Effectiveness of Disseminating Traveler Information on Travel Time Reliability: Implement Plan and Survey Results Report
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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
FHWA-HOP-16-066
December 2016
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
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The Federal Highway Administration provides high quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Table of Contents
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
- CHAPTER 2. SITE SELECTION
- CHAPTER 3. LEXICON SELECTION
- CHAPTER 4. PARTICIPANT TASKS
- CHAPTER 5. TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY DATA MANIPULATION
- CHAPTER 6. WEST AND NORTH HOUSTON TRANSPORTATION STUDY
- CHAPTER 7. NORTH COLUMBUS TRANSPORTATION STUDY
- CHAPTER 8. TRIANGLE TRANSPORTATION STUDY
- CHAPTER 9. DATA ANALYSIS
- CHAPTER 10. STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS ANALYSIS
- REVIEW OF WEST HOUSTON TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY SYSTEMS AND PLATFORMS
- REVIEW OF NORTH COLUMBUS TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY SYSTEMS AND PLATFORMS
- REVIEW OF TRIANGLE TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY SYSTEMS AND PLATFORMS
- VALUE PROPOSITION FOR DEPLOYING TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY INFORMATION
- REVIEW OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS ANALYSIS
- CHAPTER 11. FINAL REMARKS
List of Appendices
- Appendix A. Travel Time Reliability Study Design
- Appendix B. West Houston Transportation Study Baseline Survey
- Appendix C. North Houston Transportation Study Baseline Survey
- Appendix D. North Columbus Transportation Study Baseline Survey
- Appendix E. Triangle Transportation Study Baseline Survey
- Appendix F. Phase 1 Travel Diary Questions
- Appendix G. West Houston Transportation Study Website Concept
- Appendix H. North Houston Transportation Study Website Concept
- Appendix I. North Columbus Transportation Study Website Concept
- Appendix J. Triangle Transportation Study Website Concept
- Appendix K. Phase 2 Travel Diary Questions
- Appendix L. West Houston Exit Survey Questions
- Appendix M. North Houston Exit Survey Questions
- Appendix N. North Columbus Exit Survey Questions
- Appendix O. Triangle Exit Survey Questions
- Appendix P. West Houston Transportation Study Recruitment Materials
- Appendix Q. North Houston Transportation Study Recruitment Materials
- Appendix R. North Columbus Transportation Study Recruitment Materials
- Appendix S. Triangle Transportation Study Recruitment Materials
- Appendix T. Statistical Model Results
List of Figures
- Figure 1. Map. West Houston transportation study region.
- Figure 2. Map. North Houston transportation study region.
- Figure 3. Map. North Columbus transportation study region.
- Figure 4. Map. Triangle transportation study region.
- Figure 5. Chart. Field study phases and data.
- Figure 6. Screen shot. Mobile application login screen.
- Figure 7. Screen shot. Mobile application home screen, phase 1.
- Figure 8. Screen shot. Mobile application in trip, phase 1.
- Figure 9. Screen shot. West Houston transportation study trip planning website (Assembly A).
- Figure 10. Screen shot. West Houston transportation study trip planning website (Assembly B).
- Figure 11. Screen shot. North Houston transportation study trip planning website (Assembly A).
- Figure 12. Screen shot. North Houston transportation study trip planning website (Assembly B).
- Figure 13. Screen shot. North Columbus transportation study trip planning website (Assembly A).
- Figure 14. Screen shot. North Columbus transportation study trip planning website (Assembly B).
- Figure 15. Screen shot. Triangle transportation study trip planning website (Assembly A).
- Figure 16. Screen shot. Triangle transportation study trip planning website (Assembly B).
- Figure 17. Screen shot. Mobile application home screen, phase 2.
- Figure 18. Screen shot. Mobile application in trip, phase 2.
- Figure 19. Chart. Travel time reliability 511 system flow diagram.
- Figure 20. Chart. Travel time reliability 511 communication flow.
- Figure 21. Screen shot. Mobile application travel diary screen (question 1), phases 1 and 2.
- Figure 22. Screen shot. Mobile application travel diary screen (question 2), phases 1 and 2.
- Figure 23. Screen shot. Mobile application travel diary screen (question 7), phases 1 and 2.
- Figure 24. Graphic. Web service architecture.
- Figure 25. Map. Houston sample zip codes geography.
- Figure 26. Map. Columbus sample zip codes geography.
- Figure 27. Map. Triangle sample zip codes geography.
- Figure 28. Chart. Frequency of checking the transportation study resources for familiar trips.
- Figure 29. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – information usage for familiar trips.
- Figure 30. Chart. Frequency of checking the transportation study resources for unfamiliar trips.
- Figure 31. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – information usage for unfamiliar trips.
- Figure 32. Chart. Behavior change questions.
- Figure 33. Chart. Frequency of changing the plan due to travel time reliability information for familiar trips.
- Figure 34. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – behavior change for familiar trips.
- Figure 35. Chart. Frequency of changing the plan due to travel time reliability information for unfamiliar trips.
- Figure 36. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – behavior change for unfamiliar trips.
- Figure 37. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource was easy to understand.
- Figure 38. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: ease of understanding.
- Figure 39. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource was reliable.
- Figure 40. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: reliability.
- Figure 41. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the travel time reliability information did not reduce planned travel time.
- Figure 42. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: did not reduce planned travel time.
- Figure 43. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource was useful.
- Figure 44. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: information useful.
- Figure 45. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource helped to reduce travel time.
- Figure 46. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: information helped reduce travel time.
- Figure 47. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource helped to avoid congestion.
- Figure 48. Chart. Model results – travel time reliability ratings: helped to avoid congestion.
- Figure 49. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource helped to reduce stress.
- Figure 50. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: helped to reduce stress.
- Figure 51. Chart. Frequency of agreement that the transportation study resource helped me to plan trips.
- Figure 52. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – travel time reliability ratings: helped me to plan trips.
- Figure 53. Chart. Frequency of satisfaction with the estimated travel time.
- Figure 54. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – satisfaction with estimated travel time.
- Figure 55. Chart. Frequency of satisfaction with the extra time/recommended cushion.
- Figure 56. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – satisfaction: extra time/recommended cushion.
- Figure 57. Chart. Frequency of satisfaction with the recommended departure time.
- Figure 58. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – satisfaction with recommended departure time.
- Figure 59. Chart. Frequency of satisfaction with total travel time.
- Figure 60. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – satisfaction with total travel time.
- Figure 61. Chart. Frequency of satisfaction on the trips made with the transportation study resource.
- Figure 62. Chart. Odds ratios with 95 percent confidence limits – satisfaction with transportation study resource trips.
- Figure 63. Chart. Why travel time reliability information was never used?
- Figure 64. Chart. Impact of travel time reliability information compared to other resources.
- Figure 65. Chart. Usefulness of travel time reliability information compared to other resources.
List of Tables
- Table 1. Assemblies of travel time reliability lexicon alternate phrases for testing.
- Table 2. Initial Response Rate Assumptions and Invitation Requirements.
- Table 3. Study administration overview by study site and round.
- Table 4. Processed dataset for Triangle Transportation Study.
- Table 5. Multiple traffic management center segments between exit points.
- Table 6. Historical Travel Time Reliability Dataset Summary.
- Table 7. Timeline of activities for Round 1 of the West Houston Transportation Study.
- Table 8. Timeline of activities for Round 2 of the West Houston Transportation Study.
- Table 9. Timeline of activities for Round 3 of the North Houston Transportation Study.
- Table 10. Houston sample zip codes.
- Table 11. Number of baseline completions by round, Houston.
- Table 12. Number of weekdays typically driven on primary freeway (Katy Freeway or North Freeway) in study area, Houston.
- Table 13. Number of weekdays typically driven on parallel tollway (Westpark Tollway or Hardy Tollway) in study area, Houston.
- Table 14. Respondent age, Houston.
- Table 15. Types of information sources used at least one day per week, Houston.
- Table 16. Types of travel behavior changes made "sometimes" or "frequently" due to traveler information, Houston.
- Table 17. Number of exit responses by round, Houston.
- Table 18. Exit responses by treatment group, Houston.
- Table 19. Travel time reliability information ratings ("somewhat agreed", "agreed", or "strongly agreed"), Houston.
- Table 20. Travel time reliability lexicon satisfaction ("somewhat satisfied", "satisfied", or "very satisfied"), Houston.
- Table 21. Timeline of activities for Round 1 of the North Columbus Transportation Study.
- Table 22. Timeline of activities for Round 3 of the North Columbus Transportation Study.
- Table 23. Timeline of activities for Round 4 of the North Columbus Transportation Study.
- Table 24. Columbus sample zip codes.
- Table 25. Number of baseline completions by round, Columbus.
- Table 26. Number of weekdays typically driven on primary freeway (I-71) in study area, Columbus.
- Table 27. Respondent age, Columbus.
- Table 28. Types of information sources used at least one day per week, Columbus.
- Table 29. Types of travel behavior changes made "sometimes" or "frequently" due to traveler information, Columbus.
- Table 30. Number of exit responses by round, Columbus.
- Table 31. Exit responses by treatment group, Columbus.
- Table 32. Travel time reliability information ratings ("somewhat agreed", "agreed", or "strongly agreed"), Columbus.
- Table 33. Travel time reliability lexicon satisfaction ("somewhat satisfied", "satisfied", or "very satisfied"), Columbus.
- Table 34. Timeline of activities for the Triangle Transportation Study.
- Table 35. Triangle sample zip codes.
- Table 36. Number of weekdays typically driven on primary freeway (I-40) in study area, Triangle.
- Table 37. Respondent age, Triangle.
- Table 38. Types of information sources used at least one day per week, Triangle.
- Table 39. Types of travel behavior changes made "sometimes" or "frequently" due to traveler information, Triangle.
- Table 40. Exit responses by treatment group, Triangle.
- Table 41. Travel time reliability information ratings ("somewhat agreed", "agreed", or "strongly agreed"), Triangle.
- Table 42. Travel time reliability lexicon satisfaction ("somewhat satisfied", "satisfied", or "very satisfied"), Triangle.
- Table 43. Summary of Chi-square test results for association between panel characteristics and assigned treatment group.
- Table 44. Distribution of exit survey completions by study site.
- Table 45. Independent variables for exit survey data modelling.
- Table 46. Model results – information usage for familiar trips.
- Table 47. Model results – information usage for unfamiliar trips.
- Table 48. Model results – behavior change for familiar trips.
- Table 49. Model results – behavior change for unfamiliar trips.
- Table 50. Model results – travel time reliability ease of understanding.
- Table 51. Model results – travel time reliability rating: reliability.
- Table 52. Model results – travel time reliability rating: did NOT reduce planned travel time.
- Table 53. Model results – travel time reliability rating: information useful.
- Table 54. Model results – travel time reliability rating: information helped reduce travel time.
- Table 55. Model results – travel time reliability rating: helped to avoid congestion.
- Table 56. Model results – travel time reliability rating: helped to reduce stress.
- Table 57. Model results – travel time reliability rating: helped me to plan trips.
- Table 58. Model results – satisfaction with estimated travel time.
- Table 59. Model results – satisfaction with the extra time/recommended cushion from travel time reliability.
- Table 60. Model results – satisfaction with the recommended departure time.
- Table 61. Model results – satisfaction with total travel time.
- Table 62. Model results – satisfaction on the trips with travel time reliability resources.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
| API | Application Programming Interface |
| ATIS | Advanced Traveler Information Systems |
| AWAM | Anonymous Wireless Address Matching |
| DCHC MPO | Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization |
| DF | Degrees of Freedom |
| FHWA | Federal Highway Administration |
| FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GTM | Government Task Manager |
| IVR | Interactive Voice Response |
| ODOT | Ohio Department of Transportation |
| OSU | Ohio State University |
| RTP | Research Triangle Park |
| SHRP2 | Strategic Highway Research Program 2 |
| SWOT | Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats |
| TxDOT | Texas Department of Transportation |
| TMC | Traffic Message Channel |
| TTR | Travel Time Reliability |
| TTRI | Travel Time Reliability Index |
| VoIP | Voice Over IP |
Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No. FHWA-HOP-16-066 |
2. Government Accession No. | 3. Recipient's Catalog No. | |
| 4. Title and Subtitle
Effectiveness of Disseminating Traveler Information on Travel Time Reliability |
5. Report Date December 2016 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code: | |||
| 7. Author(s)
Beverly Kuhn, Robert Krile, Chloe Ritter, Laura Higgins, Alan Pate |
8. Performing Organization Report No. | ||
| 9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Battelle, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201 |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) | ||
| 11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-12-D-00046-T5017 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
U.S. Department of Transportation |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report 10/14-12/16 |
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| 14. Sponsoring Agency Code | |||
| 15. Supplementary Notes
Jimmy Chu, FHWA, Office of Transportation Management, Government Task Manager (GTM)) |
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| 16. Abstract
Travel time variability is that characteristic of the transportation system that means a traveler's trip will vary from what is normally expected and will potentially take longer than planned. By helping travelers make travel choices that take into account travel time variability, agencies have the potential to reduce roadway congestion. Travel Time Reliability (TTR) information includes static data about traffic speeds or trip times that capture historic variations from day to day and enable individuals to understand the level of variability in traffic. A key component to addressing the reliability issue related to urban mobility is conveying this TTR information to system users so that they can make informed decisions about their travel. The challenge for transportation professionals lies in selecting the best means of conveying that information so that it is usable and effective to the traveler and other stakeholders. The Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) Reliability Project L14 established a preliminary set of suggested terminology and guidelines for conveying TTR information to road users so that they may make optimal travel choices from their point of view, such as whether to take a trip or not, departure time, mode choice, and/or route choice. Specifically, a Lexicon of phrases was developed for each of eight TTR terms, which contained detailed guidelines for TTR information that would most likely be understood and used by travelers. To help agencies and other transportation-related entities better deploy and use the recommended Lexicon terminology, a field study was conducted to test the phrases to demonstrate the technical and institutional feasibility of their use and determine the potential costs and benefits of using these products of L14. Overall, the field study found that the particular Lexicon phrases tested performed equally well. Only one survey question resulted in statistically significant differences between the Lexicon phrases. The biggest finding of the field study was that dissemination of TTR information via the 511 information channel was less preferred than via the Web or App access channels. In a few instances, the App access demonstrated superior responses over both the Web and 511 access. |
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| 17. Key Words
Travel time reliability, traveler information, arrival time, average travel time, buffer time, departure time, recommended departure time, recommended route |
18. Distribution Statement
No Restrictions |
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| 19. Security Classification (of this report)
Unclassified |
20. Security Classification (of this page)
Unclassified |
21. No of Pages
734 |
22. Price |
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
