Office of Operations
photos of traffic merging onto congested highway, congestion in snowstorm, variable message sign, cargo, variable speed limit sign in a work zone, and a freeway at night
21st century operations using 21st century technologies

About the Office of Operations

Transportation Operations are the intentional strategies, tools, and real-time actions needed for the system to serve all road users safely and reliably as it was planned, funded, designed, constructed, and maintained.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Operations provides national leadership for the management and operation of the surface transportation system. The office is responsible for FHWA's efforts in the areas of transportation systems management and operations, managing disruptions to operations, innovative operations strategies, connected vehicles and other emerging technologies, freight management and operations, and other program and grants delivery.

Martin C. Knopp is the FHWA Associate Administrator for Operations.

Operations Organizational Structure

The full Office of Operations organization chart may be found here: Org Chart.

The programs shown below initiate policies and programs, training, technology transfer, technical support, and relevant products and services to advance the operational practices and capabilities of State and local transportation agencies

The Office of Operations, Technical Service Team for Operations, and Research and Development Office collaborate to provide technical assistance and programs to FHWA field and program offices.

This is Operations

Operations is focused on the fulfillment of the prior decisions that planners, designers, builders, maintenance crews, and safety specialists envisioned for the real-time user experience. Operations is about fulfilling the safety and reliability of the system in real-time. The maximum capacity of the road segment is predominately determined by the planning and design decisions based on safety and function, with quality of construction, maintenance, and operations efforts contributing of limited degree to overall throughput, speeds, and recurring congestion outcomes.

Various strategies, tools, and actions that comprise operations are generally outlined under the overarching framework of Transportation Systems Management and Operations, or TSMO, which is the term of art used among industry practitioners. TSMO includes strategies, tools, and actions such as traffic detection and surveillance, corridor management, freeway management, arterial management, active transportation and demand management, work zone management, emergency management, traveler information services, congestion pricing, parking management, automated enforcement, traffic control, commercial vehicle operations, freight management, and coordination of highway, rail, transit, bicycle, pedestrian operations, roadway weather management, intelligent transportation systems, communication networks, and information sharing systems.