Session No. 8B
Active Traffic Management Considerations
In 2021, Pennsylvania turned on its first active traffic management (ATM) solutions on I-76 in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The I-76 corridor incorporates variable speed limits and automated queue warning messaging, with plans to build out additional systems in the future. As more areas around Pennsylvania consider these strategies, this session will focus on providing the audience lessons learned from Philadelphia’s implementation, and includes peer presentations from California and Oregon regarding their more mature ATM installations. Caltrans’ and Oregon’s presentations will focus on design considerations, safety/operational outcomes, and expectations when adding additional roads or ATM solutions during a project timeline.
Moderator: Ryan McNary, PennDOT
Oregon ATM Experience
- Dennis Mitchell, P.E., Regional Director of Transportation Technology, DKS Associates
San Francisco ATM Experience
- David Man, Chief of System Operations, Caltrans Bay Area
Philadelphia ATM Experience
- Brian DePan, P.E., Manager, Pennsylvania Advanced Mobility, Jacobs Engineering
- Nick Boltralik, Research Computer Scientist, Southwest Research Institute
Bios
Dennis Mitchell is a transportation engineer with more than 37 years of experience leading transportation projects for public agencies. Prior to joining DKS, he was the Region 1 Traffic Engineer with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). With this agency experience, he brings expertise in leading and directing the technical aspect of traffic investigations, design and operations including the development, evaluation and deployment of new technology related to traffic engineering and intelligent transportation systems (ITS).
David Man is a Caltrans Principal Transportation Engineer in the Division of Traffic Operations in the District 4 — Bay Area Region. Man manages the Systems Operations program that includes the region’s TMC, lane closure management, TSMO and ITS development, asset management, traffic signal and ramp metering operations, and encroachment permits. Over the past 15 years at the department, he has helped implement many new technologies and ITS.
Brian DePan is an engineer and manager in Jacobs’ Pennsylvania Advanced Mobility Group, focusing primarily on Traffic and Intelligent Transportation System projects in the Mid-Atlantic. Currently, DePan is serving as the Traffic and Intelligent Transportation design lead for the I-76 Integrated Corridor Management Project.
Nick Boltralik joined the Southwest Research Institute in 2020 and has been working as a software developer to support and develop new features for PennDOT’s Advanced Traffic Management System, OpenTMS. He assisted in the testing and go-live of the I-76 VSL Corridor and contributed to enhancements that were made to the VSL and Queue Warning system. Before going to Southwest Research, he graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Computer Science in 2019 and an M.B.A in 2020.
