511 Deployment Coalition Transition Planning

1
511 Deployment Coalition Transition Planning

• Rick Schuman, PBSJ

2
Background

• 511 Deployment Coalition funded by U.S. DOT since
  inception in 2001
• Coalition funded through Sept 2006
• Issue is what happens after Sept 2006

3
Policy Committee Deliberations

• May 23, 2005 Telecon
• Five minute discussion
• Direction to WG
• Develop and report back go forward options
• Would like aspects of the Coalition to last until
  at least 2010 (full deployment goal)
• Desire mechanisms to continue implementer
  interaction
• Recognize desire to mainstream and reduce
  financial requirements
• But dont want to lose the value of the network
  that has been created
• Directions to AASHTO, APTA and ITS America
• Determine what you can/will support going forward

4
Proposed Process

• This meeting
• What
• Determine value of each activity going forward
• How
• For desired go forward activities, options to
  keep going
• May also seek input from non-attending WG members
• Transition Task Force
• Agenda item tomorrow
• This meeting provides starting point
• Submit options to Policy Committee in fall/winter

5
What Past and Present Activities

• Guidelines
• Technical Assistance and Reports
• National Progress Reports
• National Statistics Reporting
• Targeted Outreach
• National Conference
• Interoperability
• Working Group
• Policy Committee
• Management Team
• Marketing Coordination
• Deploy511 web site
• Email Listserv
• 511 Exhibit
• 511 Demonstration Disk

6
Guidelines

• First created in 2001
• Defined basic 511 content and consistency
• Several background papers developed to address
  specific issues
• Primary initial accomplishment of the Coalition
• Three subsequent updates
• Refinements based on experience
• Tailored more towards deployers
• All material available electronically
• Referenced in many RFPs
• Elements used verbatim in some RFPs

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Technical Assistance and Reports

• 2001-2003 Deployment Assistance Reports
• 511 Business Models and Costs Considerations
• Transfer of 511 Calls to 911
• 511 and Homeland Security
• 511 Regional Interoperability Issues
• Public Transportation Content on 511
• Weather and Environmental Content on 511 Services
• Roadway Content Quality on 511 Services

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Technical Assistance and Reports

• 2004-5
• Quick tips guides and Webexs
• The Value of Deploying 511
• 511 Interoperability
• Volunteer topic selection and content guidance
• Consultant and/or volunteer written
• Can address advanced topics for leading deployers
  or basic topics for new implementers

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National Progress Reports

• Three published to date
• Typically late Spring or Early Summer
• Document of record on how 511 is doing
  nationally
• Primary document targeted to executives and other
  key officials
• Associations provide in mailings to key executives

10
National Statistics Reporting

• Monthly Usage and Coverage reporting since July
  2002
• Consulting aggregates self-reported statistics
  from each deployer
• Lots of reporting parameters, most provide only a
  few metrics what they have
• Often a little prodding is needed for all to
  complete input
• Distributed to WG and Listserv
• Used in presentations and National Progress Report

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Targeted outreach

• Coordinated effort to encourage states and
  metropolitan areas to deploy 511
• Primary activity to get non-deployed moving
• Currently focused on several key metropolitan
  areas
• Multiple strategies utilized
• Different horses for different courses
• Meetings, phone calls, presentations, executive
  level, working level
• Peers, Association, and/or Federal Officials
• Centrally coordinated by Coalition management and
  support team

12
National Conference

• March 2002 Launch Conference
• The 511 Deployment Conference Answering
  Americas Call for Travel Information
• More than 200 people
• October 2003
• 511 Your Customers Connection
• More than 150 people
• Early 2006 3rd conference
• Typical conference
• Training (How to)
• Sessions
• Exhibits
• Travel scholarships for some public sector

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Interoperability

• Technical issue that has been a focus from the
  start
• Really a policy issue?
• Is 511 a collection of local systems or a
  national system implemented locally?
• Dimensions
• Border/adjacent system interoperability
• National interoperability City and State,
  Please
• Service consistency terms, grammars, etc.
• Presently a working group task force focused on
  the issue
• Developed a quick tips and conducted web training

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Working Group

• Key Working Level Body of Coalition
• Been in existence since 2001
• Meets 3-4 times per year
• Membership evolves lead implementers, new
  implementers
• Not just states
• Primary functions
• Overall 511 guidance (working level)
• Peer interchange
• U.S. DOT/deployer interaction
• FCC strategy coordination
• Creates and disbands task forces to deal with
  focus issues
• Most public sector travel funded by U.S. DOT
• Significant costs consultant, meeting and
  travel costs
• Key to the Coalition Network

15
Policy Committee

• Executive Body of Coalition
• Been in existence since 2001
• Meets 1-2 times per year 1-2 teleconferences per
  year also
• Membership evolved significantly participation
  outside of core members a challenge
• Key in setting direction for 511 program in early
  days March 2001 Workshop
• Key in executive level outreach at present
• Not terribly active on policy front in recent
  past

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Management Team

• Association staff and support consultants
• AASHTO, APTA, ITS America
• Close coordination with U.S. DOT
• Meet 4-6 times per year
• Usually in advance of Working Group and Policy
  Committee meetings/calls
• Prepares for meetings
• Allows association coordination
• Allows U.S. DOT and association coordination
• Facilitates between meeting issue resolution as
  needed

17
Marketing Coordination

• Task Force and activities to coordinate and
  assist implementers in marketing 511
• Developed and manages the 511 brand use
  guidelines
• Conducts marketing workshops for deployers to
  share insights
• Last held in Austin in April 2005
• Some public sector travel on scholarship
• List of marketing contacts and launch events
  maintained
• Mid-to-modest support required

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Deploy511 Web Site

• www.deploy511.org
• Primary repository of 511 information
• News
• Reports/Guidelines
• Marketing
• Managed by ITS America
• Requires modest effort to maintain
• Though can get out-of-date quickly without focus
  maintenance
• FHWA also has a 511 web page with some of the
  same information

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511 Listserv

• http//groups.yahoo.com/group/511_coalition/
• All participants at any 511 meeting get invited
  to the listserv
• Bob Rupert and Pete Costello moderate
• Decent amount of usage/interaction
• Deployer issues
• Monthly statistics and major document
  distribution
• Modest cost to maintain (moderator)

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Discussion

• Any items need further elaboration?
• Any items we missed?
• Any new things that could be a focus?
• The feedback form
• Should we seek broader input?