ALDOT Statewide TSMO Program Plan ALDOT Statewide TSMO Program Plan 20190522REV | Page 12

The transportation industry has taken note of these returns; comprehensive TSMO programs are being
initiated and expanded in transportation agencies throughout the nation to address increasing safety and
congestion concerns in a time when financial resources continue to shrink. TSMO programs provide
significant benefits in safety and mobility of the transportation system. The mission of DOTs is shifting
from traditional capacity expansion through capital roadway widening or new location projects and
infrastructure maintenance to increasing the efficiency and capacity of existing infrastructure through a
focus on optimized operations. This new focus can be accomplished with a TSMO program that enables
targeted use of innovative technology, agency collaboration across disciplines and jurisdictional
boundaries, and focused solutions to congestions causes.
The Alabama TSMO program works to optimize the use of existing facilities, maximize performance of the
system, target solutions to congestion causes, and complement capacity projects. These innovative and
technology-based approaches are essential in a time when national VMT continue to increase annually
resulting in higher demand, while lane miles of the nation’s surface transportation system expand at a
lower rate due to limited funds and geographic constraints. The Alabama Statewide TSMO Master Plan
will accelerate the TSMO program, processes, and deployments.
Alabamians have a serious challenge—TSMO is a critical part of the solution.
4 TSMO MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT
The Alabama Department of Transportation has invested significant time, effort, and resources into
developing a TSMO program and recognizes the benefits of pursuing strategies and processes supported
by a TSMO approach. ALDOT completed a capability maturity model (CMM) assessment in 2018 which
identified the key areas for growth. In addition, TSMO regional plans were developed which focus on
region-specific TSMO recommendations and ITS project deployment recommendations.
The ALDOT Statewide TSMO Master Plan builds upon the CMM assessment and regional TSMO plans, as
well as established ALDOT multi-modal plans and current initiatives, to consider and create a coordinated
effort statewide to enhance transportation systems management and operations. The Plan recommends
a TSMO program that supports the goals and core values of ALDOT and reflects the Alabama TSMO
Program’s priorities as articulated in workshops, interviews, and project management team meetings with
ALDOT staff and partner organizations.
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