Travel Information

Advanced traveler information is a common method of notifying roadway users of construction site conditions, delays, or detours. Traveler information systems use technology such as portable changeable message signs, variable message signs, and web sites to provide information to drivers.

• Real Time Travel Information Systems

• Weather / Road Conditions

• Additional Travel Information Resources

Real Time Travel Information Systems

Evaluations

• Arkansas: Deployment of Smart Work Zone Technology in Arkansas
• Minnesota: Portable Traffic Management System Smart Work Zone Application: Operational Test Evaluation Report
• North Carolina: Contract Proposal: 10/2002, Project No. 8.1321202, Wilson, NC
• North Carolina: Effect of Intelligent Transportation Systems in Work Zones: Evaluation of North Carolina Smart Work Zones
• North Carolina: Response of North Carolina Motorists to a Smart Work Zone System
• Adaptir Evaluation (McCoy)
• Deployment and Evaluation of ITS Technology in Work Zones (Bushman, Berthelot, Klashinsky)
• Diversion from a Rural Work Zone Owing to a Traffic Responsive Variable Message Signage System (Horowitz, Weisser, Notbohm)
• Evaluation of the Accuracy of a Real-Time Travel Time Prediction System in a Freeway Construction Zone (Zwahlen, Russ)
• Evaluation of Automated Work Zone Information Systems (Tooley, Gattis, Janarthanan, Duncan)
• Evaluation of Effectiveness of Automated Workzone Information Systems (Chu, Kim, Chung, Recker)
• Evaluation of the Motoring Public’s Acceptance of a Real-Time Travel Time Prediction System in a Freeway Construction Zone (Zwahlen, Russ)
• Portable Traffic Management System Evaluation (McCoy)
• Travel Time Prediction System (TIPS) Evaluation (Notbohm, Drakopoulos, Horowitz)

Standards and Specifications

• Michigan: Special Provision for Real Time Information System
• Missouri: Smartzone System
• North Carolina: Automated Portable Real-Time Workzone Information System

Guides

• Criteria for Portable ATIS in Work Zones (Horowitz)
• FHWA's handbook on PCMSs has detailed information on choosing the best PCMS for the project.

Case Studies and Examples

• Ohio: The City of Columbus, Ohio has as website, http://www.pavingtheway.org/, which provides users with information on construction activities, real time images by use of traffic cameras, planned street closures, and much more
• North Carolina: Sample Views from Travel Information and Incident Management Software

Articles, Reports, and Presentations

• Traveler Information and Prediction Systems in work Zones (TIPS) presentation done at University of Maryland, College Park. TIPS has been and tested by Maryland State Highway Administration and successfully deployed by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Contacts: KY, Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564 - 4890; MD, Jawad Paracha (410) 787-5891 jparacha@sha.state.md.us
• A presentation by Maryland State Highway Administration on a Study on Portable Changeable Message Signs can be found here. MD's investigation covers a stretch of roadway which two variable message signs posts driver speeds, actual driver speed is recorded and analyzed over a seven week period. Data collection is continued after the VMSs are removed.

Links

• American Signal Company is a manufacturer of many PCMSs. Details can be found on their site www.amsig.com

Weather/Road Conditions

Evaluations

• North Carolina: Traffic Safety Effects of a Wet Pavement Detection System Installed on a North Carolina Interstate

Case Studies and Examples

• North Carolina: Local News Clip on Wet Pavement Detection System which inform motorist of possibly dangerous roadway conditions:
  • WetPavementDetection.wmv (Windows Media Player file, 74.4 Mb)
  • WetPavementDetection-small.wmv (Windows Media Player file, 6.3 Mb)
• Example: Notification to Potential Bidders on Wet Pavement Detection, Hydroplaning Alert System

Additional Travel information Resources

Evaluations

• Michigan: A Benefit-Cost Analysis for the Use of Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology for Temporary Construction Zone Traffic Management on the I-496 Reconstruction in Lansing, Michigan

Case Studies and Examples

• North Carolina DOT hosts http://www.ncsmartlink.org/ to provide users with real time photos from traffic cameras, special alerts for accidents, and access to Traffic Information Management Systems (TIMS). Users can then plan alternate routes accordingly.
• Maryland CHART is a joint effort of the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Police, in cooperation with other federal, state and local agencies. CHART's mission is to improve "real-time" operations of Maryland's highway system through teamwork and technology. CHART's website includes information such as active and planned lane closures, winter storm information, a feeds from live traffic cameras.
• Wisconsin: The Marquette Interchange Project. Complex construction improvement project that has developed some very good tools to share information with the public and overall management of the project. Visit http://www.mchange.org/