The International Road Federation (IRF) contributed to a very successful 103rd edition of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, held on 7 – 11 January 2024, in Washington, D.C. A global gathering that every year brings together transportation leaders and researchers to address critical issues in transport. The IRF was pleased to contribute to a number of sessions among which two speccifically dedicated to traffic management systems.

Enhancing Traffic Management Systems (TMS)

This workshop organised by several TRB Standing Committees – and under the leadership of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – saw the participation of IRF Director General, Susanna Zammataro and had as objective  to gather insights and practices to enhance Transportation Management System (TMS) capabilities and performance.

The workshop aimed in particular to assist agencies in aligning TMSs with their objectives, performance expectations, and desired functions. Through interactive breakout sessions, participants explored key processes, including preparing for and conducting TMS assessments, assessing TMS capabilities and performance, and identifying opportunities for improvement.  

Innovation in Traffic Management: Lessons from the 4th TRB ISFO Symposium

On 9 January, a session moderated by AustriaTech provided a global platform for industry leaders and researchers to spotlight the pivotal conclusions derived from the 4^th TRB International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations (ISFO) held on 26-30 June 2023 in Vienna. Presenting on the symposium’s plenary session “Visioning Traffic Management’s Future”, IRF DG, S. Zammataro, reported that the session focused on anticipating changes and identifying opportunities for effective traffic management. Key highlights included: leveraging digitalisation for optimised asset use and safety; revising procurement frameworks for widespread deployment of solutions; and repurposing existing road networks to reduce emissions and congestion.

This session also served as a platform to announce the 5th TRB International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations (ISFO), to be organised end of June 2025 in Marrakech as a collaborative effort among several partners including IRF, and with the National Motorway Company of Morocco (ADM) as the lead local host. Info soon available on the IRF Website.

Resources on TSMO available on https://transportationops.org/.