The Emergency Transportation Operations (ETO) Initiative has produced numerous documents covering a wide range of topics in its six functional areas: public access to emergency services, enhanced information sharing, evacuation management and operations, transportation operations during biohazard situations, preparedness and response, and planned special events.  Most of these documents are available on the Best of Public Safety and Emergency Transportation Operations CD-ROM, which is available free upon request by visiting http://www.its.dot.gov/its_publicsafety/index.htm.

Public Access to Emergency Services

• U.S. Department of Transportation Wireless E9‑1‑1 Steering Council Wireless E9‑1‑1 Priority Action Plan [HTML] [PDF 125 KB]: This January 2003 priority action plan details the six priority action items identified by the USDOT Wireless Enhanced 9‑1‑1 (WE9‑1‑1) Initiative Steering Council to accelerate compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) wireless implementation mandates.  These priority action items are: establishing support for statewide coordination and identifying points of contact, convening stakeholders at all levels of government, examining cost recovery/funding issues, initiating knowledge transfer and outreach program, developing coordinated deployment strategy encompassing both rural and metropolitan areas, and implementing a model location program.
• Facilitating the Implementation of Emergency Wireless Communications [HTML] [PDF 546 KB]: This May 2006 report summarizes the results of a 54-month program conducted by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).  Project elements summarized in the report include a national clearinghouse of information, wireless deployment profile, white papers on a variety of wireless 9‑1‑1 related topics, videos, stakeholder forums, technical assistance, and surveys to estimate Phase II equipment costs.
• E9‑1‑1 Technology Background and Issues [HTML] [PDF 206 KB]: This September 2002 paper identifies potential technology solutions to 9‑1‑1 challenges and the implications of emerging technologies and services on the future delivery of emergency response.  This paper was produced in preparation for the September 26, 2002 Wireless E9‑1‑1 Technology Roundtable sponsored by USDOT.
• New York State Wireless Enhanced 9‑1‑1 Implementation Guide [PDF 1.40 MB]: This 2002 guide documents a USDOT project that focused on the development of a wireless enhanced 9‑1‑1 implementation guide for New York State.  The primary focus of the project was the application of a medical leadership approach to resolve barriers to implementation within New York.
• The New York State Wireless Enhanced 9‑1‑1 Project: Lessons Learned [PDF 1.45 MB]: This 2002 report documents the scope, results and lessons learned from the New York State Emergency Call Locator Partnership Project.
• Recommendations of the National MAYDAY Readiness Initiative [PDF 90 KB]: This October 2000 report outlines issues and recommendations of the National Mayday Readiness Initiative (NMRI), which was a public-private partnership of more than twenty national organizations.  The NMRI was assembled to address issues that arise in the dealings between telematics service providers and the nation's public emergency response agencies.
• MAYDAY 9-1-1 Data Routing Final Report [HTML] [PDF 1 MB]: This February 2006 report describes the data routing portion of the MAYDAY/9-1-1 field operational test (FOT).  It provides details on, the activities and results of the data routing project.
• MAYDAY 9-1-1 FOT Results and Path Forward Report (Voice) [HTML] [PDF 7.59 KB]: This March 2006 report provides an overview of the test plan and test results from the FOT team perspective.  It relates the overall Telematics Service Provider Emergency Call Routing Service (TCREPS) concept with ongoing related standards efforts. The document suggests additional steps that could assist the industry in reaching a workable solution in meeting telecommunications service providers' (TSPs') emergency calling needs.
• MAYDAY 9-1-1 FOT Design Report [HTML] [PDF 1.07 MB]: This March 2006 report describes a proof of concept demonstration environment to support the MAYDAY/9-1-1 field operational test for the TSPECRS voice routing solution.  It also describes the proposed architecture for TSPECRS, modifications specific to this demonstration, and test procedures used for the field operational test and subsequent evaluation. 
• MAYDAY 9-1-1 FOT Evaluation Report [HTML] [PDF 1.54 MB]: This July 2006 report documents the process, results, and issues encountered in this FOT.  The scope of the evaluation includes an acceptance test on the voice routing system (i.e., TSPECRS), automated collision notification (ACN)/advanced automated collision notification (AACN) data routing analyses, feedback from the users of the voice and data routing systems, and potential deployment issues. 

Enhanced Information Sharing

• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)-Traffic Management Center (TMC) Integration Field Operational Test in Washington State: Final Report [HTML] [PDF 265 KB]: This May 2006 report, written by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), details the events and results of the Washington State computer aided dispatch (CAD)-traffic management center (TMC) field operational test from WSDOT's perspective.  It describes the project background, project partners, overall project objectives, events that occurred during the project, project results, concept of operations, a summary of the implemented system, challenges encountered, and key decisions reached during the project.
• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)-Traffic Management Center (TMC) Integration Field Operational Test in Washington State: Evaluation Final Report [HTML] [PDF 246 KB]: This July 2006 report documents the evaluation of the Washington State CAD-TMC field operational test and was written by the test's independent evaluator.  The report discusses system functionality, system impact, institutional issues, technical issues, lessons learned, and qualitative and quantitative benefits.
• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)-Traffic Management Center (TMC) Integration Field Operational Test in Utah: Final Report [HTML] [PDF 74 KB]: This August 2006 report, written by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), details the events and results of the Utah CAD-TMC integration field operational test from UDOT's perspective.  It provides a project overview, test approach and results, challenges experienced during the test, lessons learned, and team member roles and responsibilities.
• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)-Traffic Management Center (TMC) Integration Field Operational Test in Utah: Evaluation Final Report [HTML] [PDF 328 KB]: This July 2006 report documents the evaluation of the Utah CAD-TMC integration field operational test and was written by the test's independent evaluator.  The report discusses system functionality, system impact, institutional issues, technical issues, lessons learned, qualitative and quantitative benefits, and conclusions and recommendations.
• GJXDM/IEEE 1512 Compatibility Analysis Report [HTML] [PDF 269 KB]: This March 2007 report summarizes the lessons learned in a joint ITS Public Safety Program/Department of Justice project that developed a standards-based approach to critical information exchange between transportation and public safety agencies.
• Communicating With the Public Using ATIS During Disasters: A Guide for Practitioners [HTML] [PDF 2.21 MB]: This April 2006 report provides advice on use of advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) during disasters and is intended not only for state and local transportation agencies but for their partners in public safety and emergency management agencies. It offers practical guidance to managers of transportation management centers and emergency operations and to public information officers who may be called on to staff joint information centers during disasters.
• Communicating with the Public Using ATIS During Disasters: Concept of Operations [HTML] [PDF 506 KB]: This March 2006 report details a concept of operations for dissemination of information to the traveling public during disaster events. The concept of operations report is intended to illustrate how agencies need to interface with each other and what data and information need to be shared to effectively manage and deliver traveler information during disasters.
• Capital Wireless Information Net (CapWIN) Camera Phone Proof-of Concept Project Guidance Report [HTML] [PDF 4.15 MB]: This July 2007 guidance report is a compilation of documents created during the Camera Phone Proof-of-Concept (POC) Project.  The goal of this effort was to improve incident management and response activities in the event of a traffic incident or other emergency situations that affect traffic operations by sharing images using commercial cellular phones.

Evacuation Management and Operations

• Assessment of State of the Practice and State of the Art in Evacuation Transportation Management (Case Studies) [HTML] [PDF 1.32 MB]: These case studies developed in February 2006 identify commonalities and unique distinctions among the cross-section of incidents to identify successes, lessons learned and best practices to provide guidance to agencies in their planning for and managing evacuations.
• Assessment of State of the Practice and State of the Art in Evacuation Transportation Management (Literature Search) [HTML] [PDF 2.33 MB]: This February 2006 report draws upon a collection of relevant domestic and international evacuation reference materials, plans, policies, procedures to newspaper and magazine articles, journals, industry publications, and other reports to assess and document what is currently known about the management of evacuations and transportation management during evacuation situations.
• Evacuation Transportation Management (Interview and Survey Results) [HTML] [PDF 675 KB]: This June 2006 report documents emergency evacuation plans and practices employed by transportation management organizations in several large metropolitan areas within the United States.  The report discusses specific practices with regard to management through the use of ITS and related traffic management tools.  Interview results for 14 public and private transportation agencies from five large metropolitan areas are also documented.
• Evacuations Management Operations (EMO) Modeling Assessment: Transportation Modeling Inventory [HTML] [PDF 547 KB]: This June 2007 report documents more than 30 surface transportation modeling tools that have been applied or could be applied to evacuation modeling.  The modeling inventory includes a description of each modeling tool and cites case studies (if any) where the tool has been used in modeling evacuation events.  It also provides an analysis of the tools as they relate to a modeling spectrum according to scope and analytical complexity, including a discussion of how the decisions supported by analysis drive tradeoffs in terms of scale and computational speed.
• Evacuation Transportation Management (Operational Concept) [HTML] [PDF 940 KB]: This June 2006 report outlines a concept of operations for transportation management during a no-notice emergency evacuation.  It illustrates how agencies interact with each other, what information is shared, and how transportation systems are effectively managed during disaster, and address who, what, when, where, why, and how the transportation management system needs to operate during a major no-notice event or disaster requiring evacuation.
• Low-Cost Surveillance for Rural Evacuation Routes System (Final Report) [HTML] [PDF 833 KB]: This November 2005 report summarizes the Low-Cost Surveillance for Rural Evacuation Routes System (LCSRERS) pilot project, the project's findings, and the system recommendations resulting from pilot system testing and analysis.  The project demonstrated a low-cost surveillance system model that can be used to monitor rural evacuation routes, routes that would typically not utilize surveillance due to normally low traffic volumes.
• Routes to Effective Evacuations Primer Series: Using Highways during Evacuation Operations for Events with Advance Notice [HTML] [PDF 2.71 MB]: This primer addresses transportation planning for evacuating populations. It catalogs transportation management and operations advancements that may be applied to improve evacuation planning and operations when advance notice is possible. This primer is a tool to aid local and State planners maximize the highway network and transportation tools and capabilities in evacuation plans and operations for their communities, States or regions.
• Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning Primer Series: Using Highways for No-Notice Evacuations [HTML] [PDF 20.36 MB]: This November 2007 primer provides ideas and considerations for transportation officials that are applicable to little- or no-notice evacuation incidents. It addresses the use of the highway system during evacuation operations following an incident that gives little to no warning and allows for no advance planning.
• Managing Pedestrians During Evacuations of Metropolitan Areas [HTML] [PDF 395 KB]: This report documents practices available to transportation managers and public safety agencies use to ensure that people evacuating on foot and in vehicles do not hamper each other's mobility.  It recommends that evacuation plans account for evacuating large numbers of pedestrians and includes considerations where the deliberate implementation of a pedestrian evacuation strategy is preferred in urban areas to get large numbers beyond the danger zone.

Transportation Operations During Biohazard Situations

• Applications of Technology to Transportation in Biohazard Situations (Final Report): This December 2005 report provides recommended practices, and additional research needs that were identified as part of this project. This report is comprised of the following sections:
  • Executive Summary [HTML] [PDF 41 KB]
  • Background and Purpose [HTML] [PDF 30 KB]
  • Recommended Practices [HTML] [PDF 40 KB]
  • Additional Research Needs [HTML] [PDF 24 KB]
• Applications of Technology to Transportation in Biohazard Situations (Literature Review) [HTML] [PDF 812 KB]: This May 2005 document summarizes the literature review conducted as part of this project and draws upon background information on biohazards and biohazard events, documents describing the role of transportation during a biohazard event, and current plans, guidance, and analytical tools for transportation response to biohazard events.
• Applications of Technology to Transportation in Biohazard Situations (Transportation Biohazard Operational Concept) [HTML] [PDF 733 KB]: This August 2005 report supports the efforts of state departments of transportation in defining their organizational structure, roles and responsibilities, processes and policies for managing a biohazard event.  The operational concept clarifies the transportation functions to be performed during a biohazard situation by specifying the processes through which these functions are accomplished.
• Applications of Technology to Transportation in Biohazard Situations (Transportation Activities and Applications of Technology) [HTML] [PDF 301 KB]: This November 2005 report provides functional requirements and specifications for communications and ITS that would operate during and in response to a biohazard event.  It also recommends a set of technologies that would be especially useful during a biohazard situation.
• Applications of Technology to Transportation in Biohazard Situations (Workshop Summary) [HTML] [PDF 159 KB]: This document summarizes the results of July 18, 2005 workshop at the University of Wisconsin at Madison that was conducted as part of this project.  This workshop, which was co-sponsored by the USDOT’s ITS Joint Program Office.

Preparedness and Response

• Simplified Guide to the Incident Command System (ICS) for Transportation Professionals [HTML] [PDF 2.12 MB]: This February 2006 guide introduces Incident Command System (ICS) to those who must provide specific expertise, aid or material during highway incidents but who may be unfamiliar with ICS organization and operations. These include transportation professionals, companies involved in towing and recovery, and elected officials and government agency managers at all levels.
• Common Issues in Emergency Transportation Operations Preparedness and Response: Results of the FHWA Workshop Series [HTML] [PDF 1.11 MB]: This report consolidates common issues of the transportation community, emergency managers, first responders and public information officers.  Common issues include coordination and communication, emergency operations, equipment, ITS, mutual aid, threat awareness and information sharing, and policy.  Common issues were identified through a series of 30 workshops that were conducted around the country by FHWA between 2002 and 2005.
• Best Practices in Emergency Transportation Operations Preparedness and Response: Results of the FHWA Workshop Series [HTML] [PDF 557 KB]: This report presents best practices and lessons learned from the participants who took part in the 30 workshops that were conducted around the country by FHWA between 2002 and 2005.
• Traffic Signal Preemption for Emergency Vehicles: A Cross-Cutting Study [HTML] [PDF 2.81 MB]: This January 2006 report identifies issues associated with emergency vehicle operations and emergency vehicle preemption. This study reports information gathered during a review of publications and site visits to three jurisdictions operating emergency vehicle preemption systems.

Planned Special Events

• Managing Travel for Planned Special Events (PSEs) Handbook [HTML] [PDF 17.66 MB]: This September 2003 handbook presents and recommends policies, regulations, planning and operations processes, impact mitigation strategies, equipment and personnel resources, and technology applications used in the advance planning, management, and monitoring of travel for planned special events.
• Planned Special Events: Checklists for Practitioners [HTML] [PDF 794 KB]: These six checklists are for event-specific planning for planned special event travel management. These checklists follow the order in which the topics are presented in Managing Travel for Planned Special Events (PSEs) Handbook (see above).
• Managing Travel for Planned Special Events (PSEs) Executive Summary [HTML] [PDF 1.41 MB]: This June 2007 document is for decision makers and senior officials who must be familiar with planned special events and must provide safe travel to and from these events; the value of regional collaboration; and the merits of local, county and/or state agencies from transportation, transit, public safety, and private sector partners working together in planning and implementing these events.
• Tabletop Exercise Instructions For Planned Events and Unplanned Incidents/Emergencies [HTML] [PDF 160 KB]: This November 2007 document provides information participants will need to develop and organize a tabletop exercises to prepare for planned events and unplanned incidents and emergencies.