Road Weather Management Program
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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Title:

Interim Analysis Report: Model Deployment of a Regional, Multi-Modal 511 Traveler Information System

Abstract:

This report presents the analysis of the existing, pre-enhanced 511 traveler information system operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) since 1998. The current ADOT 511 system provides information on Interstates, US Highways and State Routes throughout the state at the route level. Many miles of Interstate, State and US Highway routes in Arizona are located in high altitude areas that receive considerable snow and ice, thus making winter-weather traveler information important. Although weather and incident information does appear, the most common type of information pertains to construction and maintenance, road closures and restrictions. This report presents the analysis on the baseline data of the existing, pre-enhanced ADOT 511 system in the following areas: information content, system availability, usage, user satisfaction, costs. Several findings related to weather information follow. Although weather and incident information does appear, the most common type of information pertains to construction and maintenance, road closures and restrictions. The usage of the existing 511 system is low and primarily by a small number of travelers, largely for relatively infrequent, intercity trip, especially in areas where adverse weather is common. Most users were not very satisfied with the existing 511 system. The overall average rating was 4.7 out of 10. The rankings in Flagstaff were slightly higher, perhaps due to the reliance on the system for winter weather information. (Phoenix and Tucson do not experience adverse winter driving conditions.) Many miles of Interstate, State and US Highway routes in Arizona are located in high-altitude areas.

Source(s):

Battelle Memorial Institute and University of Arizona, Prepared for FHWA ITS Joint Program Office

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/3893

Date: 2004

Author:

Hickman

Keywords:


Weather information

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