Institute of Transportation Engineers - Oregon Section - Technical Workshop

Registration Online at www.oregonite.org

Leadership in the Profession Oregon ITE Winter Workshop - Feb 1 Location: ODOT Region 1 – 123 NW Flanders, Portland, OR

8:00 - 8:30       Registration & Networking                                      (Refreshments)

8:30 - 8:45       Introduction

Bob Pappe, Oregon Department of Transportation State Traffic Engineer

8:45 - 9:00       Overview of the Day

Peter Koonce, Portland Bureau of Transportation & Oregon ITE President

9:00 - 10:00     Perspectives on Leadership from the Director or Transportation Level

                        Tom Miller, Portland Bureau of Transportation Director

                        Cam Gilmour, Clackamas County

                        Martha Bennett, Metro Chief Operating Officer

10:15 - 12:00   Highway Capacity Manual 2010 – An Introduction and its Application

Mark Vandehey, Kittelson & Associates, Inc. – Lead on HCM 2010

                        Luigi Casinelli, HDR – NYCDOT Case Study on HCM 2010 Application

12:15 - 1:30     The CEOs Perspective on Leadership                       (Lunch provided)

We are in a time of unprecedented economic challenge. What qualities are CEOs looking for in employees and how does that relate to ITE members and advancement of the profession?

Mark Vandehey, Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

                        Mia Birk, Alta Planning & Design

                        Randy McCourt, DKS Associates

                        Ralph Batenhorst, HDR

1:30 - 2:30       Applying Performance Measures – What’s the Future Hold?

            Moderator: Tom Armstrong – City of Portland Bureau of Planning

Lidwien Rahman, ODOT Region 1 – Alternative Performance Measures Study

                        Peter Koonce, PBOT – Measures that Move us Toward our Multimodal Future

Joe Marek - Clackamas County – Incorporating Safety into MOEs

3:00 - 4:00       Advances in Data Collection & Performance Measures of Tomorrow

                       Kelly Clifton, Portland State - New Techniques in Data Collection

                        Ted Trepanier, INRIX – New Sources of Data from the Private Sector

                        Steve Perone, PTV America  - Modeling and its Role on Performance

Portland Traffic Day

We have been planning the return of Portland's Traffic Day for over 18 months and look forward to a great list of speakers that will inform the "Traffic Signal" staff around the region. I had a chance to meet with Gail Achterman, our first presenter last Monday over coffee to discuss her role. Gail has been the Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission, which is a prominent position. Her leadership has presented several exciting opportunities for the our profession and really has a passion for innovation, sustainability, and leadership. 

In light of this, I am going to tweet for the meeting using the hashtag #pdxtrafficday as a part of getting the word out about what we're doing. 

The presentations also include Lynn Peterson, who was the Clackamas County Chair, but recently joined the Governor's Office as an advisor on Transportation. Lynn will highlight the importance of livability on the work that we're doing. 

We'll feature several technical sessions including one on bicycle detection, another on pedestrian advancements, and innovative strategies such as adaptive control. I am very excited about the potential for all of these to improve freight mobility, using the traffic signals to meet the various needs of the context for which we operate. Next year, we need to spend more time on freight priority and I hope to have more presentations like this one from UBC.

Bicycle Signals in the California MUTCD

People on bicycles using traffic signals in Portland, OR

This is a great example for what a MUTCD for Bikes would look like. Unfortunately, we don't have this in Oregon. We're working on it. Hopefully, leadership at the state level will support this sort of innovation, recognizing bicycles as an important element of the transportation system.

Section 9D of the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices states:

Section 9D.01 Application
Support:
Part 4 contains information regarding signal warrants and other requirements relating to signal
installations.
Option:
For purposes of signal warrant evaluation, bicyclists may be counted as either vehicles or pedestrians.
Support:
Also refer Part 4 of this Manual for highway traffic signals, in particular:
•  Section 4C.102(CA) – Bicycle signal warrants.
•  Section 4D.104(CA) – Bicycle Signals.
•  Section 4D.105(CA) – Bicycle Detectors.
Section 9D.02 Signal Operations for Bicycles
Standard:
At installations where visibility-limited signal faces are used, signal faces shall be adjusted so
bicyclists for whom the indications are intended can see the signal indications. If the visibility-limited
signal faces cannot be aimed to serve the bicyclist, then separate signal faces shall be provided for the
bicyclist.
On bikeways, signal timing and actuation shall be reviewed and adjusted to consider the needs of
bicyclists.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/survey/pedestrian/TR_MAY0405.pdf

UTMS Japan - Tokyo Visit

I am in Tokyo to present information about how the City of Portland is using traffic signals to reduce our environmental load. The presentation is approximately 18 hours from when I landed at Narita airport, so I may not be at my best without another cup of coffee!

Here are the initial pictures from my visit. The first photo is the view from my hotel room which is the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. I am on the 35th Floor and the room is spacious and comfortable. The view is very nice and I am close to the Imperial Palace and the Nagatacho Station on the Hanzomon Line. It's a great spot to start the visit.
I have brought gifts for my hosts as is customary in Japan. I found some great things to put in the Made in Oregon bag including candleholders made from recycled bike parts from Resource Revival, a variety of chocolate covered treats from the Made in Oregon store, chocolate covered coffee beans from Coffee People and coffee from Portland Roasting. I got a book from Powells at the airport that includes aerial photos of Portland and its surroundings, so I think this will be recieved well.
The initial perspectives I have on arrivals is that Tokyo is a late night town. I awoke at 5:30 AM today and was on the streets by 6. Walking around I found there weren't many shops open until 7 AM, even the coffee shops and no one has free WiFi. I am stuck paying $20 equivalent at the hotel! There was a rumor that McDonalds had free WiFi, but it turned out false (at least the one that I went to).
I am doing a bit of catch up with work email as well since I am travelling on behalf of the City and am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this exchange.
I am keeping an eye out for transportation facilities as always and found a few things that are worth considering for Portland.
The first example was a cross bike (adjacent to the crosswalk) that creates some facilities for people on bicycles that wouldn't otherwise have a connection clearly delineated. I'd be interested in their practice for implementation and when they choose to do this off-street and when on-street. I probably won't have much opportunity to talk with bicycle planners at this conference, since is primarily technology related.
The pedestrian indications are a mixed bag and they may be in the transition phase between the old style, which appear to be backlit light blue signs for walk and red don't walk indications. It appears they are going to a green walking person and a red don't walk. They flash the Walk indication to indicate when to clear the intersection, which is slightly different from our message. It does make me wonder whether we should flash the Walk when it is becoming stale and you're close to changing. It's a pretty small change that could improve information for peds.
They also add a sign adjacent to the pedestrian indications which I can't translate. I will ask about this at the meeting.

State Bill Introduces GHG assessment requirement

I couldn't help but post this interesting article on legislation in the Oregon Senate. “This bill deals with one important piece of the climate puzzle – transportation,” said Senator Alan Bates (D-Ashland), who carried the bill on the floor. “We must design our cities more efficiently, everything from timing our traffic signals to...

I need to write Mr. Bates a thank you note for promoting our efforts.

The link was edited and the text is at the bottom of the page.