Rural Data Collection Technology - FHWA Operations - U.S. ...

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An extensive set of lessons learned by MnDOT andthe project contractor are provided in the projectfinal report (Athey Creek Consultants, 2013) andselect lessons learned are summarized below:1 The “best-value procurement” method waseffective in helping MnDOT to select a qualifiedcontractor. MnDOT has a manual that describesthe best-value procurement method (MnDOTOffice of Construction and Innovative .Contracting, 2012).2 Language used in bid documents should avoidunnecessarily restrictive requirements and allterms should be unambiguous.3 MnDOT provided specifications to the contractorthat emphasized performance outcomes ratherthan detailed design specifications. This gave thecontractor more ability to innovate and adapt tocreate the best possible system. This approach alsotransferred risk and liability to the contractor ratherthan to MnDOT. However, more detailed designspecifications for some system aspects (e.g., sensorspacing and detection capabilities) could havepotentially led to improved system performance.The project staff acknowledges that there aretradeoffs between cost and system performance.4 Contractors should be required to provide adetailed quality control plan that outlines howthey will set up and test the system and monitorand correct issues.5 The methods and criteria that the transportationagency plans to use to verify travel time dataaccuracy should be specified to contractorsduring the bid process so that they can assess .the validity of the method and the potentialrisks of not meeting performance criteria. Theverification method should include multipleassessments at different times and days.6 The contract initially stated that monetarydeductions would be assessed against thecontractor if any part of the system was notfunctional, but was later revised to state thatdeductions would only occur if the nonfunctionalcomponent adversely affected travel times. Thisrevised language provides contractors with anincentive to design a robust system and avoidpenalization for inconsequential issues.7 A project website with a construction map wascreated by the contractor and was available viaa link on the MnDOT 511 website. The link wasdifficult to find, however, and true integration ofthe site within the MnDOT website could havebeen more effective.8 It would have been useful to provide ITS systemtraining to work zone supervisors prior todeveloping bid documents so that they couldbecome more familiar with the candidatetechnologies.9 Public feedback about the travel time projectwas generally positive, although northboundtravelers would have liked to receive the traveltime information before passing an exit to aviable alternate route. This emphasizes the needto provide motorists with travel time informationprior to decision points to allow them to makeeffective routing choices.3.2 Maine DOT’s Use of VariableSpeed Limit (VSL) Signs toProvide Real-Time TravelerInformation3.2.1 Background and PlanningBackgroundDuring 2008 and 2009, the State of Maine updatedits VSL signs system (see Figure 10) on Interstate 95,Interstate 295, and surrounding arterial routes. TheState’s intention was not just to capture data relatedto user delay and vary speed limits to make themappropriate for conditions, but ultimately to providetravel time information to motorists. The MaineDepartment of Transportation (MaineDOT) currentlydisplays variable speed limits across the I-95 corridorand provides situational alerts through the 511system. The system measures and displays speeds toenhance real-time information relayed to motorists.Rural Data Collection TechnologyFederal Highway Administration26
Figure 10State of MaineVariable Speed SignSource: Maine DOT, 2013ObjectivesInitially, the State’s goal was to improve incidentnotification information for all highway incidentsand weather events, control speeds, and improvethe State’s 511 System mapping capabilities forthe public. The Maine 511 Travel InformationService is designed to help commuters and travelersaccess information regarding weather-related roadconditions, construction zones, and congestion areas,via either the 511 website (www.511maine.gov) asshown in Figure 11 or phone, 24 hours a day and7 days a week. The 511 website hosts a travelerinformation map containing information on speedsalong the corridor. While motorists aren’t explicitlygiven travel time information, in a rural setting theposted variable speed limit may help to identify areaswhere delays exist and implicitly advise motorists toconsider other routes.Data CollectionThe addition of the radar units on the back of the VSLsigns allows MaineDOT to measure average Interstatesegment speeds, which can be used to detect delaysFigure 11MaineDOT’s 511 Traveler Information Map Showing the I-95 CorridorSource: www.511maine.govRural Data Collection TechnologyFederal Highway Administration27
Page 1 and 2: Travel Time on Arterials and Rural
Page 3 and 4: Technical Report Documentation Page
Page 5 and 6: List of FiguresFigure 1 RTT signs i
Page 7 and 8: List of AcronymsALPRAutomatic Licen
Page 9 and 10: Table 1 Candidate RTT TechnologiesT
Page 11 and 12: Cell Phone Signal MonitoringCell ph
Page 13 and 14: 1 Introduction1. 1 Background and O
Page 15 and 16: The second objective (experiences)
Page 17 and 18: 1.3 Organization of SynthesisReport
Page 19 and 20: Table 3 Candidate RTT TechnologiesT
Page 21 and 22: time when the vehicle is detected a
Page 23 and 24: State of the TechnologyToll tag rea
Page 25 and 26: Figure 5Typical Sensys implementati
Page 27 and 28: Figure 6ALPR Illumination Foregroun
Page 29 and 30: expand. For instance, increased ima
Page 31 and 32: measurement, which can be relativel
Page 33 and 34: approach were to be used by a trans
Page 35 and 36: 3 Implementations of Rural Travel T
Page 37: DisseminationRTI’s flagship softw
Page 41 and 42: supports efforts to distribute ITS
Page 43 and 44: 3.5 Various Routes in Oregon,Fronti
Page 45 and 46: 3.7 I-90, Snoqualmie Passin Washing
Page 47 and 48: 4 Best Practices for Rural Travel T
Page 49 and 50: in delayed processing in order to a
Page 51 and 52: How Long is the Data Path?It is not
Page 53 and 54: • TMC software and operators have
Page 55 and 56: ReferencesAthey Creek Consultants (
Page 57 and 58: ReferencesWashington State Departme

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