Overview of Advanced Traveler Information Systems Evaluations Joseph I. Peters, Ph.D. Manager, ITS Program Assessment U.S. Department of Transportation Transportation Research Board 85 th Annual Meeting Session 208 Recent Advances in Advanced Traveler Information Around the World January 23, 20068:00 am - 9:45amJanuary 23, 2006

2 ATIS: What is this? INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE INTELLIGENT VEHICLES INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS Source:

3 ATIS: What is this? Intelligent Infrastructure: Transit Management Systems Incident Management Systems Emergency Management Systems Electronic Payment Systems Traveler Information Arterial Management Systems Freeway Management Systems Road Weather Management Information Management Crash Prevention & Safety Roadway Operations & Maintenance Commercial Vehicle Operations Intermodal Freight Source:

4 ATIS: What is this? ATIS applications: –Use a variety of technologies, including: Internet websites Telephone hotlines Television Radio –Allow users to make more informed decisions regarding: Trip departures Routes Mode of travel –511 promotes ATIS integration across: Agencies Jurisdictions Media Source:

5 ATIS: What are the benefits? Phoenix, AZ: 82% of repeat callers to a 511 system perceived the traffic information to be timely and accurate. 95% of first time callers said that they would use the system again. Source:

6 ATIS: What are the benefits? Virginia statewide: 90% of survey respondents found the state’s 511 phone service “useful”. Source:

7 ATIS: What are the benefits? Yellowstone National Park, MT: 81% of respondents said that they were “satisfied” with the system, which gives location-specific road weather reports. Source:

8 ATIS: What are the costs? Where does your money go? ATIS cost components: –Data collection Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and field sensors, e.g., microwave, infrared, loop detectors, machine vision –Data processing and analysis Integration of data from multiple sources and packaging of information –Information dissemination Media, e.g., 511, dynamic message signs, Internet, wireless Source:

9 Notes: One sensor both directions of travel. Includes sensor, transceiver, cabinet, electrical service, and pole. Capital Cost ($K)Capital Cost ($K) O&M Cost ($K/yr)O&M Cost ($K/yr) LowLow HighHigh Adjusted From DateAdjusted From Date Index: 2 Notes: One sensor both directions of travel. Includes sensor, transceiver, cabinet, electrical service, and pole. Capital Cost ($K)Capital Cost ($K) O&M Cost ($K/yr)O&M Cost ($K/yr) LowLow HighHigh Adjusted From DateAdjusted From Date Component Cycle Life (Years) Total Capital Cost Annual Maintenance Cost Annual Operational Cost 230 CCTV Cameras (capital includes cameras and installation) 10$8,400,000 $75,600 Traffic Monitoring Stations (placed every ½ mile) 10$2,100,000$42,000$37,800 ATIS: What are the costs? Salt Lake City, UT: Data collection system Estimated date of costs: 2003 dollars Source:

10 ATIS: What are the costs? Phoenix, AZ: Data analysis system Date of costs: 1998 dollars AzTech Server Hardware & InstallationTotal Start-up Costs Annual O&MTotal O&M Costs AZTech Server$35,154 AZTech Server Recurring Costs $209,551 AZTech Network Management Server$26,434 AZTech Workstation$6,786 WAN/CODEC$364,856 Video Switch Expansion$20,257 AZTech Server Planning and Development Labor Costs $1,166,659 Operator Training$72,281 Total$1,692,427 Total$209,551 Source:

11 ATIS: What are the costs? Yellowstone National Park, MT: Information dissemination system Estimated date of costs: 2002 dollars DescriptionCapital Costs Annual O&M Costs One-time cost to build associated system interface components (database and weather model for Montana) $89,700 Operating cost for a state-wide 511 traveler information system excluding toll-charges $135,005 Cost for toll charges for public access to 511 infrastructure $51,848 One-time capital improvement for the addition of voice recognition$5,400 Marketing costs. The O&M cost of $5,000 is for 2004$66,000$5,000 Estimated one-time capital improvement for AMBER, Homeland Security, and general transportation alerts $18,046 Estimated annual operating cost for statewide alert system $3,600 Estimated one-time capital improvement for the addition of regional reposts over 511 $8,854 TOTAL$188,000$195,453 Source:

12 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Web Sites E -Mail Automated Telephone Facsimile Pagers Kiosks Dedicated Cable TV Method to Distribute Information Percent of Agencies FreewayArterialTransit ATIS: How much is out there? Almost all freeway and transit agencies use the Internet to disseminate traveler info. Source:

13 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Static Information (Routes, Schedules, and Fares) Dynamic Information (Real-time Schedule Adherence) Types of Information Percent of Transit Agencies ATIS: How much is out there? Almost all transit agencies disseminate static traveler info. Almost half of all transit agencies disseminate dynamic traveler info. Source:

14 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Incidents Travel Times Travel Speeds Types of Information Disseminated Percent of Agencies FreewayArterial ATIS: How much is out there? Over 3/4 of all freeway agencies disseminate real-time incident info to travelers. Source:

15 ATIS: What are the lessons learned? Nationwide: Provide consistent and high-quality information to influence traveler behavior. Source:

16 ATIS: What are the lessons learned? Nationwide: Design the 511 system to handle the surge in call volume during major events. Source:

17 ATIS: What are the lessons learned? Acadia National Park, ME: Develop ways to “market” your ATIS to local businesses, and enlist them to promote ATIS to their customers. Source:

18 ATIS: How did we learn all this? Benefits, costs, and lessons learned: –U.S. DOT evaluates the following types of ITS projects: Field operational tests, e.g.: –Acadia National Park (Acadia, ME) Model deployments, e.g.: –Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative (Phoenix, AZ; Seattle, WA; San Antonio, TX) –511 Model Deployment (Arizona statewide) ITS Integration Program projects (“earmarks”), e.g.: –Greater Yellowstone Regional Traveler and Weather Information System (Yellowstone National Park, MT) –Travel Shenandoah 511 (Virginia statewide) Special events, e.g.: –ITS for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games (Salt Lake City, UT) Simulation studies

19 ATIS: How did we learn all this? Deployment trends: –U.S. DOT surveys extent of ITS deployment in 78 of the country’s largest metro areas, 30 medium-sized cities, 20 tourist cities, and all 50 states.

20 Conclusions ATIS: What are the benefits? –ATIS improves customer satisfaction by allowing travelers to make informed decisions. ATIS: What are the costs? –ATIS covers multiples components, such as traffic management centers and field devices. –Costs vary based on size and complexity of the system. –Consideration of both capital outlay and annual operations and maintenance costs are key to developing an accurate estimate. ATIS: How much is out there? –Almost all freeway and transit agencies are using some sort of ATIS. ATIS: What are the lessons learned? –Consistency, data quality, scalability, and marketing are key to deployment success.

21 Resources ITS Benefits Database – ITS Costs Database – ITS Deployment Statistics Database – ITS Lessons Learned Database – ITS Technology Overview –“One stop shopping” on the costs, benefits, deployment, lessons learned for ITS. More info available, too! – Source: