations Acad- emy and NTTR comparison to the currently available and relevant ITE knowledge tables. There were no inconsistencies. These three sources provide an excellent picture of the industry’s assessment of the technical knowledge TSM&O practitioners need. Core competencies, however, go beyond knowledge and identify the underlying skills and abilities that are required to perform the job. For example, analytical thinking is a core competency for the rigorous analytical skills that support an engineering curriculum. To broaden our understanding of TSM&O core competencies beyond this initial assessment, the team used the Value-Added framework developed by Cripe and Mansfield (2002) to identify the core competencies—both technical and nontechnical—that are needed in an effective TSM&O practitioner. The framework includes 31 core competencies grouped into three categories: People, Business, and Self-Management. Current Status of Academic TSM&O Curricula The NTTR database includes 642 TSM&O-related courses, of which 378 are offered by academic institutions. There are 68 academic institutions with courses in the database. The NTTR database courses are focused on training for transpor- tation engineers; the database contains a limited number of courses relevant to TSM&O outside of the traditional trans- portation (or civil) engineering field. Courses are classified by subject matter, using the framework developed for the project. The primary subject matter headings are: Real-time Operations, Systems Development and Information Tech- nology, Project Management, Policy and Strategic Consider- ations, and Program Planning. The project team mapped the subject matter areas to the Operations Academy topic areas described previously in order to identify available academic training in each area. The resulting focus areas were then used to consider the adequacy of courses that are available. Table E.1 summarizes and compares the information from each source. The Opera- tions Academy detailed course outline, as the most recent and

105 continually updated resource, provides the foundation for analysis. The NTTR database illustrates the breadth of sup- port that exists currently in each area while providing the detail about specific schools and their courses. (Note that courses listed in the NTTR database can be categorized under multiple subject matter headings, so the Current Course Avail- ability column in Table E.1 should not be summed to get a total number of courses.) Table E.1 also summarizes course offerings by AASHTO region (and AASHTO online) to give an overview of the extent to which the topics are available. Nonacademic courses in the NTTR database address knowledge gaps for current practitioners by highlighting the need for training in these areas. From the breadth of information, core competencies were identified for each skill category from the NCHRP 20-77 report and the Value-Added framework. Table E.1 includes no distinction between undergraduate and graduate courses. It is expected that some of these topics would only be covered in a graduate program. The identifica- tion of “academic” courses was based on the institution offering the course, not on the audience for the course. Several universi- ties offer professional development courses in addition to their undergraduate or graduate education and some of these offer- ings are likely included in the analysis as academic courses. Issues and Lessons Learned Analysis of the NTTR database points to a number of issues within current transportation academic course offerings rela- tive to TSM&O careers. While there are courses offered in all identified focus areas, several have limited offerings or fewer offerings than would be expected. The gaps in technical com- petencies highlight areas that may need additional attention in the transportation engineering curriculum via course material or connections to other programs covering that subject area. • Traffic safety does not have many courses in the database, even when counting the professional development courses, and is offered at relatively few institutions. This gap is nota- ble given that the ITE Curriculum Subcommittee includes safety as one of its knowledge tables. The information is either being covered as part of courses that largely focus on other topics (and so were not classified as relating to this topic in the NTTR database) or is not covered at all. • Emergency management courses are also limited and are only being taught at a handful of universities. This topic may be covered in other fields that relate to TSM&O. • Project management course offerings are limited, especially compared to the number of professional development courses on this topic. There may be more project manage- ment courses offered in the construction management track of civil engineering programs that are not being captured here. Of the 68 universities listed in the database, 37 offer a construction management track or program within their civil engineering department. It is not clear if courses from those tracks were included in the NTTR database. • ITS Awareness/Devices/National Architecture courses are not as widely available as anticipated considering the sig- nificant focus on technology and funding support for this area that has been available in the past. It is possible that some ITS information is included in the telecommunica- tions area, which is more robust. In addition, it is unclear how well the People and Self- Management competencies are represented within the tech- nical courses offered. Many of these skills could be addressed by integrating these skills as a part of an engineering course. For example, oral and written communication could be incorporated as a learning objective, including evaluation and grading, in selected engineering courses. Likewise, col- laboration skills could be integrated into an engineering course by incorporating course material on collaboration theory and techniques and evaluated through team assign- ments or joint projects. It is unlikely that this approach would address all of the required core competencies; however, it rep- resents a relatively basic approach to beginning to fill the gap. None of the analysis performed using the Operations Academy and the NTTR database evaluates the extent of the barriers to student awareness of TSM&O as a career path dis- cipline for entry level engineers. However, looking at the ITE Curriculum Subcommittee knowledge tables, the proposed topic areas for an undergraduate, introductory transporta- tion engineering course do not include references to ITS, tele- communications, or emergency management issues. Project management is not included in the knowledge tables, but it is a topic area that may be covered in the broader civil engineer- ing curriculum rather than in transportation-specific courses. While there is limited time to discuss material in these courses, more mention of the full range of TSM&O topics could help to build awareness and interest in TSM&O careers. Courses related to these topics are likely offered in other (nontransportation engineering) degrees where TSM&O may be supported. This perspective is validated by the NCHRP 20-86 research, which suggests there are several other degree programs (such as electrical engineering or computer science) where potential candidates for TSM&O careers may be found. Though not incorporated into our summary table, the NTTR database information can also be supplemented by a recent report by Karen Gitman describing the state of the practice in transportation training at community colleges (9). This report finds that community college programs specifi- cally related to transportation are mostly focused on the areas of automotive technologies, commercial driving, or supply chain/logistics. However, community colleges do offer both

106 Table E.1. Matrix of Current Academic Support for TSM&O Operations Academy Focus Areas Related Topic Areas from NCHRP 20-77 Core Competencies Current Course Availability (NTTR Database) Universities/ Colleges that Currently Provide Courses by AASHTO Region Training Offered to Practitioners (NTTR Database) Traffic Operations Analysis b Traffic flow concepts b Road user characteristics b Freeway operations b Intersections b Transportation system man- agement techniques b Access management tools b Travel demand management b Incident management b Systems engineering process/methods b Operations strategies Analytical thought and skills with focus on traffic engineering concepts, basic communication skills People Skills b Attention to communication b Written communication b Customer orientation Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Conceptual thinking b Technical expertise b Results orientation b Thoroughness Self-Management Skills b Flexibility 165 courses 46 universities Region 1 (30) Region 2 (29) Region 3 (39) Region 4 (66) Online (1) 116 nonacademic courses Traffic Safety b Safety improvement program b Crash records (rate, frequency, type) and understanding crash patterns b Road safety audits b Liability and negligence b Traffic safety program b Safety management Analytical thought and skills with focus on traffic engineering concepts, basic communication skills People Skills b Attention to communication b Written communication b Customer orientation Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Forward thinking b Conceptual thinking b Technical expertise b Results orientation b Thoroughness Self-Management Skills b Flexibility 3 courses 3 universities Region 1 (1) Region 2 (1) Region 3 (1) 10 nonacademic courses Social and Institutional Issues b Types of federal, state, and local regulations that affect transportation decision making b Public interaction and involvement b Stakeholders and partners b Management of real-time operations systems b Organizational change management b Policy development b Program definition/concepts of operation (Conops) General knowledge of social and eco- nomic issues related to transporta- tion; strong communication and collaboration skills People Skills b Problem solving b Attention to communication b Oral communication b Written communication b Persuasive communication b Interpersonal awareness b Influencing others b Building collaborative relationships b Customer orientation 87 courses 39 universities Region 1 (31) Region 2 (13) Region 3 (14) Region 4 (27) Online (2) 35 nonacademic courses (continued on next page)

107 (continued on next page) Table E.1. Matrix of Current Academic Support for TSM&O (continued) Operations Academy Focus Areas Related Topic Areas from NCHRP 20-77 Core Competencies Current Course Availability (NTTR Database) Universities/ Colleges that Currently Provide Courses by AASHTO Region Training Offered to Practitioners (NTTR Database) Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Analytical thinking b Forward thinking b Conceptual thinking b Fostering innovation b Results orientation b Thoroughness b Decisiveness Self-Management Skills b Self-confidence b Flexibility Transportation Planning b Integration of various transpor- tation modes b Growth management (policies, funding, environmental, vehicle) b Transportation planning and modeling b Performance measurement b NEPA b Performance measurement/ dashboards/reports b Link between operations and planning Analytical thought and skills with focus on urban and transportation plan- ning concepts; basic communication and collaboration skills People Skills b Attention to communication b Oral communication b Written communication b Interpersonal awareness b Building collaborative relationships b Customer orientation Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Analytical thinking b Forward thinking b Conceptual thinking b Technical expertise b Results orientation b Thoroughness Self-Management Skills b Flexibility 127 courses 42 universities Region 1 (33) Region 2 (17) Region 3 (25) Region 4 (51) Online (1) 45 nonacademic courses

108Table E.1. Matrix of Current Academic Support for TSM&O (continued) Operations Academy Focus Areas Related Topic Areas from NCHRP 20-77 Core Competencies Current Course Availability (NTTR Database) Universities/ Colleges that Currently Provide Courses by AASHTO Region Training Offered to Practitioners (NTTR Database) ITS Awareness/Devices/ National Architecture b Describing ITS b Integrating systems b Surveillance technologies b Dynamic message signs and other information displays b Traffic controller b Radio and camera b DMS applications b Introduction to the national architecture b Basic concepts of systems engineering b Regional applications b Standards and user service requirements b Systems architecture b Systems and technology Analytical thought and skills with focus on IT systems and applications related to ITS; basic communication skills People Skills b Attention to communication b Building collaborative relationships b Customer orientation Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Analytical thinking b Conceptual thinking b Technical expertise b Fostering innovation b Results orientation b Thoroughness 59 courses 29 universities Region 1 (17) Region 2 (12) Region 3 (7) Region 4 (23) 51 nonacademic courses Data, Networks, and Telecommunications b Telecommunications funda- mentals (signals, frequencies, voice and data, wire line and wireless) b Networks (local area, wide area) b Data communications (stan- dards and applications) b Architecture and communications b Program languages and technology b Visualization b Network security b Database management for operations b Data management and evaluation Analytical thought and skills with focus on data management and systems applications related to traffic man- agement and operations; basic communication skills People Skills b Attention to communication b Building collaborative relationships b Customer orientation Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Analytical thinking b Conceptual thinking b Technical expertise b Fostering innovation b Results orientation b Thoroughness 110 courses 50 universities Region 1 (25) Region 2 (22) Region 3 (24) Region 4 (38) Online (1) 31 nonacademic courses (continued on next page)

109 (continued on next page) Table E.1. Matrix of Current Academic Support for TSM&O (continued) Operations Academy Focus Areas Related Topic Areas from NCHRP 20-77 Core Competencies Current Course Availability (NTTR Database) Universities/ Colleges that Currently Provide Courses by AASHTO Region Training Offered to Practitioners (NTTR Database) Project Management b Project management (including ITS, financial aspects, procurement) b Asset management b Organization and staffing b Project management b Partnership development b Performance management/ accountability b Partnerships Strong overall management, team building, communication, and collaboration skills People Skills b Establishing focus b Providing motivational support b Fostering teamwork b Empowering others b Managing change b Managing performance b Attention to communication b Oral communication b Written communication b Persuasive communication b Interpersonal awareness b Influencing others b Building collaborative relationships b Customer orientation Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Analytical thinking b Forward thinking b Conceptual thinking b Initiative b Results orientation b Thoroughness b Decisiveness Self-Management Skills b Self-confidence b Personal credibility b Flexibility 33 courses 21 universities Region 1 (12) Region 2 (3) Region 3 (3) Region 4 (12) Online (3) 65 nonacademic courses

110Table E.1. Matrix of Current Academic Support for TSM&O (continued) Operations Academy Focus Areas Related Topic Areas from NCHRP 20-77 Core Competencies Current Course Availability (NTTR Database) Universities/ Colleges that Currently Provide Courses by AASHTO Region Training Offered to Practitioners (NTTR Database) Emergency Management b Emergency response planning b Security management Analytical thought and skills with focus on risk assessment and contingency planning; strong communication skills and the ability to be decisive under pressure People Skills b Problem solving b Fostering teamwork b Attention to communication b Oral communication b Written communication b Influencing others b Building collaborative relationships Business Skills b Diagnostic information gathering b Analytical thinking b Forward thinking b Technical expertise b Results orientation b Decisiveness Self-Management Skills b Stress management b Flexibility 19 courses 3 universities Region 3 (1) Region 4 (1) Online (17) 34 nonacademic courses

111 general studies and technical courses that can feed into trans- portation careers: for example, computer information systems and electronics courses. Community colleges can serve a role in advancing TSM&O academic offerings through opportunities for positions in ITS-related industries such as maintaining equipment and staffing traffic management centers. It is unclear from this research how much direct connection is made between relevant transportation programs and courses and TSM&O careers. Nonetheless, this would provide another arena in which to develop TSM&O career interest. The breadth and depth of TSM&O related competencies drives home the challenges of preparing undergraduates to enter the TSM&O field right out of college. First, the multi- disciplinary background that is needed to help students succeed in the field is a significant challenge in and of itself. Creating cross-disciplinary degrees is difficult at many aca- demic institutions and requires the student, and the student’s advisor, to know early in an academic career that this is the desired career path. Since TSM&O is not a well known or fully established discipline within the transportation engi- neering field, students and college advisors are often not aware of this as a career option early enough in their course of study. Second, even if the lack of student awareness of TSM&O can be overcome, the current civil engineering cur- riculum is demanding, requiring many students 5 years to receive their undergraduate degree. In general, undergradu- ate civil engineering students only receive about 40 hours of instruction on all topics specifically related to transportation engineering. This significantly limits the time available to address nonengineering related TSM&O competencies. Core Competencies Edward J. Cripe and Richard S. Mansfield identified 31 core competencies grouped into three overall categories, People, Business, and Self-Management, in their 2002 book The Value Added Employee: 31 Competencies to Make You Irresistible to Any Company. (Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston.) The 31 compe- tencies are grouped under the categories People, Business, and Self-Management and include attributes such as estab- lishing focus and fostering innovation. The competencies and definitions may be found at http://www.workforce.com/ article/20020903/NEWS01/309039977. References 1. I-95 Corridor Coalition. Operations Academy. http://www.i95coali tion.org/i95/Training/OperationsAcademy/tabid/90/Default.aspx. Also see the Operations Academy website: http://www.operationsacad emy.org/. 2. FHWA. National Transportation Training Resource. http://www .nttr.dot.gov. 3. Results of the NCHRP 20-77 research can be found at http://www .catt.umd.edu/research/nchrp-framework.html. 4. The materials developed by the subcommittee can be found on the Curriculum Subcommittee to the ITE Education Council web page: http://www.ite.org/councils/Education/curriculum/default.asp. 5. The website http://www.workforce.com/article/20020903/NEWS01/ 309039977 provides the definitions included in the appendix as well as the observable behaviors that may indicate the existence of a compe- tency in a person. The article is reprinted from Cripe, Edward J., and Mansfield, Richard S. The Value-Added Employee: 31 Competencies to Make Yourself Irresistible to Any Company. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston. 2002. 6. Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE). Training Online: Web-based Transportation Courses. http://www.cite consortium.org/. 7. For more information on this project, visit the SHRP 2 Reliability program website: http://www.trb.org/StrategicHighwayResearch Program2SHRP2/Public/Pages/Reliability_159.aspx. 8. TRB. Attracting, Recruiting, and Retaining Skilled Staff for Transpor- tation System Operations and Management (NCHRP Report 693). 2012. http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/166342.aspx. 9. Gitman, Karen. Transportation Workforce Development at Community Colleges (Report #10-002). University of Vermont Transportation Research Center, March 2010. www.uvm.edu/~transctr/trc_reports/ UVM-TRC-10-002.pdf.

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TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Report S2-L17-RW-1: A Framework for Improving Travel Time Reliability describes the results of a project designed to identify and enhance the dissemination of transportation systems management and operations (TSM&O) information.

A major component of Reliability Project L17 was development of a Knowledge Transfer System (KTS), a web-based tool designed to provide convenient one-stop access to the complete range of TSM&O information. The KTS tool is currently available.

Reliability Project L17 also produced the following six items to fill in gaps in knowledge about transportation systems management and operations:

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