TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

4.0 COMMON TIM RESOURCES, FUNCTIONS, AND COSTS

To transition from these hypothetical examples of potential traffic incident management (TIM) resource management improvements (achieved through the use of appropriate personnel, equipment, and technology) to practical, measurable evidence of cost savings, a clear understanding of the common TIM resources, and their respective functions and costs, is required.

Information regarding common TIM resources, functions, and costs was gathered in two distinct stages. First, a comprehensive list (i.e., inventory) of common TIM personnel, equipment/technology, and supplies/materials resources and their functions was assimilated based on information:

1. Contained in existing incident and emergency management databases,
2. Published in formal TIM documents, and
3. Provided by the National Incident Management System (NIMS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and others.

Second, estimated costs for select TIM personnel, equipment/technology, and supplies/materials resources were gathered as part of a broader Incident Scenario Survey (described in more detail in Chapter 5. Potential Efficiency Improvements and Associated Cost Savings). Cost information was limited to those TIM resources utilized in response to an intermediate level incident occurring on a limited-access, high-speed roadway; involving three vehicles blocking two lanes; with a minor gasoline leak and entrapped driver. Various law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical services, and transportation personnel from eight different highly developed and developing TIM program jurisdictions provided the cost information.

Personnel

Personnel resources generally comprise operations and supervisory personnel, with various noted specializations. Table 2 summarizes common TIM personnel resources, their functions, and select costs.

Table 2. Common TIM Personnel Resources, Costs, and Functions

Supplies/Materials	Estimated Cost		Scene Protection	Traffic Control	Medical Care	Firefighting/ Extrication	Response Mobilization	Fuel Leak Mitigation	Crash Investigation	VMS/HAR Messages	Traffic Signal Control	Public/Media Information	Vehicle Removal	Cleanup	Documentation
	Range	Mean
Law Enforcement
First Aid Supplies	$8	$8			X
Emergency Blanket					X
Fire Extinguisher	$50	$50				X
Flare/Fusee	$20-40	$30	X	X
Spray Paint	$3-5	$4							X						X
Film	$6	$6							X						X
Fire and Rescue
First Aid Supplies	$9-100	$54.50			X
Emergency Blanket					X
Fire Extinguisher						X
Flare/Fusee			X	X
Absorbent Material/Pad	$40-50	$47.50						X						X
Plugs/Plug Material	$25-80	$52.50						X						X
Containment Boom	$66	$66						X						X
Emergency Medical
First Aid Supplies	$40-250	$145			X
Emergency Blanket					X
Transportation
First Aid Supplies					X
Emergency Blanket					X
Fire Extinguisher						X
Flare/Fusee			X	X
Absorbent Material/Pad	$2-20	$11						X						X
Plugs/Plug Material								X						X
Containment Boom								X						X
Spray Paint															X

L = Limited capacity, support role F = Full capacity, lead role

Resources by Agency

Public safety agencies—including law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency medical services—provide a structured rank of personnel ranging from the operations to supervisory levels with generally increasing monetary compensation increments. This structured rank suggests a breadth in training and capabilities across all personnel levels (i.e., supervisory rank personnel are trained in and capable of performing operational level duties). Transportation personnel ranks are less evident; with several observed specialized positions (i.e., traffic signal operator, TMC operator) whose personnel may or may not be able to perform duties outside of their area of expertise.

Monetary compensation is generally higher for law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency medical services personnel. Based on the information received from the Incident Scenario Survey, law enforcement operations personnel earn from $26.75 per hour at the trooper/officer level to $27.50 per hour at the sergeant level, on average. Fire and rescue operations personnel earn from $27.50 per hour at the driver/engineer level to $31.69 per hour at the firefighter level, on average. Emergency medical services (EMS) operations personnel earn from $30.00 per hour at the emergency medical technician (EMT)-basic level to $39.63 per hour at the EMT-paramedic level, on average. Supervisory positions in each of these agencies have higher monetary compensations; up to $29.75 per hour for a law enforcement lieutenant, up to $42.00 per hour for a fire and rescue battalion chief, and up to $53.54 per hour for an EMS captain, on average. Transportation operations personnel that respond on-scene typically earn from $18.00 per hour at the lead worker/technician level to $24.50 per hour at the service patrol operator level, on average. Specialized transportation operations personnel were reported to earn higher monetary compensations; up to $30.00 per hour for a TMC operator.

Law enforcement and transportation personnel have the greatest breadth of duties across common TIM functional areas. Law enforcement personnel often lead efforts to protect the scene, close lanes and provide temporary traffic control, mobilize additional response (i.e., towing and recovery), investigate the crash, remove the vehicle and clean up any remaining debris, and document the incident. Law enforcement personnel are also capable of providing initial medical care to injured persons, putting out small fires, modifying vicinity traffic signal timings to better accommodate rerouted traffic, and providing traveler information via messages posted on variable message signs (VMS) or through media contacts. Transportation personnel have a similar breadth in duties, acting in the same or different capacities as law enforcement (i.e., leading the effort or providing a support role). Fire and rescue and EMS personnel are more focused in the duties that they perform. Fire and rescue personnel often lead efforts to protect the scene, fight fires and extricate entrapped victims, and respond to hazardous and non-hazardous material spills while EMS personnel focus almost exclusively on providing medical care to injured persons.

Resources by Function

As noted previously, commonalities in responder competencies, identified by the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition and observed in practice, suggests that responders from multiple disciplines are trained, to some extent, to perform a particular function. Table 2 summarizes this phenomenon. With the exception of crash investigation, each of the common TIM functional areas can be performed by personnel from multiple agencies, with varying degrees of efficiency and effectiveness. Personnel from each agency are capable of providing scene protection, initial medical care, and documentation. With the exception of EMS personnel, personnel from each agency are capable of providing temporary traffic control, limited firefighting, and cleanup. Transportation and law enforcement personnel are each capable of mobilizing extra response, providing traveler information via VMS or through media contacts, modifying traffic signal timings, and removing the vehicle from the roadway. Fire and rescue and transportation personnel are each capable of mitigating minor vehicle fluid leaks.

Equipment and Technology

Equipment and technology resources generally comprise vehicles, appurtenances, and stand-alone devices that support TIM functions. Table 3 summarizes common TIM equipment and technology resources, their functions, and select costs.

Table 3. Common TIM Equipment and Technology Resources, Costs, and Functions

Equipment/Technology	Estimated Cost		Service Life		Scene Protection	Traffic Control	Medical Care	Firefighting/Extrication	Response Mobilization	Fuel Leak Mitigation	Crash Investigation	VMS/HAR Messages	Traffic Signal Control	Public/Media Information	Vehicle Removal	Cleanup	Documentation
	Range	Mean	Range	Mean
Law Enforcement
Motorcycle	$25,000	$25,000	4	4		X
Cruiser with Light Bar/Push Bumper	$30-48,000	$41,400	3-7	4.2	X	X									X
Light-Duty Pickup/SUV					X	X									X
Portable Laser Warning System					X
Physical Incident Screen						X
VMS/HAR					X	X						X
Traffic Cones/Signs	$100	$100	20	20	X	X
Laptop Computer	$1,500	$1,500	3	3							X						X
Total Station Surveying Equipment											X						X
Perspective Grid Investigation System											X						X
Other Crash Investigation System	$3,000	$3,000	5	5							X						X
Tape Measure	$80	$80	10	10							X						X
Camera/Video	$5,000	$5,000	10	10							X						X
Broom/Blower																X
Fire and Rescue
Light-Duty Pickup/SUV	$50,000	$50,000	5-8	6.5	X	X
Truck	$400-600,000	$500,000	7-10	8.5	X	X		X
Engine	$350-500,000	$450,000	7-20	14.5	X	X		X
Tanker					X	X		X
Rescue Vehicle	$350-800,000	$550,000	7-20	16.2	X	X	X	X
HAZMAT Vehicle	$650,000	$650,000	15	15	X	X		X		X						X
Quintuple Pumper	$650,000	$650,000	10	10	X	X		X
EMS Kit	$10,000	$10,000	NA	NA			X
Hydraulic Tools	$18,000	$18,000	NA	NA				X
Hand Tools	$250	$250	NA	NA						X						X
Traffic Cones/Signs					X	X
Emergency Medical
Non-transporting Vehicle	$50-75,000	$56,250	5	5	X		X
Type I Ambulance (Pickup Chassis)	$200-300,000	$237,500	7-10	9			X
Type II Ambulance (Vanbulance)							X
Type III Ambulance (Van Chassis)	$140,000	$140,000	8	8			X
Medevac							X
Transportation
Pickup with Arrow Board/Push Bumper	$20-50,000	$35,240	3-10	5.2	X	X									X
Fully-equipped Service Patrol Vehicle	$75,000	$75,000	4	4	X	X									X
Tow Truck															X
Backhoe/Front End Loader																X
Dump Truck																X
Empty Box/Livestock Trailer																X
Empty Tanker Truck																X
Sweeper/Blower																X
Physical Incident Screen						X
VMS/HAR					X	X						X		X
Traffic Cones/Signs					X	X
Broom/Blower																X
Responsive Traffic Signal Systems						X							X
TMC						X						X	X	X			X

Resources by Agency

Law enforcement vehicles used for TIM most commonly include cruisers equipped with a light bar and push bumper, although motorcycles may also be used to enhance access to the scene when traffic is queued. These vehicles generally provide scene protection and support traffic control. Accompanying equipment, carried in the cruisers or an alternate vehicle, generally supports temporary traffic control (i.e., traffic cones/signs, VMS), crash investigation and documentation (i.e., crash investigation systems, tape measure, camera/video), and removal of debris (i.e., broom/blower).

Fire and rescue agencies typically operate heavy-duty, specially designed vehicles (i.e., fire trucks, engines, tankers, rescue vehicles, hazardous material response vehicles, etc.) that support unique firefighting/extrication and hazardous material spill response duties. Depending on their particular function, these vehicles may be equipped with EMS kits to support advanced medical care to injured persons or hydraulic extrication tools. Most vehicles carry traffic cones/signs and hand tools (i.e., shovels, picks) to support initial traffic control and spill mitigation through diking/berming, respectively. EMS agencies also operate specially-designed and fully-equipped vehicles (i.e., ambulances) that support initial and advanced medical care and transport for injured persons.

Transportation agencies most commonly operate commercially available medium or heavy duty pickup trucks that are retrofitted with additional features, including push bumpers and arrow boards, and equipped with traffic cones/signs and hand tools (i.e., broom, shovel) to support debris removal. If dedicated to provide motorist assistance, these vehicles may carry mechanics tools, gasoline, water, etc. Transportation agencies also have access to a variety of heavy-duty equipment used to support maintenance and construction activities, including backhoes and front end loaders, dump and tanker trucks, box trailers, sweepers, etc. This equipment can be used to support large-scale debris cleanup efforts. Off-site, responsive traffic signal systems or a TMC may support efforts to facilitate traffic flow around the incident scene.

Resources by Function

Fewer commonalities in equipment function are observed between the various TIM response agencies. Certain fire and rescue vehicles are equipped to provide advanced medical care, similar to EMS vehicles. Both law enforcement and transportation vehicles are often equipped with push bumpers for quickly removing vehicles from the travel lanes or shoulder. Additionally, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and transportation agencies commonly carry various hand tools in their vehicles to support debris removal and cleanup. The most pronounced commonality is the use of each agency’s vehicles for scene protection. Varying levels of cost may be incurred if these response vehicles (used for scene protection) are struck by an approaching vehicle. In generally decreasing order, average replacement costs for: fire and rescue vehicles range from $50,000 to $650,000 (average service life of 6.5 to 16.2 years); EMS vehicles are $50,000 (average service life of 5 years); law enforcement vehicles are $41,400 (average service life of 4.2 years); and transportation vehicles range from $35,240 to $75,000 (average service life of 4 to 5.2 years).

Supplies and Materials

Expendable TIM supplies and materials resources, their functions, and select costs are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4. Common TIM Supplies and Materials Resources, Costs, and Functions

Supplies/Materials	Estimated Cost		Scene Protection	Traffic Control	Medical Care	Firefighting/ Extrication	Response Mobilization	Fuel Leak Mitigation	Crash Investigation	VMS/HAR Messages	Traffic Signal Control	Public/Media Information	Vehicle Removal	Cleanup	Documentation
	Range	Mean
Law Enforcement
First Aid Supplies	$8	$8			X
Emergency Blanket					X
Fire Extinguisher	$50	$50				X
Flare/Fusee	$20-40	$30	X	X
Spray Paint	$3-5	$4							X						X
Film	$6	$6							X						X
Fire and Rescue
First Aid Supplies	$9-100	$54.50			X
Emergency Blanket					X
Fire Extinguisher						X
Flare/Fusee			X	X
Absorbent Material/Pad	$40-50	$47.50						X						X
Plugs/Plug Material	$25-80	$52.50						X						X
Containment Boom	$66	$66						X						X
Emergency Medical
First Aid Supplies	$40-250	$145			X
Emergency Blanket					X
Transportation
First Aid Supplies					X
Emergency Blanket					X
Fire Extinguisher						X
Flare/Fusee			X	X
Absorbent Material/Pad	$2-20	$11						X						X
Plugs/Plug Material								X						X
Containment Boom								X						X
Spray Paint															X

Resources by Agency

The expendable supplies and materials utilized by each agency mimic their TIM functional duties. Law enforcement personnel commonly carry first aid supplies to support initial medical care, fire extinguishers to support minor fire control, and flares/fusees to support temporary traffic control. Additionally, law enforcement personnel carry spray paint and film to support crash investigation and documentation. Fire and rescue personnel also carry first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, and flares/fusees, but also carry absorbent material/pad, plugs/plug material, and containment booms to support efforts to mitigate small vehicle fluid spills. Based on their singular focus on providing medical care, emergency medical services carry a greater selection and quantity of first aid supplies. Similar to fire and rescue personnel, transportation personnel carry first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, and flares/fusees, but also carry absorbent material/pad, plugs/plug material, and containment booms to support mitigation of small vehicle fluid spills.

Resources by Function

Similar to the commonalities observed for agency personnel and equipment across various TIM functional areas, some duplication exists in the expendable supplies and materials utilized. Law enforcement, fire and rescue, and transportation personnel each carry first aid supplies to support initial medical care; fire extinguishers to support minor fire control; and flares/fusees to support temporary traffic control. Emergency medical agencies also carry first aid supplies. Fire and rescue and transportation personnel each carry absorbent material/pad, plugs/plug material, and containment booms to support efforts to mitigate small vehicle fluid spills. Law enforcement and transportation personnel each carry spray paint to support documentation efforts.