Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
parking information systems, because these systems are in their infancy. NuRide claims
to have reduced 2.4 million car trips and 26.8 tons of emissions as of February 2009,
although it is not clear to what extent this includes transit, walk, and bike trips registered
by members in addition to carpool trips through the site. Studies around the world have
found that between 8 and 74 percent of the traffic present in some congested business
districts is due to cruising for parking (Shoup, 2005); while this has not been extrapolated
to a nationwide basis, parking search VMT is likely to be only a small fraction of total
personal vehicle travel in the U.S.
The limited evaluation data on freight route management systems has not been able to
quantify a VMT, fuel savings, or GHG benefit. In an operational test of the FleetForward
program by the I-95 Corridor Coalition, carriers generally did not believe that the
technology reduced operating costs (of which fuel consumption is one component) and
the study was unable to identify any impact on congestion (Cambridge Systematics and
SAIC, 2000).
Real-time traveler information should become increasingly widespread over the next 5 to
10 years. Almost all States already have developed and implemented Statewide Web sites
for distributing traveler information, according to the most recently available survey data
(U.S. DOT, 2007). Many other States and regions are in the process of developing 511
systems (FHWA, 2008). Within 5 years, most of the top 75 urban areas are expected to
have detailed traveler information available for at least their freeways, and all States are
expected to have Statewide 511 systems in place. Deployment of private sector-based
traveler information systems is in its early stages, but significant penetration of private
sector traveler information is expected to be achieved in 5 to 7 years. As of 2008, 78
percent of American adults owned a cellular telephone and 13 percent owned a
Blackberry, Palm, or other personal digital assistant, and adoption is increasing rapidly
(Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2008). As web-enabled cell phone and PDA
technology expands, the ability of travelers to access and utilize real-time information will
increase significantly.
Cost-Effectiveness
The cost of developing and deploying traveler information strategies varies widely.
Average costs for developing Statewide and metropolitan 511 traveler information
systems, for example, have ranged from $133,000 to $1,028,000, with an average cost of
$416,000. Roadside equipment costs, such as dynamic message signs and highway
advisor radios constitute significant expenses. Capital costs for dynamic message signs
range from $47,000 to $117,000 and annual operations and maintenance costs range from
$2,300 to $6,000 per sign. Capital costs for highway advisory radio range from $15,000 up
to $35,000, in additional to $600 to $1,000 annual operations and maintenance expenses
(U.S. DOT, 2007). Although these expenditures are not trivial, there is evidence that the
benefits of traveler information strategies significantly outweigh the costs when pursuing
multiple transportation objectives. For example, in California, it is estimated that every
$1.00 invested in Statewide traveler information strategies will yield $100 in benefits (e.g.,
reduced travel times and vehicle operating costs) over the next 20 years (U.S. DOT, 2007).
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