Traffic Surveillance
Project Proposal

Project Name/Title: Traffic Surveillance Modeling System

Date: Feb 4 , 2003
Submitted by: Marjorie Apodaca
Unit: Southwestern Region, RO Engineering
Address: 333 Broadway SE
Phone: 505-842-3852
mapodaca@fs.fed.us

OVERALL PROBLEM/OBJECTIVE STATEMENT (Describe the problem, how the work is currently being done, and why improvement is needed):

Forest Service Transportation System managers are in need of traffic surveillance program in order meet the safety management system requirements of TEA-21, the Highway Safety Act, and the next transportation budget authorization bill. In addition, the Forest Service must report traffic safety related statistics under the Government Performance Results Act on a yearly basis. Traffic use on National Forest System Roads is part of those reporting requirement. Traffic surveillance data can also provide very useful information for managing road systems more efficiently. Traffic data can help prioritize projects and improve maintenance planning to better meet user needs and improve safety.

Currently, the Forest Service does not have a program in place to meet any of these needs. A few forests have invested in traffic counters but with limited resources, it is not possible to determine the use on all forest service roads where the data is needed. In addition, there is no national consistency in site selection, data storage, and data interpretation.

The Forest Service is in need of a traffic surveillance program that generates statistically valid results, eliminates the need to place traffic counters on all roads, and provides guidelines for data storage and interpretation.

PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT WORK (Describe your concept of the end product, i.e., a new equipment design, a video production, a handbook, etc.):

This project would develop a national statistical modeling program to determine traffic use on National Forest System Roads. This project would expand on prior T&D projects, 1) the evaluation of traffic surveillance equipment and 2) the ARMAS software program.

In addition to statistical modeling, this project will make recommendations and develop guidelines on storage of traffic surveillance data for future integration into Infra.

There was consensus at the January 2003 National Roads Meeting that this is a high priority project.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS (Describe how this project will reduce cost, save time, improve safety, increase efficiency, or provide resource management):

This project will provide a statistically valid method of estimating traffic use on NFSRs. A sampling model will significantly reduce 1) the number of counters to be purchased, 2) resources to manage and maintain traffic counters, and 3) resources to manage traffic data on a national scale. This project will provide national consistency in traffic surveillance. In addition, it will provide useful data to measure use on roads and prioritize projects and maintenance activities.

This project will provide national consistency in reporting performance measures as required by the Government Performance Results Act and provide a key component of a safety management system for all National Forests. It will provide a valuable tool for Transportation Engineers to meet the requirements mandated by law and will ultimately improve the safety on National Forest System Roads.

Center Manager
San Dimas Technology & Development Center
444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773-3198
Phone: (909) 599-1267
Fax: (909) 592-2309

Center Manager Missoula Technology & Development Center 5785 Highway 10 West Missoula, MT 59808-9361 Phone: (406) 329-3900 Fax: (406) 329-371

Appendix B
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
**Engineering T&D Proposal Criteria**

Proposals/Problem Statements are evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Savings—What would be the direct savings to the FS if a solution to the problem was implemented over five years?
2. Partnerships—What partnerships are in-place? What is the potential for partnerships? Are the partners internal with other FS programs or with other agencies? Do or will the partners contribute funding to the project?
3. Strategic Plan—How would the problem solution help to achieve goals of the Strategic Plan?
4. Effectiveness—How would a solution assist FS field personnel to be more effective?
5. Scope—Would a solution benefit a broad audience such as: districts in multiple regions, numerous districts in a single region, other federal agencies as well as FS personnel, etc.

Appendix C

Engineering Steering Committee Regional Representatives

Region	Name	Unit	Phone	Email
1	Paul Stantus	Kootenai NF	(406) 293-7773	pstantus@fs.fed.us
2	Pam Brown	Black Hills NF Northern Hills RD	(605) 642-4622	pbrown@fs.fed.us
3	Sarah Baker	Santa Fe NF	(505) 438-7871	sbaker02@fs.fed.us
4	Dave Erwin	Regional Office	(801) 625-5777	derwin@fs.fed.us
5	Belinda Walker	San Bernardino NF	(909) 884-6634	brwalker@fs.fed.us
6	John Sloan	Umpqua NF	(541) 957-3208	jsloan@fs.fed.us
8	Robert Burger	Regional Office	(404) 347-7252	rburger@fs.fed.us
9	Richard Kell	Hiawatha NF	(906) 789-3375	rkell@fs.fed.us
10	Pete Fama	Ketchikan NF	(907) 228-6322	pfama@fs.fed.us

Technical Assistance and Advisors

Name	Position	Phone	Email
Nelson Hernandez	Eng T&D Committee Chair	(703) 605-4613	nhernandez@fs.fed.us
Ron Skillings	Eng T&D Exec Secretary	(703) 605-4525	rskillings@fs.fed.us
Jim Saurbier	Regional Engr Representative	(414) 297-3526	jsaurbier@fs.fed.us
Dave Aicher	Manager, MTDC	(406) 329-3902	daicher@fs.fed.us
Charles Showers	Eng Program Leader, MTDC	(406) 329-3945	cshowers@fs.fed.us
John Fehr	Manager, SDTDC	(909) 599-1267 x211	jfehr@fs.fed.us
Alan Yamada	Eng Program Leader, SDTDC	(909) 599-1267 x224	ayamada@fs.fed.us
Monica Gourdine	FHWA, Technical ProgLdr	(202) 366-1872	monica.gourdine@fhwa.dot.gov
Bob Hart	BLM, Science & Tech Ctr.	(303) 987-6864	Bob_Hart@blm.gov