Overview
The Idaho Transportation Department’s new, statewide TSMO Program transforms operations from reactive to proactive, using data-driven strategies to improve safety, reduce delays, and maximize infrastructure efficiency. With executive backing, dedicated funding, and strategic planning, ITD is advancing projects like incident response, signal optimization, and traveler information systems. These efforts enhance roadway safety, shorten travel and emergency response times, and prioritize smart, cost-effective investments. By integrating operations into planning and coordinating across agencies, ITD is saving lives, saving time, and ensuring smarter use of transportation dollars.
In this case study you will learn:
- How ITD brought together a set of some existing and some new strategies to coordinate an enhanced statewide TSMO program.
- How the ITD developed a strategic TSMO Plan by outlining clear priorities, investment strategies, and operational goals aligned with statewide mobility, safety, and economic objectives.
- How strong executive support and collaboration among engineers, planners, and other stakeholders created a foundation for sustainable TSMO integration across Idaho’s transportation system.
Background
Prior to 2023, while individual pockets of TSMO activities existed within ITD, there was an opportunity for a unified, coordinated, and strategic approach. Due to the unprecedented recent growth of the state of Idaho and recognizing the need to optimize its existing infrastructure and enhance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of Idaho’s transportation network, ITD embarked on a transformative journey. This submission highlights ITD’s proactive and rapid advancement in TSMO capabilities, marked by a foundational Capability Maturity Model (CMM) assessment in April 2023 and culminating in the creation of a dedicated TSMO position in the HQ Traffic Operations section, developing ITD’s first TSMO Plan, with the goal of incorporating a list of projects into the Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP) in 2026. This represents a significant transformation in mainstreaming TSMO within ITD, moving from reactive operational practices to a proactive, data-driven, and strategically aligned approach.
Facilitated by FHWA, ITD completed its first CMM assessment on April 6, 2023. To elevate all dimensions to at least a “Managing” level of maturity, the assessment identified three key dimensions for development: systems and technology, business processes, and organization and staffing. Following the CMM assessment, ITD acted immediately by securing funding to create a dedicated TSMO position in the HQ Traffic Operations section and develop ITD’s first TSMO plan (complete in May 2025).
TSMO Planning, Strategies, and Deployment
TSMO Planning, Strategies and Deployment: Upon selecting a consultant team, we initiated the development of:
- The first statewide TSMO Strategic and Programmatic Plan
- An updated statewide Tactical ITS Plan
A statewide TSMO Steering Committee with participation of Districts Operations, HQ Traffic Ops, key ITD stakeholders, and FHWA was created. We also met with and interviewed staff from all ITD functional areas (including broadband, TIM, freight, maintenance, traveler information, asset management, and we conducted interviews with several other State DOT’s (Utah, Washington, Oregon, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado) and Idaho MPO’s.
Throughout the whole TSMO Plan process we profited from strong Executive support and collaboration, and we are looking forward to having the continued support from ITD Leadership moving forward.
After the TSMO Plans have been completed, the TSMO Steering Committee will determine ongoing TSMO funding, prioritization of TSMO projects, and broaden the reach of TSMO within the organization.
Other steps will include a renewed emphasis on TIM (a separate TIM Plan including mapping statewide detour routes, landing zones, truck parking areas is advancing to the RFP stage currently) and planning for a TMC (ITD currently partners to have some TMC capabilities statewide and regionally). Also, we plan on highlighting the TSMO aspects within ITD’s work zones and signal systems within ITD’s reach.
Another very exciting aspect is the continued discussion of the creation of a dedicated TSMO Program within ITD likely very soon
(July 2026/FY27).
Communications Planning and Execution
A TSMO Steering Committee was created to provide detailed feedback on the plan. Participants were from a range of areas, including Districts Operations, HQ Traffic Ops, key ITD stakeholders, and FHWA. To ensure the plan was well-rounded, we met with staff from all ITD functional areas to identify existing TSMO activities and current and upcoming needs. The Steering Committee provided us with contacts and filled in any information gaps. ITD met with many other states and Idaho MPOs, to identify their best practices and develop connections for possible future collaboration opportunities. ITD Executives were gathered for their input on the plan as well. Their support is key for project implementation and statewide TSMO messaging. This participation from various stakeholders gave us a wide range of perspectives, allowing us to develop robust and thorough planning documents.
Moving forward, ITD is continuing the TSMO Steering Committee, with the goal to accomplish what was developed in the TSMO Plan. The Steering Committee’s responsibilities will include:
- Coordinate TSMO priorities statewide
- Share lessons learned
- Plan and prioritize funding
- Serve as a steering committee for selection and application of statewide systems
- Coordinate with other groups with ITD such as Broadband, Work Zone Management, Traffic Incident Management
- Coordinate with Regional TSMO Operating Committees
- Identify and plan training opportunities
- Identify and implement business process improvements
- Maintain and update the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) assessments and statewide ITS Architecture
- Perform an internal CMM yearly or bi-yearly
- Serve as the ITD TSMO subject matter experts and TSMO Advisory Group to the ITD Executives
The connections made through the Steering Committee have improved collaboration across the state. This will allow for easier implementation of statewide initiatives, such as the Transportation Management Center, Traffic Incident Management, Work Zone Safety and Management, broadband expansion, and improved signal systems.
Outcome, Benefits and Learnings
ITD Traffic Safety and Maintenance Operations (TSMO) is the ITD guidance on transportation systems management and operations for Idaho highways to maintain or restore the existing system performance through added efficiencies before extra capacity is needed.
Outcomes include:
- Ongoing operations committee
- Range of stakeholders across functional areas
- Coordination with other divisions such as broadband and TIM
- TMC
- Dedicated funding
- TIM, Work Zones, Signal Systems
As a direct result of our TSMO Planning efforts, ITD has already started implementing an ITS life-cycle plan. Most excitingly, ITD is in the process of implementing a dedicated and funded TSMO Program which should be fully operational in July 2026. Moving forward, a portion of the operational funding will run through the TSMO Program. ITD Executives plan on using the TSMO Plan to request operations-related funding in the 2026 legislative budget session.
An obvious outcome of the effort is the 2023 CMM, the Tactical ITS Plan, and the Strategic and Programmatic TSMO Plan, which provide a clear work plan and priority investments. However, the critical intangible outcome from the effort is the commitment of Executive Leadership to the investment of TSMO.
ITD now has champions at the Executive and District Leadership levels. With a dedicated TSMO Lead, the TSMO Program, and clear investment priorities, ITD leadership has the resources to champion TSMO projects and secure dedicated investment. This sets ITD up for significant advancement in TSMO over the coming years.
The Tactical ITS Plan includes:
- A prioritized set of ITS projects with planning level costs
- A multi-year investment plan
- Plan for emerging technologies
The Statewide Strategic and Programmatic TSMO Plan includes:
- A business case for TSMO in Idaho
- The ITD statewide vision, goals, and objectives for managing and operating the transportation system based on ITD’s Strategic Mission of: “Your Safety, Your Mobility, Your Economic Opportunity”
- A process for using the TSMO Plan on a regular basis
- Actively facilitates the communication between stakeholders such as engineers, planners, maintenance, operators, and other agencies.
The TSMO Steering Committee, alongside the ITD Executives, established prioritized functional areas and strategies within the TSMO Strategic and Programmatic Plan and the ITS Tactical Plan:
Tier 1 Priorities: Functional Area - TSMO Strategy
Freeway Management - Statewide and/or District Transportation Management Centers, Traffic Monitoring Cameras (CCTV)
Arterial Management - Traffic Signal Management and Operations Program
General & Winter Maintenance - Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) Maintenance and Expansion
Traffic Incident Management - D1 Incident Response Team, Incident Response Procedures, Interagency TIM Coordination/Workshops
Broadband - Broadband Network Mapping, Communications Infrastructure Standards
Traveler Information - Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) Maintenance and Expansion, Work Zone Traveler Information Standards
Organization/ Workforce and Business Processes - TSMO Action Group, ITS Equipment Standards, Planning for Transportation Management Center
Work Zone Management - Interagency Work Zone Coordination, Work Zone Management Standards
Tier 2 Priorities: Functional Area - TSMO Strategy
Organization / Workforce and Business Processes - TSMO Champions, TSMO Training, TSMO Needs Integrated into Planning and Programming, TSMO Manual and Plan Integration
Traffic Incident Management (TIM) - TIM Training
Asset Management - Asset Management Strategy and Plan for Electrical Equipment
Traveler Information - DMS Operational Procedures, Video Monitoring Sharing System
Special Event Management - Special Event Management Procedures
Commercial Vehicle Operations - Truck Parking Information Management System (TPIMS), Port of Entry Master Plan
Data & Performance Management - Transportation Data Management System