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Effectiveness of Safety and Public Service Announcement Messages on Dynamic Message Signs

CHAPTER 4. Adjustments to the Survey Execution Plan

This chapter captures the adjustments to the survey execution plan that were made based on the lessons learned during the pilot study. It provides the final execution plan for the administration of the full surveys in the four target urban areas.

Final Data Collection Logistics

The project team conducted in-person surveys in the four cities chosen for this study (Houston, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Chicago) from September 2013 through November 2013. Potential survey sites were selected for each city prior to travel based on a variety of factors including proximity to DMS locations, high rate of pedestrian and vehicle traffic to target for surveys, FHWA and the PFS recommendations, and success rates of similar types of studies in prior cities. A survey team of three staff members was deployed to each city for 3 days; multiple sites were visited and multiple administration techniques were tested. Based on the sample size calculations conducted prior to survey administration, a goal was set to achieve at least 500 survey responses in each city to meet a 95-percent confidence interval. This section details the evolution of site selection across the four cities.

Houston

Houston was selected as the first city to survey between September 18 and September 21, 2013. Table 10 lists the original survey locations selected for Houston by the project team. These original locations were presented to the FHWA and TMC PFS members for review. The project team revised the potential survey locations (see Table 11) based on the comments received.

Table 12 details the locations ultimately visited by the survey team on the first trip to Houston, including the date and time of each site visit. During the first visit, the survey team focused largely on surveying shopping malls, universities, and public gathering spaces. Surveys were distributed for immediate response as well as for mail-back response via a postage-paid printed survey. At the end of the 3-day study period, the survey team returned with 140 completed surveys.

Houston was visited a second time between November 14 and November 16, 2013, to increase the number of survey responses. Table 13 details the locations visited during the second visit.

The second visit resulted in 430 survey responses, bringing the total survey responses to 570 for Houston.

Table 10. Original Houston survey locations.
Location Address Type of Facility
Northwest Transit Center 7373 Old Katy Rd. Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus
Eastex Park-n-Ride 14400 Old Humble Rd. Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus
Fannin South Park-n-Ride 1604 West Bellfort Rd. Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus and Metro Rail
Fuqua Park-n-Ride 11755 Sabo Rd. Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus
Gulfgate Transit Center 7400 South Loop East Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus

 

Table 11. Updated Houston survey locations based on state DOT feedback.
Location Address Type of Facility
Willowbrook Mall 2000 Willowbrook Mall Rd. Shopping Mall
The Galleria 5085 Westheimer Rd. Shopping Mall
University of Houston 4800 Calhoun Rd. University
Northwest Transit Center 7373 Old Katy Rd. Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus
Gulfgate Transit Center 7400 South Loop East Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus

 

Table 12. Survey locations visited in Houston during first visit.
Location Address Type of Facility Date Visited Time Visited
University of Houston 4800 Calhoun Rd. University 09/18/13 11:00am-2:00pm
Hermann Park 6201 Hermann Park Dr. Outdoor Park/Central Gathering Area 09/18/13 4:00pm-7:00pm
Rice University 6100 Main St. University 09/19/13 11:00am-2:00pm
The Galleria 5085 Westheimer Rd. Shopping Mall 09/19/13 3:00pm-7:00pm
South Shore Harbour Conference Center/Hotel 2500 South Shore Blvd. Hotel / Conference Center 09/20/13 9:00am-11:00am
Willowbrook Mall 2000 Willowbrook Mall Rd. Shopping Mall 09/20/13 12:00pm-3:00pm
Kemah Boardwalk 215 Kipp Ave. Shopping/Dining 09/20/13 4:00pm-7:00pm
Houston Hobby Airport 7800 Airport Blvd. Airport 09/21/13 9:00am-2:00pm

 

Table 13. Survey locations visited in Houston during second visit.
Location Address Type of Facility Date Visited Time Visited
Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Cell Phone Waiting Lot 1 JFK Blvd. Airport Waiting Lot 11/14/13 – 11/15/13 11:00am-5:00pm
IAH Cell Phone Waiting Lot 2 Will Clayton Parkway Airport Waiting Lot 11/14/13 – 11/15/13 11:00am-5:00pm
Kuykendahl Park-n-Ride 12920 Kuykendahl Rd. Park-n-Ride for Houston Metro Bus 11/15/13 6:00am-9:00am
Houston Community College Northeast 555 Community College Dr. Community College 11/16/13 10:00am-2:00pm

 

This figure is a map that shows the sites surveyed in Houston during each visit. The sites are color-coded by date of visit. The map further points out the Houston DMS locations.

Figure 4. Photo. Houston survey sites.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia was selected as the second city to survey between October 10 and October 12, 2013. Using lessons learned from Houston, the survey team updated selected survey locations to those that would be more successful for gathering immediate responses from participants. Table 14 through Table 16 detail the progression of site selection for Philadelphia. At the end of the 3-day study period, the survey team returned with 504 completed surveys.

Table 14. Original Philadelphia survey locations.
Location Address Type of Facility
I-95 PA Welcome Center ½ mile from PA/DE Border on I-95 Highway Rest Stop
30th St Station 93 N. 30th St. and Market St. Parking Lot for Multiple Regional Rail Lines, Amtrak, NJ Transit Bus Routes
Penn’s Landing Parking Lot Intersection of Columbus Blvd at South St. Parking Lot for SEPTA Bus Routes
Wissahocken SEPTA Station 5099 Ridge Avenue and Osborn St. Parking Lot for SEPTA Station

 

Table 15. Updated Philadelphia survey locations based on state DOT feedback.
Location Address Type of Facility
I-95 PA Welcome Center ½ mile from PA/DE Border on I-95 Highway Rest Stop
30th St Station 93 N. 30th St. and Market St. Parking Lot for Multiple Regional Rail Lines, Amtrak, NJ Transit Bus Routes
King of Prussia Mall 160 N. Gulph Rd. Shopping Mall
Cornwell Heights SEPTA Station 700 Station Ave. SEPTA Station / Park-n-Ride Lot
Franklin Mills Mall 1455 Franklin Mills Circle Shopping Mall

 

Table 16. Survey locations visited in Philadelphia.
Location Address Type of Facility Date Visited Time Visited
30th St Station 93 N. 30th St. and Market St. Parking Lot for Multiple Regional Rail Lines, Amtrak, NJ Transit Bus Routes 10/10/13 – 10/11/13 9:00am-11:00am and
2:00pm-5:00pm
Drexel University 3141 Chestnut St. University 10/10/13 11:00am-2:00pm
University of Pennsylvania 3451 Walnut St. University 10/11/13 11:00am-2:00pm
Columbus St DMV 1530 S. Columbus Blvd. Department of Motor Vehicles 10/11/13 9:00am-10:00am
Reading Terminal Market 51 N. 12th St. Shopping/Dining 10/12/13 11:00am-4:00pm

 

This figure is a map that shows the sites surveyed in Philadelphia. The sites are color-coded by date of visit. The map further points out the Philadelphia DMS locations.

Figure 5. Photo. Philadelphia survey sites.

Orlando

Orlando was selected as the third city to survey between October 17 and October 19, 2013. Table 17 through Table 19 detail the progression of site selection. At the end of the 3-day study period, the survey team returned with 500 completed surveys.

Table 17. Original Orlando survey locations.
Location Address Type of Facility
Turkey Lake Service Plaza Mile Post 263 - Florida Turnpike Highway Rest Stop
Orange County Convention Center 9400 Universal Blvd. Convention Center – would focus on intercepting in parking lots
Orlando Amtrak Station 1400 Sligh Blvd. Train Station
Econlockhatchee Park-n-Ride 9555 East Colonial Dr. Park-n-Ride Lot

 

Table 18. Updated Orlando survey locations based on state DOT feedback.
Location Address Type of Facility
Turkey Lake Service Plaza Mile Post 263 - Florida Turnpike Highway Rest Stop
Orange County Convention Center 9400 Universal Blvd. Convention Center
Florida Mall 8001 S Orange Blossom Trail Shopping Mall
The Mall at Millenia 4200 Conroy Rd. Shopping Mall
University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd. University

 

Table 19. Survey locations visited in Orlando.
Location Address Type of Facility Date Visited Time Visited
Turkey Lake Service Plaza Mile Post 263 - Florida Turnpike Highway Rest Stop 10/17/13 - 10/18/13 8:00am-11:00am
University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd. University 10/17/13 – 10/18/13 11:00am-2:00pm
Orange County Convention Center 9400 Universal Blvd. Convention Center 10/18/13 2:00pm-5:00pm
Universal City Walk 6000 Universal Blvd. Shopping/Dining 10/18/13 6:00pm-9:00pm
Orlando International Airport 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd. Airport 10/19/13 9:00am-1:00pm

This figure is a map that shows the sites surveyed in Orlando. The sites are color-coded by date of visit. The map further points out the Orlando DMS locations.

Figure 6. Photo. Orlando survey sites.

Chicago

Chicago was selected as the fourth city to survey between November 6 and November 9, 2013. Table 20 through Table 22 detail the progression of site selection. At the end of the 3-day study period, the survey team returned with 584 completed surveys.

Table 20. Original Chicago survey locations.
Location Address Type of Facility
Cumberland Park-n-Ride 5800 N. Cumberland Ave. Park-n-Ride Lot for “L” Train Blue Line Train and CTA Buses
LaSalle St Station 121 W. Van Buren St. Parking Lots for Several “L” Train Lines (Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines)
Garfield Red Line Station 220 W. Garfield Blvd. Parking Lot for “L” Train Red Line and CTA Buses
Shell / BP Gas Station Intersection of W. Touhy Ave. and N. Cicero Ave. Gas Station
Target Shopping Center Intersection of Harrison St. and S. Manheim Rd. Shopping Center

 

Table 21. Updated Chicago survey locations based on state DOT feedback.
Location Address Type of Facility
Garfield Red Line Station 220 W. Garfield Blvd. Parking Lot for “L” Train Red Line and CTA Buses
Shell / BP Gas Station Intersection of W. Touhy Ave and N. Cicero Ave. Gas Station
Target Shopping Center Intersection of Harrison St. and S. Manheim Rd. Shopping Center
Gurnee Mills Mall 6170 W. Grand Ave. Shopping Mall
Woodfield Mall 5 Woodfield Mall Rd. Shopping Mall
Millenium Park S. Columbus Dr. Outdoor Park/Central Gathering Area

 

Table 22. Survey locations visited in Chicago.
Location Address Type of Facility Date Visited Time Visited
Chicago Union Station Canal St. Central Station for Amtrak and Metra 11/06/13 - 11/07/13 8:00am-2:00pm
University of Chicago 5555 S Ellis Ave. University 11/08/13 11:00am-2:00pm
Chicago Central DMV 100 W. Randolph St. DMV 11/07/13 2:00pm-5:00pm
Millennium Park S. Columbus Dr. Outdoor Park/Central Gathering Area 11/09/13 9:00am-1:00pm
O’Hare International Airport 1000 West O’Hare Ave. Airport 11/09/13 3:00pm-6:00pm

This figure is a map that shows the sites surveyed in Chicago. The sites are color-coded by date of visit. The map further points out the Chicago DMS locations.

Figure 7. Photo. Chicago survey sites.

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