RALEIGH – Last week, N.C. Department of Transportation officials joined the N.C. State Highway Patrol to officially open the Traffic Incident Management Training and Development Track in Raleigh, a closed half-mile course that helps first responders safely train for real events that happen on North Carolina’s highways every day. Though the track has been in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, this morning’s occasion celebrated this achievement in person.
One recurring theme throughout the event focused on partnership, included in remarks from NCSHP Colonel Freddy Johnson, Jr. “This grand opening is a testament to the strong partnership we have shared between our agencies over the years. I am appreciative for our work together and for what we will do as we move forward, “ Johnson said.
NCDOT Secretary Eric Boyette reminded attendees of how the Incident Management Assistance Program (IMAP) got its start back in the 1960s, when roadside assistance was first provided along 21 miles of interstate through the Pigeon River Gorge. Over time, the program has grown to currently cover more than 850 miles of highway in North Carolina.
“NCDOT’s partnership with State Highway Patrol is vital to provide a safe, reliable road network for North Carolinians and our visitors,” Boyette said. “We will continue working together to improve safety on our roadways.”
Once the ribbon was cut to commemorate the official opening, attendees were treated to a multi-agency demonstration including NCDOT, NCSHP, and first responders. Crews took part in scenarios involving one and two vehicles, demonstrating the value of the partnerships needed to clear the road safely and quickly.
How traffic incident management (TIM) response training can be done safely in a test track facility
How a test track can provide training in a multitude of physical features encountered in all three regions of the North Carolina: coastal, piedmont, and mountain, as well as incorporate a broad range of physical characteristics that allow agencies to practice various incident work zone applications and vehicle maneuvers
How the test track education and training can reduce incidence clearance times.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Professional Capacity Building (PCB) Academic Program will host a virtual session on current ITS-related workforce development activities, including a discussion on topic areas in need of additional resources.
Title: ITS Workforce Development Efforts & Identifying the Gaps
Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Time: 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. ET
Background
The USDOT ITS PCB Academic Program will host a virtual seminar on ITS-related workforce development activities, with a focus on the current efforts of the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE).
This seminar will feature a presentation from NOCoE on outcomes from its Workforce Summit in September 2021 and its Workforce Peer Exchange in May 2022. The session will include discussion of specific examples of relevant actions state and local agencies are taking and finding successful, as well as discussion on existing gaps that would benefit from additional investigation and/or resources.
Target Audience
The target audience includes Federal, State, and local agency professionals, consultants, transportation educators, students, and employers.
Learning Objectives
The objectives of the panel are for participants to:
Gain an understanding of NOCoE’s mission and current ITS-related workforce development efforts.
Understand the challenges of developing and supporting the ITS-related workforce.
Expand knowledge of strategies that can be used to address ITS-related workforce needs.
Examine topic areas that warrant additional study to support ITS-related workforce development activities.
About the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)
NOCoE provides services to the transportation systems management and operations (TSMO) community to saves lives, improve travel times, and enhance economic vitality. With an emphasis on workforce development, NOCoE aims to assist in the deployment of technologies and the mainstreaming of TSMO solutions by fostering education, networking, communication, and knowledge transfer.
