Development of Weather Responsive Traffic Management Strategies

Transcription

1 Development of Weather Responsive Traffic Management Strategies National Rural ITS Conference August 27, 2013 Session C2: Best Practices for Weather Management By Jakin Koll, Minnesota DOT on behalf of FHWA Road Weather Management Program

2 Weather Impacts on Transp. System Safety Approx. 1.6M weather related crashes, 673K injuries, 7K fatalities per year Mobility About 25% of non recurring delays on freeways is due to weather Congestion costs about $9.5B/yr. for 85 urban areas Productivity Weather related delays + ~$3.4B/yr. to freight costs Environment Chemicals affect air quality & infrastructure 2

3 Weather Responsive Traffic Management (WRTM) Objectives: o Better understand the impacts of weather (i.e. snow, rain, fog, wind, heat, etc.) on traffic flow and operations National Weather Service Private Sector Weather Providers o Develop, promote & implement strategies and tools to mitigate those impacts State DOTs 3

4 1. Speed management strategies 2. Vehicle restriction strategies 3. Road restriction strategies 4. Motorist advisory and alert/warning systems 5. Traffic signal control strategies FHWA-JPO Developments in WRTM Strategies

5 Strategy Applicable Weather Events Delivery/Communication Mechanisms Speed Advisories Advisories are intended to achieve voluntary compliance with a recommended safe travel speed for the prevailing conditions. The speed advisory messages would not be considered enforceable by law enforcement personnel. Falling Snow and Rain, Wind conditions, Limited Visibility Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) Variable Speed Advisory Signs Enforceable Speed Limits/Variable Speed Limits New speed limits or restrictions in response to weather conditions. Speed limits would be considered enforceable by law enforcement personnel. Falling Snow and Rain, Wind conditions, Limited Visibility, Ice and Snow Accumulations Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) Variable Speed Advisory Signs 5

6 Example of Speed Management Strategies Advisory Only Detection measures traffic speeds downstream Speeds are posted up to 1 ½ miles upstream

7 VSL system uses a constant deceleration rate to determine advisory speed limit values. Preferred deceleration rates are different during weather. Upper speed limit cap is 5 MPH less than posted speed limit. System posting 60 MPH during snow events. Have since changed upper speed limit cap to 50 MPH Developing new techniques for VSL operations during weather events. Example of Speed Management Strategies

8 Strategy Size/Height/Weight/Profile Restrictions This strategy involves restricting specific types of vehicles from using the roadways during specific weather conditions. Vehicles may be restricted by size, height, weight, or profile based on weather conditions. Applicable Weather Events High wind conditions, Snow and Ice Accumulations Delivery - Communication Mechanisms Dynamic message signs (DMS), Static signs with variable message inserts Highway Advisory Radio Agency Websites Tire Chains/Alternate Traction Devices This strategy involves requiring vehicles to use special devices for improving traction between the vehicle and pavement. Using of traction control devices may be restricted to specific vehicles or may be required of all vehicles. Ice and Snow Accumulations Dynamic message signs (DMS) Static signs with variable message inserts Highway Advisory Radio Agency Websites 8

9 Strategy Lane-Use Restrictions Requiring specific vehicles to use specific lanes (e.g., trucks use right lane). May also include restricting the use of special lanes by certain types of vehicle or all vehicles (e.g., right lane closed ahead). Applicable Weather Events Ice and Snow Accumulations, Rain, Flooding Delivery- Communication Mechanisms Dynamic message signs (DMS), Static signs with variable message inserts Highway Advisory Radio Agency Websites Parking Restrictions Special parking restrictions or requirements in response to developing or forecasted weather conditions. Snow Accumulations, Flooding Static signs with variable message inserts Agency Websites 9

10 Strategy Access Control and Facility Closures Controls that limit vehicle access to specific sections of roadway. Access could be restricted to specific structures (such as bridges, or causeways), passes, or entire sections of roadway. Contraflow/Reversible Lane Operations Traffic is directed to travel in the direction opposite of the normal flow. Generally reserved for large scale evacuation, and where large volume of traffic needs to be cleared for an area in a short time period. Applicable Weather Events Snow and Ice Accumulation, Flooding, Limited Visibility, High winds Hurricane, flooding, developing major snow storms Delivery/ Communication Mechanisms Dynamic message signs (DMS) Highway Advisory Radio, Access control gates Agency Websites Barricades On-Scene Personnel Dynamic message signs (DMS) Static signs, Highway Advisory Radio, Access control gates/barricades, Traffic Signals, On-scene personnel 10

11 Mn/DOT I 35W Intelligent Lane Control Signals ILCS located every ½ mile over every lane. A total of about 190 ILCS. ILCS are a 4ft x 5ft full color matrix signs. Use of the ILCS is for incident management, speed harmonization and priced dynamic shoulder lane. Example of Road Restriction Strategies

12 Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane North of 42 nd St on NB 35W Maintains existing 4 lanes with an added PDSL Lane Effectively extends the lane to downtown Minneapolis using existing road space Example of Road Restriction Strategies

13 PDSL is left open during snow & ice events Traffic helps to spread de icing material Example of Road Restriction Strategies

14 Strategy Passive Warning Systems via Static signs Static informational and/or warning signs. May or may not be in effect. Applicable Weather Events Icy conditions, Wind Warning, Fog, Blowing Snow, Floods Active Warning Systems via Static signs with Flashing beacons Supplementing the passive warning signs with flashing beacons to alert travelers that the conditions specified on the static sign is currently in effect. Icy conditions, Wind Warning, Fog, Blowing Snow, Floods Example Active Warning Strategy Pathway 14

15 Strategy Pre-Trip Road Condition Information and Forecast Systems Disseminating information about current and forecasted weather and pavement conditions to travelers before they initiate their trip En-Route Weather Alerts and Pavement Condition Information Real-time information and alerts about specific weather and pavement conditions currently existing or developing ahead. Applicable Weather Events Snow and Rain Accumulations, High Winds, Flooding, Limited Visibility, Tornados, Black Ice, Snow Accumulations, Flooding Snow and Rain Accumulations, High Winds, Flooding, Limited Visibility, Tornados, Black Ice, Snow Accumulations, Ponding, Flooding Delivery - Communication Mechanisms 511 Agency and private websites Media Outlets Text Messages Social Networks (Twitter ) Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) 511 FM/AM Radio Text Message Alerts In-vehicle Displays 15

16 Investigating the use of rainfall sensor to deploy warning message or advisory speed limit. Shoulder designed to allow some ponding during heavy rainfall. Section of I 35W Example of Motorist Advisory/Alert/Warning System

17 AVL equipped trucks send message to VMS network Help spread awareness to public of snow operations Example of Motorist Advisory/Alert/Warning System

18 Strategy Vehicle Detector Configuration Reconfiguring detector settings or implementing special detector schemes/layouts to ensure detection of vehicles at traffic signals. Applicable Weather Events Snow and Ice Accumulations, Heavy Rainfall, Limited Visibility Delivery- Communication Mechanisms Not Applicable Vehicle Clearance Intervals Altering the time duration of vehicle and pedestrian clearance intervals (i.e., yellow change interval, all-red interval, and pedestrian clearance interval) Rain and snow accumulation, heavy rainfall, ice, limited visibility Signal Timing Changes Yellow clearance interval, All-red intervals Pedestrian WALK/ DON T WALK intervals 18

19 Strategy Interval and Phase Duration Settings Altering the time duration and/or sequencing of traffic signal phases to account for increases in start-up lost time, reduced travel speeds, and reduced pavement traction. Applicable Weather Events Rain and snow accumulation, heavy rainfall, ice, limited visibility Delivery- Communication Mechanisms Signal Timing Changes Longer minimum green intervals Longer phase durations Longer gap settings Traffic Signal Coordination Plans New signal timing coordination plans designed to improve progression and account for reductions in travel speeds Rain and snow accumulation, heavy rainfall, ice, limited visibility Signal Timing Changes Weather responsive signal timing plans Ramp Control Signals/Ramp Metering Special timing plans to account for lost freeway capacity, slow travel speeds, and increased start-up time at ramp control signals Rain and snow accumulation, heavy rainfall, ice, limited visibility Signal Timing Changes Longer/shorter green times, Longer/shorter cycle lengths. 19

20 Currently, WRTM Strategies have focused on freeways Limited implementation of arterialspecific strategies during weather Control and Treatment Strategies Employ traffic incident management practices Employ ITS to manage road closure diversions Employ ESS sensors for temporary restrictions Employ variable speed limits Adjust ramp meters Adjust signal timing 36% 32% 19% 12% 16% 23% 8% 13% 31% 20% 52% Statewide Partial 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Percent of State DOTs Responding

21 1. Complete WRTM Implementation Projects Utah DOT (Citizen Assisted Reporting and Traffic Signal Timing) Oregon DOT (Wx Responsive ATM) 2. Initiate new implementations focusing on the use of mobile data for WRTM 3. 2 nd National WRTM Stakeholder Meeting (Sept 25 26) 4. Continue to deliver WRTM web based training course (Consortium for ITS Training and Education)

22 On behalf of FHWA Thank You! Jakin Koll, Minnesota DOT Paul Pisano Ray Murphy Roemer Alfelor Gabriel Guevara FHWA, Developments in Weather Responsive Traffic Management Strategies, June 2011, FHWA JPO , available at: Road Weather Management Website