Information for Traffic Observers Purpose Why We Count Cars Your Role Tasks Understand The Schedule Prepare Travel Collect Data Complete Your Shift Office Shifts Safety Personal Vehicle Accidents Citations Equipment Prepare The PDA Collect Data - Comments - Vehicle Types - Lane Numbers - Lane Types Synchronize Data Problems Data Collection Sites Where To Go Office Contacts Employment Forms Keys Pay PDAs Time Sheets Miscellaneous Shift Times Acronyms Revised April 6, 2012	trac \| UW \| WSDOT
tasks Understand The Schedule The weekly schedule is available online at http://trac29.trac.washington.edu/hovadmin/ There are no log-in passwords. Schedule Codes H Count only the HOV lane for the entire session. #3 Count only the assigned numbered general purpose (GP) lane for the entire session. (2) GP Rotation: Session 1: Begin counting the GP lane numbered in parenthesis . Session 2: count the next highest numbered GP lane . Continue with each higher-numbered lane to top, then return to lowest-numbered until the end of the session. (R) Regular Rotation (alternate HOV and GP): Session 1: HOV lane Session 2: GP lane 1 Session 3: HOV lane Session 4: GP lane 2 Session 5: HOV lane Prepare 1. The first person to show up should check voice mail: * Make a note of all messages on the telephone pad. * Save all messages to the archive (#9). 2. Verify your site and lane assignment. 3. Check PDA battery levels. 4. Synchronize time and date with official US time: www.time.gov/index.html. 5. Locate maps and directions to the site. 6. Organize your equipment. Essential Equipment * Pen or pencil * Safety Vest * Directions to site * Folding Chair Optional Equipment * Umbrella * Earplugs * Poncho Missing team members If someone calls in sick, it is up to the remaining team members to collect data from all the locations indicated on the schedule. If only one person shows up for work, do NOT go to a site alone. Explain the situation to the supervisor and fill out your timesheet with one hour worked. You may end your shift. Travel Driver: record mileage, before and after trip, if driving state car. If driving your own vehicle, use the mileage table when filling out the travel reimbursement form, when you return to the office. Collect license plates to and from the site; Record at least 10 license numbers from SOV lanes and 10 from HOV lanes. Fueling The Vehicle When the gas gauge reaches the half full mark, fill the tank with unleaded gasoline at one of the WSDOT gas stations. Or you may add fuel at a commercial gas station using the credit card provided. Directions for fueling the state car 1. Slide the Flex Card in the machine 2. When it asks for a PIN, enter the last 4 digits of the car’s license plate number 3. Enter the mileage 4. Enter the pump number 5. Begin fueling All team members take a task at the gas station: 1. Fill the tank completely with unleaded regular gasoline. * Request a receipt, if using a commercial gas station. * Put the receipt inside the key case with the credit card. 2. Wash the windshields. 3. Check and fill fluids: * Brake fluid * Oil * Windshield wiper fluid. 4. Check the tire pressure. Data Collection Collect 5 full sessions and 1 short session of data per shift. Directions for using the PDA are here. See this diagram to learn how to position yourself for the most accurate observation. Complete Your Shift 1. Complete a site report. 2. Synchronize data; upload your data files, replace PDAs in charging base. 3. Timesheets - Fill in your hours daily. Round your hours to the nearest quarter of an hour. * If you are more than 5 minutes late, round your arrival time to the next quarter of an hour. * Do not work more than 19.5 (40 hours for non UW students) or 40 hours during school breaks. * Update your timesheet daily. * Print out and sign your timesheet on the last day of the pay period. 3. Submit daily, at end of shift: * Site summary report 4. Submit as necessary: * Travel reimbursement forms * Time off requests * Gas receipts Office Shifts If you are scheduled for an office shift, complete the following tasks: 1. Empty trash from car and clean car interior; vacuum, wash windows and wipe surfaces with Armor-all. 2. If the car needs washing, take it to the car wash across the street from the office. 3. If the car needs gas, fill it at the Corson Street garage or a gas station. 4. Pick up trash in the office and clean surfaces. 5. Check all the PDAs to make sure they are completely charged and that the time/date is correct. 6. Check the site folders and print any maps, diagrams and directions that need to be refilled. 7. Check with Mary, Jane or Ron for any other tasks.	Remember: Take a 2 minute break between data files! Washington State Transportation Center (TRAC) TRAC-UW 1107 NE 45th St Seattle, WA 98105 Phone: 206.543.8690 Fax: 206.685.0767 HOV Data Collection Program Observers' Email Observers' Voice Mail 206-221-2613 Supervisor Mary Marrah 206-543-3337 Scheduling Jane Lybecker 206-543-6535 Equipment Maintenance Ron Porter 206-543-3341 Principal Investigator Mark Hallenbeck 206-543-6261

Purpose

Tasks

Understand The Schedule
Prepare
Travel
Collect Data
Complete Your Shift
Office Shifts

Safety

Personal
Vehicle
Accidents
Citations

Equipment

Prepare The PDA
Collect Data
- Comments
- Vehicle Types
- Lane Numbers
- Lane Types
Synchronize Data
Problems

Data Collection Sites

Where To Go

Office

Contacts
Employment
Forms
Keys
Pay
PDAs
Time Sheets

Miscellaneous

Shift Times
Acronyms

Revised April 6, 2012

trac | UW | WSDOT

tasks

Understand The Schedule

The weekly schedule is available online at http://trac29.trac.washington.edu/hovadmin/

There are no log-in passwords.

Schedule Codes

H Count only the HOV lane for the entire session.

#3 Count only the assigned numbered general purpose
(GP) lane for the entire session.

(2) GP Rotation:
Session 1: Begin counting the GP lane numbered in parenthesis .
Session 2: count the next highest numbered GP lane .
Continue with each higher-numbered lane to top, then return to lowest-numbered until the end of the session.

(R) Regular Rotation (alternate HOV and GP):
Session 1: HOV lane
Session 2: GP lane 1
Session 3: HOV lane
Session 4: GP lane 2
Session 5: HOV lane

Prepare

1. The first person to show up should check voice mail:
* Make a note of all messages on the telephone pad.
* Save all messages to the archive (#9).

2. Verify your site and lane assignment.

3. Check PDA battery levels.

4. Synchronize time and date with official US time: www.time.gov/index.html.

5. Locate maps and directions to the site.

6. Organize your equipment.

Essential Equipment
* Pen or pencil
* Safety Vest
* Directions to site
* Folding Chair

Optional Equipment
* Umbrella
* Earplugs
* Poncho

Missing team members

If someone calls in sick, it is up to the remaining team members to collect data from all the locations indicated on the schedule.

If only one person shows up for work, do NOT go to a site alone. Explain the situation to the supervisor and fill out your timesheet with one hour worked. You may end your shift.

Travel

Driver: record mileage, before and after trip, if driving state car.

If driving your own vehicle, use the mileage table when filling out the travel reimbursement form, when you return to the office.

Collect license plates to and from the site; Record at least 10 license numbers from SOV lanes and 10 from HOV lanes.

Fueling The Vehicle
When the gas gauge reaches the half full mark, fill the tank with unleaded gasoline at one of the WSDOT gas stations. Or you may add fuel at a commercial gas station using the credit card provided.

Directions for fueling the state car

1. Slide the Flex Card in the machine

2. When it asks for a PIN, enter the last 4 digits of the car’s license plate number

3. Enter the mileage

4. Enter the pump number

5. Begin fueling

All team members take a task at the gas station:

1. Fill the tank completely with unleaded regular gasoline.
* Request a receipt, if using a commercial gas station.
* Put the receipt inside the key case with the credit card.

2. Wash the windshields.

3. Check and fill fluids:
* Brake fluid
* Oil
* Windshield wiper fluid.
4. Check the tire pressure.

Data Collection

Collect 5 full sessions and 1 short session of data per shift.

Directions for using the PDA are here.

See this diagram to learn how to position yourself for the most accurate observation.

Complete Your Shift

1. Complete a site report.

2. Synchronize data; upload your data files, replace PDAs in charging base.

3. Timesheets - Fill in your hours daily.

Round your hours to the nearest quarter of an hour.
* If you are more than 5 minutes late, round your arrival time to the next quarter of an hour.

* Do not work more than 19.5 (40 hours for non UW students) or 40 hours during school breaks.

* Update your timesheet daily.

* Print out and sign your timesheet on the last day of the pay period.

3. Submit daily, at end of shift:

* Site summary report

4. Submit as necessary:
* Travel reimbursement forms
* Time off requests
* Gas receipts

Office Shifts

If you are scheduled for an office shift, complete the following tasks:

1. Empty trash from car and clean car interior; vacuum, wash windows and wipe surfaces with Armor-all.

2. If the car needs washing, take it to the car wash across the street from the office.

3. If the car needs gas, fill it at the Corson Street garage or a gas station.

4. Pick up trash in the office and clean surfaces.

5. Check all the PDAs to make sure they are completely charged and that the time/date is correct.

6. Check the site folders and print any maps, diagrams and directions that need to be refilled.

7. Check with Mary, Jane or Ron for any other tasks.

Remember:
Take a 2 minute break between data files!

Washington State
Transportation Center (TRAC)

TRAC-UW
1107 NE 45th St
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206.543.8690
Fax: 206.685.0767

HOV Data Collection Program

Observers' Email
Observers' Voice Mail
206-221-2613

Supervisor
Mary Marrah
206-543-3337

Scheduling
Jane Lybecker
206-543-6535

Equipment Maintenance
Ron Porter
206-543-3341

Principal Investigator
Mark Hallenbeck
206-543-6261