RIMIS

Recognizing the difficulties in sharing information and facilitating interagency coordination, the ITS Technical Task Force developed a framework for institutional coordination of ITS in the Delaware Valley. This framework provides the region's ITS stakeholders opportunities to share and disseminate information on travel conditions and coordinate responses to incidents or other unusual conditions.

A subcommittee of the TTF, composed of core regional agencies, was formed to actively guide RIMIS' development. This RIMIS Subcommittee includes representatives from the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the City of Philadelphia, SEPTA, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

RIMIS is an information exchange network linking highway and traffic operation centers, transit agencies, emergency management organizations, traffic reporting services, and other organizations involved in transportation operations or incident management. Its two primary objectives are to:

1. Facilitate information sharing
2. Provide a means to foster interagency coordination

When an accident occurs, operation center staff does not have time to notify every organization impacted. RIMIS will function as a notification or messaging system broadcasting information to all appropriate organizations. RIMIS will also provide the "big picture," giving control center staff a broader perspective of what is happening in the region and allowing them to make a more informed response.

While RIMIS is still in preliminary stages of development, certain needs have already been identified. Information to be shared includes incident notification, incident tracking, traffic and transit conditions, traffic control resources, and emergency support resources. Incidents include accidents, special events, adverse weather conditions, construction and maintenance activity, and emergency evacuation. Agencies will use RIMIS to notify each other about incidents, request incident updates from another agency, request the posting of traffic alerts, or request special assistance.

Refer to the RIMIS Concept of Operations Executive Summary document for more detail.