Analysis and Production of the Traffic Incident Management State Self-Assessment (TIM SA) National Report

The Traffic Incident Management Self-Assessment (TIM SA) provides a means for evaluating progress in achievement of individual TIM program components and overall TIM program success. There are 80 FHWA-defined operational areas in the annual TIM SA process. FHWA Division Office personnel in the 80 operational areas are asked to collaborate with Regional, State, and local TIM stakeholders to come to consensus on a score for each of 34 TIM program questions, grouped in the following sections: Program and Institutional Issues (Strategic); Operational Issues (Tactical); and Communication and Technology Issues (Support). Now in its sixth year, the TIM SA also has allowed the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to identify program gaps and target resources to TIM program advancement. A total of 76 TIM SAs were completed in 2008, with an average overall score of 59.6 percent (out of a possible 100 percent). Overall scores are up nearly 30 percent (29.9 percent) over the Baseline scores. Continuing the trend from previous years, the highest scores were achieved in Operational Issues (66.2 percent) and the largest percentage increase in scores from the Baseline was in Communications and Technology Issues (up 43.8 percent).