HAP Operations Academy
From: / "Podolsky, Eric (DOT)" <[log in to unmask]Subject: / FW: HAP Operations Academy
Hi to all
MassDOT is reviewing its current Highway Assistance Program (emergency service patrols on roadways), and is seeking input from other states on best practices and lessons learned from current or previous program engagements. We know you get a number of these requests, but it would be greatly appreciated if you could please provide brief responses to the following questions.
Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state?
What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident data, congestion, metro areas) What are the hours of operation over the course of the week? Do you offer weekend and holiday service?
Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? If so, what product are using?
Is your service sponsored by a third party? How is that procured? Do you have comments on sponsorship?
What is the annual cost of your program? Are vehicles included? What is the funding source? Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program?
What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? What types of reports do you publish? Can you share?
What types of background checks do you perform on operators? Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver's license? How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage?
Any other comments unique to your program would be appreciated?
Eric Podolsky
From: / "Portanova, Jennifer L" <[log in to unmask]Subject: / FW: HAP Operations Academy
Eric, NC's response is in red below. Feel free to contact me with any questions = about our program. Jennifer
______Jennifer Portanova
Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? DOT = Employees If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state?
What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident data,= congestion, metro areas) Traffic volumes, crash rates, regional considerat= ions with the type/severity of crashes (ex. high volume of truck crashes in= mountains without many detour routes) What are the hours of operation over the course of the week? Varies dependi= ng on location. Ranges between 24/7 to a 6a-9p schedule. Do you offer weekend and holiday service? Yes, in some areas.
Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? Not c= urrently If so, what product are using?
Is your service sponsored by a third party? No How is that procured? Do you have comments on sponsorship? Currently investigating options.
What is the annual cost of your program? $8M Are vehicles included? Yes What is the funding source? State and federal funds that are dedicated to = Traffic Operations & Incident Management initiatives Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program? N/A
What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? Be= gin and end times for stops, services provided, vehicle information, and in= cident specific info (lanes closed, responders on-scene, anticipated durati= on, etc.) Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? Not currently, but worki= ng on an iniative. Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? Some use paper documents= , however, most call in information to a dispatcher in a TMC. What types of reports do you publish? Can you share? Working on reportin= g
What types of background checks do you perform on operators? DMV and crimi= nal Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver's lic= ense? Typically, no. However, some areas may require CDLs. How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage? Based on= the DOT position level (Transportation Worker)
Any other comments unique to your program would be appreciated? Over the la= st 5 years, NC's Incident Management Service Patrol (IMAP) has transitioned= from a primarily motorist assistance (gas, tires, etc.) program into an In= cident Management program. Driver training is focused on quick clearance o= f incidents using push/pull techniques and providing on-scene traffic contr= ol with an emphasis on how to keep traffic moving.
From: / "Anderle, Phillip" <[log in to unmask]Subject: / Re: FW: HAP Operations Academy
> > Hi to all > > > > MassDOT is reviewing its current Highway Assistance Program (emergency > service patrols on roadways), and is seeking input from other states on > best practices and lessons learned from current or previous program > engagements. We know you get a number of these requests, but it would be > greatly appreciated if you could please provide brief responses to the > following questions. > > We contract 19 wreckers, mostly roll off. > > Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? Currently > by contractor. > > If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? Low > responsive bid. > > Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state? This > is just for the Denver Metro area currently. > > > > What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident > data, congestion, metro areas) Congestion data and accident history. > > What are the hours of operation over the course of the week? 6 to 9 a.m. > and 3 to 7 p.m. > > Do you offer weekend and holiday service? Not currently > > > > Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? No > > If so, what product are using? > > > > Is your service sponsored by a third party? No > > How is that procured? > > Do you have comments on sponsorship? > > > > What is the annual cost of your program? $500,000 > > Are vehicles included? Yes > > What is the funding source? Congestion management funding > > Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program? > > > > What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? They > call us on the radio with date time, location, vehicle information and type > of service being performed. > > Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? Yes > > Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? Paper > > What types of reports do you publish? Can you share? We have all the > reported data, what do you want? > > > > What types of background checks do you perform on operators? That is on > the vendor. > > Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver’s > license? No > > How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage? That > is on the vendor. > > > > Any other comments unique to your program would be appreciated? We are > looking to enhance and expand the program. We do a weekend patrol on I-70 > west of Denver on the weekends during ski season with 3 pickup trucks. We > also do a Heavy Tow program up there during the winter months. > > > > > >
From: / Mark Kirouac[log in to unmask]Subject: / Re: HAP Operations Academy
New Hampshire responses below.
Mark Kirouac, P.E.
Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? [Mark Kirouac] NHDOT employees. If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? [Mark Kirouac] N/A Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state? [Mark Kirouac] N/A
What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident data, congestion, metro areas) [Mark Kirouac] Traffic volume, congestion, potential impacts What are the hours of operation over the course of the week?[Mark Kirouac] M-F: 5-8 AM, M-Th: 330-7 PM, F: 330-9 PM, Su: 2-8 PM Do you offer weekend and holiday service? [Mark Kirouac] see above
Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? If so, what product are using?
Is your service sponsored by a third party? [Mark Kirouac] Two routes do, preparing solicitation for 3rd How is that procured? [Mark Kirouac] Request for Sponsorship Bids Do you have comments on sponsorship? [Mark Kirouac] Sponsorship income helps defray cost
What is the annual cost of your program? Are vehicles included? What is the funding source? [Mark Kirouac] Bureau Funds Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program? [Mark Kirouac] yes
What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? [Mark Kirouac] number and reason for stops, times, Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? [Mark Kirouac] yes Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? [Mark Kirouac] paper What types of reports do you publish? Can you share? [Mark Kirouac] dashboard on our TMC website:
What types of background checks do you perform on operators? [Mark Kirouac] CDL License checks, previous employer references Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver's license? [Mark Kirouac] Not really, desire to be helpful, courteous, mechanically inclined How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage? [Mark Kirouac] Wages set by labor grade and steps in collective bargaining agreement
From: / "Bassett, John (DOT)" <[log in to unmask]Subject: / Re: HAP Operations Academy
See NYSDOT responses below
John F. Bassett
Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? Mixed. Some NYSDOT owned & Operated trucks; Most contracted If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? Low Bid Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state? Multiple contracts across logical geographic areas.
What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident data, congestion, metro areas) congestion and accident data are the biggest factors What are the hours of operation over the course of the week? 4 hours in AM rush, 4 hours in PM rush Do you offer weekend and holiday service? Holiday - Yes. Weekends - During Special events only
Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? No If so, what product are using?
Is your service sponsored by a third party? Yes How is that procured? Contract (IFB) Do you have comments on sponsorship? Yes. It has been VERY positive for us. The $$ generated are minor, but it has had numerous positive impacts; Driver Morale, Increased Professionalism, Program exposure. The sponsorship "raised the bar" for us.
What is the annual cost of your program? It is not cheap! The true cost is varies greatly in different parts of the state due to higher cost of living, different sizes of the local programs, etc. Are vehicles included? yes What is the funding source? Federal and State Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program? yes - only partially
What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? General driver assist info: The Why's, Where's, and When's of the assist Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? yes. Though there is a website drivers can access while they are being assisted Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? The drivers use a CAD system to enter the assist information What types of reports do you publish? Can you share?
What types of background checks do you perform on operators? This is complicated due to NYS laws, however, each driver essentially has to have a full background check. This is paid for by the contractor Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver's license? They are required to go through a training program. How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage? There is a set minimum that is required. this eliminated a long-standing problem of driver turnover. low-bid = low pay for drivers = driver turnover. this became problematic with training new drivers, etc.
Any other comments unique to your program would be appreciated? We have penalties built into our contracts for failing to cover a beat, as well as other performance issues. We also require the contractor to have a back-up vehicle avail. in the event a truck is out of service for some reason.
From: / "Frank C. Horne" <[log in to unmask]Subject: / Re: HAP Operations Academy
Eric, here's input from Tennessee:
Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? - TN DOT employees If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? - N/A Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state? N/A
What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident data, congestion, metro areas) - High volume commuter routes during peak hours What are the hours of operation over the course of the week? - (M - 6:00 a.m - 8:30 pm.) (Tu/W/Th/F - 5:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.) (Sat 8:30 a.m - 8:30 p.m.) (Sun 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.) Do you offer weekend and holiday service? - Yes
Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? No If so, what product are using?
Is your service sponsored by a third party? No How is that procured? N/A Do you have comments on sponsorship? N/A
What is the annual cost of your program? Approx $7m Are vehicles included? Yes What is the funding source? STP funding Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program? N/A
What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? All incident data /times/location/activities/service provided/incident updates Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? Yes Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? No - direct radio communication with TMC, TMC operators enter electronic data report form What types of reports do you publish? Can you share? Quarterly and Annual Reports and in-house ad hoc reports - available at
What types of background checks do you perform on operators? State Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background checks, public offender registries, driver license checks - annually; Random Drug Testing Program Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver's license? no How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage? Checks for similar responsibilities/skills/knowledge
Any other comments unique to your program would be appreciated? Patrol trucks are authorized Emergency Response Vehicles Mandatory training (approx. 240 hours, including EMR First Responder, TIM, NIMS, Traffic Control, EVOC)
Frank Horne
From: / "Inda, Denise M" <[log in to unmask]Subject: / Re: HAP Operations Academy
Here is Nevada DOT’s response:
Is your service provided by DOT employees or by a contracted service? Our program is currently operated by a contractor. We did have an in-house pilot program for 6 months, but discontinued it because it was not cost effective with our current manpower and equipment. If contracted, do you award based on low bid or best value? Best value. Do you award multiple contracts or a single contract for the entire state? Multiple contracts: one for Northern NV (Reno) and one for Southern NV (Las Vegas).
What factors do you consider in creating routes? (Districts, accident data, congestion, metro areas) Crash Data, Peak Traffic Counts and Times, Congestion, and Construction Zones and special events What are the hours of operation over the course of the week?[JCH] 1) 6am to 6pm in northern Nevada with a 2-4hr break in service between 9am-1pm in certain routes. 2) 5am to 10pm in Southern NV with the majority of the routes ending at 7pm. Do you offer weekend and holiday service?[JCH] We offer weekends in Southern Nevada only; and we only offer service on holidays as deemed appropriate based on day of week and historical data.
Are you currently utilizing or considering use of GreenDOT vehicles? We will consider GreenDOT vehicles in the future; we are currently using low emission compressed natural gas. If so, what product are using?
Is your service sponsored by a third party? No How is that procured? n/a Do you have comments on sponsorship? n/a
What is the annual cost of your program? In Southern NV $2,617,056 and in Northern NV $365,040. Both have a built-in 20% contingency for special events, etc.
Are vehicles included? Yes What is the funding source? National Highway System Funds Does sponsorship offset the cost of the program? No
What level of data do you require operators to collect on a daily basis? Time of day, Route, Duration, Location, Description of vehicle, Type of assists, Resolution Do they hand out comment cards to those assisted? Yes Do they use electronic tablets or paper documents? Paper What types of reports do you publish? Can you share? We publish annual facts and figures on our public website at and we recently started submitting quarterly reports for the Transportation Board (attached).
What types of background checks do you perform on operators? We perform a criminal and driver’s license background check. Are there special requirements you have for Operators beyond a driver’s license? Must have a clean driving record for the past 3 years. How are wages set for the Operators? Is there a prevailing wage? We pay the contractor a flat hourly rate. The contractor sets the wages rates.
Any other comments unique to your program would be appreciated? We have two types of vehicles: (a) One type, for the FSP program, is designed to mitigate incidents such as stalled vehicles and traffic accidents not requiring lane closures; (b) the other type, for the IRV program, is designed to assist NDOT and first responders during traffic accidents requiring lane closures in addition to mitigating incidents.