Management, Operations & Safety

COG and the TPB have championed improvements in the ways the region's transportation system is managed and operated. Such improvements often use computer and communications technologies to squeeze more efficiency out of the transportation infrastructure that already exists. 

The TPB Vision prioritizes the safety of all modes and facilities. Specifically, the Vision calls upon TPB members to provide safer transportation facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and persons with special needs, better enforcement of traffic laws and motor carrier safety regulations, achieve national targets for seatbelt use, and use appropriate features in facility design. Examples of safety measures encouraged in the Vision include red-light cameras, skid-resistant pavements, elimination of roadside hazards, and better intersection controls.

TPB work to enhance the management, operations, and safety of the region's system includes:

• Congestion Management Process - A systematic process that provides for safe and effective integrated management and operation of the multimodal transportation system.
• Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) Program - A coordinated partnership created by the TPB and transportation agencies in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia that aims to improve safety and mobility in the region through information sharing, planning, and coordination.
• ITS & ITS Architecture - The application of current and evolving technology (particularly computer and communications technology) to transportation systems, and the careful integration of system functions, to provide efficient and effective solutions to multi-modal transportation problems.
• Traffic Safety - The Safety Element of the region's Constrained Long-Range Plan summarizes the priorities, goals, countermeasures, or projects that address regional safety issues.
• Emergency Preparedness - The TPB and its programs provide technical transportation expertise to regional public safety and emergency management planning at COG.