An Introduction to Managed Lanes
Beverly T. Kuhn, Ph.D., PE, Division Head/Research Engineer, System Management Division—Transportation Operations Group, Texas Transportation Institute, $70

The highway system in the United States is a critical component of American life. It provides extensive and flexible personal mobility to American citizens, and efficient freight movement to support the domestic economy. Both of these services are impacted by investment and location decisions made by nationwide governmental entities in their planning processes. A variety of factors may interfere with this system's ability to provide these services, including, but not limited to, an increase in travel by users, congestion, and environmental and financial constraints. Managed lanes projects have the potential to better use existing facilities and reduce the impact of this increase in travel. They may also have the potential to improve mobility while reducing pollution and minimizing the impact on the environment. Addressing managed lanes issues at the earliest stage possible in the planning process can maximize their potential for success. Topics to be addressed in this workshop include an overview of operational strategies for managed lanes, fundamental planning and programming issues related to managed lanes projects, an introduction to the preliminary managed lanes screening tool, and traveler information needs and traffic control device issues to consider in the planning stages of managed lanes.

Application of New Technology for Traffic Signal Preemption
Richard M."Rick" Campbell, President, Railroad Controls Limited, $70

This seminar will focus on specific needs where highway traffic signals are preempted by trains at adjacent highway-rail grade crossings. It will include a review of the complexities involved in the design and operation of these systems, including analysis of case studies of recent collisions and contributing factors in the crashes. Finally, the seminar will focus on new technology that is currently being implemented to increase the overall safety at these locations and prevent these collisions in the future.

Highway Occupancy Permits - THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL
PennDOT District and Central Permit Managers and PennDOT Office of Chief Council Staff, $70

The Highway Occupancy Permits (HOP) workshop will focus on providing guidance to engineers, developers, and municipal officials who routinely interact with PennDOT on obtaining highway occupancy permits. The discussion will include PennDOT policies, procedures, and guidelines required throughout the state in obtaining occupancy permits. It will also cover other occupancy-related issues, such as acquisition of right-of-way, HOP-related legal issues, security requirements, and traffic impact study requirements. The workshop will include discussion on the updates to Publication 441, Access to and Occupancy of Highways by Driveways and Local Roads, and the PennDOT HOP program.

Intelligent and Intellectual: The Interface between Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Intellectual Property (IP)
Leslie A. McCoy, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; Rebecca S. Burns, P.E., Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Office of Chief Counsel; Joanne Lichtenstein Lubart, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Office of Chief Counsel, $70

This workshop will provide transportation professionals with an appreciation for the important relationship between ITS and IP. The attendees can learn about the four major areas of IP: patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights. The Founding Fathers identified the need to protect products of the human intellect from unfair use and exploitation. The presenters will cover the fundamental principles underlying each type of IP and discuss how IP impacts the daily work of transportation professionals, including engineers, designers, planners, product suppliers, vendors, inventors, and system operators.

Traffic Simulation Softwares and Best Practices
John A. Halkias, Ph.D., PE, Systems Management Team Leader, Office of Transportation Management, FHWA Office of Operations, $90
This workshop will combine hands-on exposure to traffic simulation software, and discussion of best practices in traffic simulation at the federal, university, and practitioner level. Traffic simulation software developers—including VISSIM, Trafficware, CORSIM, HCS, and Paramics—are expected to attend to provide general instruction and relate best-practice experiences with their softwares. In addition, FHWA will provide instruction on their traffic analysis toolbox and facilitate the instruction from the software developers. We are also anticipating faculty from the University of Florida to attend to discuss the state of traffic simulation. This workshop is recommended for practitioners who are currently using traffic simulation software. Training on each software program will be limited; the focus will be on the appropriate tools for specific situations, and case studies of usage of the tools.