Evaluating Alternative Operations Strategies to Improve Travel Time ...

SHRP 2 L11: Final Report
have significantly improved overall data usefulness. These communications enhancement will
ultimately provide a more accurate measure of the benefit of implemented tactics to the traveling
public and the media. (22)
Paired with this, information related to exact modes of transportation (rail, car, bus), time of day,
walking routes, origins, and destinations all tracked in real time, will be readily available for the
public. Cost information dissemination will be also a reality providing a basis for users to decide
how to use the different available modes. In addition, the use of wireless telephones and other
devices equipped with cameras to capture and deliver traffic incident imagery and audio that is
useful to first responders will become common, reducing traffic incident clearance times. (23)
Another change that will be seen related to information technology is the increased use of social
networks related to carpooling/bikes/transit. Agencies will provide support to social network
activities. Once information is widely spread, people will be using their “transportation social
networks” as they use Facebook today. Table 6.13 provides additional information on strategies
related to Information Technology and Data Sharing.
Table 6.13 Information Technology/Data Sharing Strategies
Strategy Description/Application Modes Affected Impact on Reliability
Comprehensive real
time information
Video coverage of
networks
Reliance on roadside
signs for driver
information
Weather detection
and response
systems
Data from vehicle
traces (e.g., GPS
tracking of trucks and
containers)
Data sharing
Predictive models for
real-time systems
operation
Real time information will be available to all
modes in an integrated fashion. Peds, Bikes
and Vehicles will have relevant information
and options on how to proceed with their
trips.
All (Passenger
Vehicles, Freight,
Transit, Bike,
Peds)
All (Passenger
Vehicles, Freight,
Transit, Bike,
Peds)
Passenger
Vehicles, Freight,
Transit
High
See the picture of the road ahead in your car,
on your phone, in the TMC.
High
Real time messages directly to vehicles for
information, routing, traffic management,
incident management, etc.
Medium
Snow and ice management through chemical
and nanotechnology applications, reduce
reliability problems due to weather despite
increasing extreme events. All (Infrastructure) Medium
Powerful source of reliability data. Vastly
improved ability to measure reliability makes
it feasible to manage for reliability, to guard
against performance degradation, to
guarantee performance, etc.
Passenger
Vehicles, Freight,
Transit
Medium
The barriers will be overcome through
creative confidentiality agreements,
technologies and algorithms. N/A Medium
Forecasting models will support real time
systems operations and prevent possible
breakdowns on the network N/A Medium
Integration/Cooperation
It is known that more fuel efficient cars, more public transportation, more ridesharing, and more
telecommuting are needed steps – but they are not enough. Some of the technological examples
described earlier include changes to signal timings, dynamic toll adjustments, incentives to change
mode of travel, and incentives for changing the time of travel. (24) The key for significantly
improving reliable traffic flow, reduced emissions and reduced delays is the integration of such
strategies. Below, some new ideas are addressed.
OPERATIONS STRATEGIES AND TREATMENTS TO IMPROVE TRAVEL-TIME RELIABILITY Page 94