Road Weather Management Program

Best Practices for Road Weather Management

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Acknowledgments

While many individuals deserve recognition, the authors want to particularly acknowledge all the staff at the participating state departments of transportation who provided materials and were generous with their time and expertise. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Highway Administration.

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.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 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

Technical Report Documentation Page

Introduction

Alabama DOT Low Visibility Warning System

Alaska DOT&PF Temperature Data Probe Program

Arizona DOT DUST Warning System

California DOT Fog Detection and Warning System

California DOT Icy Curve Warning System

Colorado DOT One Pass Clearing Operations

Colorado DOT Variable Speed Management System

Florida DOT Bridge Wind Speed Alerting System

Idaho TD Winter Maintenance Performance System

Iowa DOT Salt Use Dashboard

Iowa DOT WeatherView Road Weather Traveler Information System

Kansas City Scout Advanced Traffic Management System

Kansas DOT Road Weather Information for Travelers System

Maryland DOT Emergency Truck Parking Portal

Michigan DOT Measurement of Regain Time

Minnesota DOT I-35W Smart Lanes: Active Traffic Management

Montana DOT Equipment Vehicle Management System

Montana DOT Traveler Information System

New Mexico DOT Dust Control System

Pennsylvania DOT Interstate Restriction System

South Carolina DOT Hurricane Traffic Evacuation Operations

South Dakota DOT Maintenance Decision Support System

Tennessee DOT Low Visibility Warning System

Texas DOT High Water Detection System

Texas DOT Pump Station Monitoring System

Utah DOT Traveler Information Weather

Vermont Agency of Transportation: Transportation Operations Center

List of Appendices

Acronym List

List of Figures

Figure AL-1 Screen shot of low visibility warning system

Figure AK-1 Thermistor string and temperature probe casing

Figure AK-2 Boring hole for temperature probe

Figure AK-3 Top sensor on a wire lead

Figure AK-4 Diagram on the vertical thermistor spacing

Figure AK-5 Example of a posted weight restriction

Figure AK-6 Areas and corridors of Alaska with TDP site

Figure AK-7 Anchorage-Homer corridor with available TDP sites

Figure AZ-1 Visibility sensor in ADOT DUST warning system

Figure AZ-2 Dynamic message sign with warning message

Figure CA-1 Sensor array

Figure CA-2 Road weather information system at Fredonyer East ICWSs

Figure CA-3 Schematic of Fredonyer Pass and Icy Curve Warning System

Figure CO-1 Truck with 14 ft. wide front plow

Figure CO-2 Tow plow being loaded with salt

Figure CO-3 RWIS Snowmass Canyon

Figure CO-4 Alert of wet roads

Figure FL-1 FDOT bridge wind speed monitor installation

Figure ID-1 RWIS installation at Goose Creek Summit

Figure IA-1 Example screen shots from the Iowa DOT salt use dashboard

Figure IA-2 WeatherView website showing RWIS and AWOS site locations

Figure KC-1 Kansas City Scout's ATMS integrated with weather information

Figure MD-1 Maryland's emergency truck parking portal

Figure MI-1 Speed sensor apparatus to determine regain time

Figure MN-1 ATM signals on I-35W

Figure MN-2 Possible display messages above traffic lanes

Figure MN-3 Example of display of intelligent lane control signals during an incident

Figure MN-4 Display of advisory speed limits on DMS as it relates to freeway speeds

Figure MN-5 Static sign for dynamic shoulder lane

Figure MN-6 Striping and signing with PDSL closed.

Figure MN-7 Striping and signing with PDSL open

Figure MT-1 Montana DOT EVMS main application window

Figure MT-2 Components of traveler information system

Figure NM-1 Poor visibility of I-10 due to dust storm

Figure NM-2 La Playa I-10 RWIS mile post 12

Figure PA-1 Interstate restriction flow chart

Figure SC-1 Aerial view of I-26 near Columbia, SC where reversal is terminated

Figure SD-1 Surface conditions predicted by MDSS closely match actual road conditions

Figure TN-1 Fog detector

Figure TN-2 CCTV camera

Figure TN-3 CSLS

Figure TN-4 Swing gate

Figure TX-1 Public Internet display of TxDOT-San Antonio high water detection systems

Figure TX-2 Storm water pump station

Figure UT-1 Weather impact graphic from March 1, 2012

Figure VT-1 Traffic operations center

Figure VT-2 Traffic operations center communications specialist

Figure VT-3 Traffic operations center fiber optic project manager

List of Tables

Table AL-1 Low Visibility Warning System Strategies

Table TN-1 Advisory and Control Strategies for Various Road Conditions

U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590

www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov

FHWA-HOP-12-046

June 2012

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