Policy and Regulations
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Web page is your one-stop shop for information about the portions of BIL specifically related to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Operations. We will add information on a regular basis as implementation progresses, and we invite you to visit the site often. For further information about all the FHWA-related sections of BIL, please visit the FHWA BIL site.
Federal regulations pertaining to Transportation Planning, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture, and Systems Engineering have provisions that relate to Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO). In addition, FHWA’s NEPA resources refer to the consideration of TSMO during project development. Below are some key policy and regulatory provisions related to TSMO.
Transportation Planning
23 CFR 450.324 covers the development and content of the metropolitan transportation plan. Among the 12 areas noted, 450.324(f)(5) states that the metropolitan transportation plan shall include “Operational and management strategies to improve the performance of existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the safety and mobility of people and goods”.
23 CFR 450.216 covers the development and content for the long-range statewide transportation plan. 23 CFR 450.216(b) states that the “long-range statewide transportation plan should include capital, operations and management strategies, investments, procedures, and other measures to ensure the preservation and most efficient use of the existing transportation system…”
23 CFR 450.322 covers the Congestion management process (CMP) in transportation management areas. 23 CFR 450.322(4) lists examples of categories of strategies, or combinations of strategies, that should be appropriately considered. Examples include: “demand management measures, including growth management, and congestion pricing (23 CFR 450.322(4)(i)); traffic operational improvements (23 CFR 450.322(4)(ii)); public transportation improvements (23 CFR 450.322(4)(iii)); and ITS technologies as related to the regional ITS architecture (23 CFR 450.322(4)(iv))”.
Intelligent Transportation Systems
23 CFR 940 covers Intelligent Transportation System Architecture and Standards. 940.9 outlines the requirements for the regional ITS architecture and 940.11 lists the elements that must be included in the systems engineering analysis for ITS projects. For more information on the Systems Engineering process, management tools, examples, training opportunities, and other resources, visit the FHWA Systems Engineering for ITS webpage.
NEPA Project Development
FHWA’s NEPA Project Development page included on the Environmental Review Toolkit site, discusses how TSMO improvements could be effective project alternatives. Specifically, the section Range of Alternatives states: “Alternatives that do not add capacity are often evaluated as potential design options. Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) can offer such alternatives such as Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM), congestion pricing strategies, expanding multimodal alternatives and mobility services, traffic signal synchronization, and other strategies”.
FHWA Policy and Guidance Center
FHWA also maintains a centralized clearinghouse, called the Policy and Guidance Center (Center), that provides information about the Federal-aid and Federal Lands Highway Programs. The Center contains legal documents, memos, directives, and guidance to support the Federal Highway Administration's mission and goals. Among the various disciplines covered, the Center contains information specifically related to Operations and Planning.
