Details:

Creators:
Edara, Praveen ; Sun, Carlos ; Keller, Clay ; Hou, Yi
Edara, Praveen ; Sun, Carlos ; Keller, Clay ; Hou, Yi Less -
Corporate Creators:
University of Missouri--Columbia. Dept. of Civil Engineering
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Advanced Traveler Information Systems Customer Satisfaction Detours Express Highways--Communication Systems--Fieldwork Field Studies Real Time Information Road Closures Rural Highways Street Closure Surveys Traffic Diversion Variable Message Signs Work Zones
Publication/ Report Number:
cmr 13-004
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Missouri
Edition:
Final report.
Corporate Publisher:
Missouri. Department of Transportation
Abstract:
Dynamic message signs (DMSs) are traffic control devices that provide real-time traveler information and are used for traffic warning, regulation, routing and management. DMSs on freeways in rural areas in southeast Missouri were evaluated. First, motorist surveys were conducted to obtain the perception of both commercial vehicle drivers and personal vehicle drivers towards DMSs. Second, field studies were conducted to assess the impact of DMSs in alerting drivers of an upcoming work zone. Third, the effectiveness of DMSs in diverting traffic to a detour route during a full freeway closure was investigated.

In the surveys, motorists said they were highly favorable towards DMSs. Motorists seemed to be very satisfied with how MoDOT was utilizing their DMSs in rural areas. Overall, 94% of the surveyed motorists said they took the action provided by the DMSs. Within the subgroups, 96% of work-related trip makers said they took action versus 89% of recreational trip makers. Nearly all truck drivers (98%) said they took the action advised by DMSs.

The work zone traveler information case studies were conducted at two construction work zones on I-55. DMSs displayed messages alerting drivers of the upcoming work zone. Average speed decreases of 3.64 mph and 1.25 mph were observed at the first and second sites and were found to be statistically significant, indicating a positive safety effect of DMSs.

The benefits of DMSs in detouring traffic during a full freeway closure were investigated for a case study of bridge closure on I-57 over the Mississippi River. Traffic traveling on I-57 between the states of Missouri and Illinois had to detour. Motorist surveys indicated that motorists were satisfied with traveler information provided by MoDOT through DMSs, trusted the accuracy and sufficiency of detour information provided on DMSs, and utilized the recommendations provided by the DMSs during the closure. The survey revealed that 41% of drivers relied solely on DMSs to get the traveler information.

A significant increase in traffic flow was observed on the detour route during the bridge closure. To isolate the benefits of DMSs from other traveler information modes such as newspaper, TV, and radio, traffic simulation was used. Several plausible percentages of traffic that relied solely on DMSs were evaluated. Depending on the proportion of drivers who chose to divert solely based on DMSs monetary benefits ranging from $5,163 to $55,929 are realized for the 3-day bridge closure.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
TRyy0947
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:79c8e95280a10fa0e0f9339f4384c20bdae1039995e7e7b8106fb7c5dcc5c79b
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25618/dot_25618_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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