[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20026-20027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9539]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


National Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture; 
New User Service

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to announce that FHWA will 
begin the incorporation of a new user service, Maintenance and 
Construction Operations (MCO), into the National ITS Architecture. The 
need for the MCO User Service was identified by stakeholders of the 
rural ITS deployment community so that more comprehensive rural 
regional ITS architectures could be developed. This user service was 
developed, with stakeholder participation, through development 
workshops in April 1999 and June 2000 and at a presentation session at 
the Rural Advanced Transportation Technology Systems (RATTS) conference 
in August 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on National ITS 
Architecture Development: Mr. Lee Simmons, (202) 366-8048, ITS Joint 
Program Office (HOIT-1). For information on the Maintenance and 
Construction Operations User Service: Mr. James Pol, (202) 366-4374, 
ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1), Mr. Michael Freitas, (202) 366-9292, 
ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1). For Legal Questions: Ms. Gloria 
Hardiman-Tobin, (202) 366-1397, Office of the Chief Counsel (HCC-40). 
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's 
home page at: http:www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing 
Office's web site at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
    An electronic copy of the Maintenance and Construction Operations 
User Service can be retrieved from the ITS web site: http://www.its.dot.gov.

[[Page 20027]]

Background

    The Maintenance and Construction Operations (MCO) User Service 
describes the need for effectively integrating ITS maintenance and 
construction services with other ITS services. Generally, key MCO 
services include monitoring, operating, maintaining, improving, and 
managing the physical condition of the roadway, associated 
infrastructure equipment on the roadway, and the available resources 
necessary to conduct these activities. The functional areas addressed 
in the Maintenance and Construction Operations User Service are those 
that involve ITS technologies, integration with other transportation 
systems that are represented in the National ITS Architecture, and 
those that will benefit surface transportation efficiency and safety.
    The MCO User Service requires ITS-related systems and processes to 
have the capability to monitor, analyze, and disseminate roadway 
conditions data for operational, maintenance, and managerial uses. It 
prescribes the need to coordinate and integrate MCO activities within 
diverse organizations in order to reduce costs, maintain or improve the 
efficiency and effectiveness of these activities, and increase the 
level of reusability of systems and technologies. In spite of its rural 
origin, the MCO User Service is applicable to urban, interurban, and 
rural environments.
    The focus for the MCO User Service will be on the following four 
functional areas: 1. Maintenance Vehicle Fleet Management: Systems that 
monitor/track vehicle location, support enhanced routing, scheduling, 
and dispatching functions, and use on-board diagnostic systems to 
assist in vehicle operations and maintenance activities. An example 
would be snow removal equipment dispatch and monitoring systems.
    2. Roadway Management: Systems that provide automated monitoring of 
traffic, road surface, and weather conditions (from both roadside 
components and vehicles), contain coordinated dispatching, perform 
hazardous road conditions remediation, and have the ability to alert 
public operating agencies of changes in these conditions.
    3. Work Zone Management and Safety: Systems that ensure safe 
roadway operations during construction and other work zone activities 
and communicate with the traveler.
    4. Roadway Maintenance Conditions and Work Plan Dissemination: 
Systems that disseminate/coordinate MCO work plans to affected 
personnel/staff within/between public agencies and private sector 
firms.

Stakeholder Participation

    Interested parties are invited to participate in the incorporation 
of the Maintenance and Construction Operations User Service into the 
National ITS Architecture. A one day workshop to kick off the new user 
service effort to incorporate changes into the National ITS 
Architecture will be scheduled in the near future. If you are 
interested in participating with us in this effort please contact Mr. 
James Pol (202) 366-4374, ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1), or Mr. 
Michael Freitas, (202) 366-9292, ITS Joint Program Office (HOIT-1).

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 101, 106, 109, 133, 315, and 508; sec 
5206(e), Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 457 (23 U.S.C. 502 note); and 49 
CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: April 11, 2001.
Vincent F. Schimmoller,
Deputy Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 01-9539 Filed 4-17-01; 8:45 am]
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