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

2. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE
ATIS: What is this?
INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE
INTELLIGENT VEHICLES
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3. ATIS: What is this? Source: www.itsoverview.its.dot.gov
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
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4. ATIS: What is this? Source: www.itsoverview.its.dot.gov
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
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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.
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6. ATIS: What are the benefits?
Virginia statewide: 90% of survey respondents found the state’s 511 phone service “useful”.
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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.
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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
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9. Annual Maintenance Cost Annual Operational Cost
Index: 2
Capital Cost ($K)
O&M Cost ($K/yr)
Low 9
0.1
High 13
0.58
Adjusted From Date
2004
Capital Cost ($K)
O&M Cost ($K/yr)
Low 9
0.1
High 13
0.58
Adjusted From Date
2004
ATIS: What are the costs?
Salt Lake City, UT: Data collection system
Estimated date of costs: 2003 dollars
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)
$2,100,000
$42,000
$37,800
Dollar year of costs data is not explicitly stated in the Utah report; however, based on content in the report we estimate that the costs are in 2003 dollars. Note that dollar values used to estimate benefits were in 2003 dollars.
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Notes: One sensor both directions of travel. Includes sensor, transceiver, cabinet, electrical service, and pole.
Notes: One sensor both directions of travel. Includes sensor, transceiver, cabinet, electrical service, and pole.

10. ATIS: What are the costs?
Phoenix, AZ: Data analysis system
Date of costs: 1998 dollars
AzTech Server Hardware & Installation
Total Start-up Costs
Annual O&M
Total 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
We know from the report and detailed cost sheets that the Phoenix costs data are in 1998 dollars.
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11. ATIS: What are the costs?
Yellowstone National Park, MT: Information dissemination system
Estimated date of costs: 2002 dollars
Description
Capital 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
These are the costs for the system near Yellowstone that I mentioned earlier, with the customer satisfaction levels improving from 62% to 81% with the improvement in data provided and the switch to the 511 phone number.
Cost dollar year is not explicitly stated in the report and the cost spreadsheets reported to USDOT; however, we estimate based on the content of the report and when the evaluation occurred that the costs are in 2002 dollars.
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12. ATIS: How much is out there?
Almost all freeway and transit agencies use the Internet to disseminate traveler info. 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
Freeway
Arterial
Transit
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13. ATIS: How much is out there?
Almost all transit agencies disseminate static traveler info.
Almost half of all transit agencies disseminate dynamic traveler info. 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
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14. ATIS: How much is out there?
Over 3/4 of all freeway agencies disseminate real-time incident info to travelers. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Incidents
Travel Times
Travel Speeds
Types of Information Disseminated
Percent of Agencies
Freeway
Arterial
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15. ATIS: What are the lessons learned?
Nationwide: Provide consistent and high-quality information to influence traveler behavior.
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16. ATIS: What are the lessons learned?
Nationwide: Design the 511 system to handle the surge in call volume during major events.
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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.
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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: What are the costs?
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 Source: www.itsoverview.its.dot.gov 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!
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