Data Access Requirements for Texas Traffic Management Centers

Project Description

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) operates ten Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) that monitor traffic data from a number of sources (e.g., closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras). Recently, private entities, such as the media and traffic information service providers (ISPs), have requested direct access to this traffic information. Prior to this project, there were no guidelines or procedures to provide statewide consistency among the existing and planned centers.

In this project, the research team

• identified currently available traffic data,
• examined practices for furnishing traffic data to private entities,
• inventoried the diverse uses for traffic data,
• reviewed the potential for traffic data as a revenue source, and
• identified concerns regarding sharing or selling the data.

They also conducted personal interviews with the managers of six TxDOT TMCs and evaluated how the Public Information Act might impact transferring real-time traffic data to the public.

Findings indicate that TxDOT should execute appropriate cooperative agreements among its own TMC partner agencies before making similar agreements with outside entities. In addition, the research team developed the following guidelines for consideration regarding data access in Texas TMCs:

• Meet with ISPs and formulate performance measures concerning the distribution of TMC-sourced data that could be reported to TMC agencies as a gauge of public utility and a guide for future investment. Collect these performance measures and aggregate them on a statewide basis.
• Meet with ISPs and devise common procedures for typical activities involving TMC operations including disruption and restorations of data flows and on-site access to a TMC during emergencies. Include these procedures or references to them in contractual agreements with ISPs.
• Work toward including consistent requirements in TxDOT contracts with private sector data partners in TMCs throughout Texas.

Project Publications

Development of Guidelines for Data Access for Texas Traffic Management Centers 0-5213-1

Data Access Requirements for Texas Traffic Management Centers 0-5213-S

Interim Guidelines for Data Access for Texas Traffic Management Centers 0-5213-P1

For More Information