The objective of this project is not to deliver a new operations-data collection, analysis, and archiving system, called an operations data mart. Such a deliverable is beyond the available financial resources of this project. Instead, this project will accomplish the following:
1) Provide the functional specifications for the required system. These will state in plain, non-technical language what data the system will archive, what performance measures the system is expected to generate, what statistical analyses the system is expected to perform, and what existing and emerging data sources it can accommodate now and/or in future updates.
2) Map the capabilities of WSDOT’s PeMS and Oregon DOT’s PORTAL system to these functional specifications to obtain an assessment of how well PeMS and PORTAL meet WSDOT’s needs. The strengths and deficiencies of these systems will be assessed.
3) Based on this assessment, provide recommendations on whether to proceed with either PeMS or PORTAL as the statewide data mart. If enhancements to the version of PeMS that WSDOT owns are needed or if a new version of PeMS is needed, TRAC will help develop the information and material required to request the funding necessary for this. If a different system is recommended, TRAC will help develop the material to request funding for that system and an RFP to procure the system.
4) Develop guidance that assists WSDOT with the use of PeMS or PORTAL, assuming it is adequate, to obtain the performance measures that it needs.
5) Provide a roadmap for improving existing data and collecting data that are expected to be available in the future, such as data from toll tags or commercial vehicle probes. This step will be coordinated with work funded by WSDOT and TransNow to improve the quality of loop data.
The outcome of this complete effort (which extends beyond this specific funded research project) will be a decision support system that allows WSDOT management to report on the performance of state highways throughout the state and the effectiveness of specific traffic management actions undertaken by the Departm

The state legislature decided to not fund the purchase of new data systems to hold statewide operational data. As a result, the WSDOT staff involved in this project decided to spend the remaining project funds on improvements to the current NW Region data system, to allow it to meet more of WSDOT's needs. A list of potential improvements was developed by the project team, reviewed by WSDOT staff, modified in response to those comments, and accepted by the project team.

Work was then begun on that list of improvements. The project was also extended into the current biennium to allow completion of those improvements.

Improvements completed as of June 30th include:
Users can look for specific trip files via a convenient search. Options include; 1. Starting point(s), 2) Ending point(s), 3) Year(s), and 4) Lane type for trip file (HOV and/or GP)
Users can search for specific trip files and annualized volume files via a single map interface
Users can query trip files for specific information.
Users can use a 'cart' to process multiple trip files simultaneously

The new data retrieval capabilities can be accessed at:
http://trac29.trac.washington.edu/flowdata/login/

TRAC staff will continue to work on WSDOT's prioritized list of improvements to the analytical capabilities of the FLOW data archive software. The project will be completed by the end of December, unless second year funding is provided by WSDOT.

No problems were encountered.

WSDOT staff have been given passwords for accessing the improved data retrieval URL.