Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

1. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) CEE 320Anne Goodchild

2. Obama Opposed gas tax holiday Invest in developing alternative energy rather than drilling offshore Federal government should take lead on national infrastructure development Invest in “smart growth” Infrastructure reinvestment bank $150 billion for clean energy over 10 years Modernize infrastructure – ASCE D rating, 3 trillion unmet needs McCain Supported gas tax holiday Exploit remaining US oil deposits Small federal role in transportation, strong input from state and local governments State’s should get back their investment in the highway trust fund $.3 billion for battery technology Modernize infrastructure Both oppose increasing the gas tax

3. Outline • Need for traffic solutions • Improving technology • Improved wireless networks • Low energy requirements • Improved management systems • Increased appetite for technology

4. Road Use Growth From the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2003

5. Changes in Congested Peak-Period Travel

6. Problems Caused by Congestion • Increased… • Travel time • Travel cost • Air pollution • Accident risk • …..

7. How Much Capacity Is There? Full Capacity Highway Capacity

8. How Much Capacity Is There? Remaining Effective Capacity Incidents can comprise 50% of peak period congestion. 1 min delay in clearance = 4 to 5 min of traffic backup. Highway Capacity Incidents: more delay is caused by incidents than by recurring peak period congestion.

9. How Much Capacity Is There? Remaining Effective Capacity Caltrans reports 20% of freeway centerline miles are under construction. Work zones: major cost is delay imparted to the traveler Highway Capacity Incidents: more delay is caused by incidents than by recurring peak period congestion.

10. How Much Capacity Is There? Remaining Effective Capacity 75% of NHS is subject to snow & 100% is subject to rain. Weather: Snow, fog, rain can all restrict capacity Work zones: major cost is delay imparted to the traveler Highway Capacity Incidents: more delay is caused by incidents than by recurring peak period congestion.

11. How Much Capacity Is There? Remaining Effective Capacity Periodic events can cause further restrict capacity. Special events and disasters further restrict capacity Weather: Snow, fog, rain can all restrict capacity Work zones: major cost is delay imparted to the traveler Highway Capacity Incidents: more delay is caused by incidents than by recurring peak period congestion.

12. How Much Capacity Is There? Remaining Effective Capacity Special events and disasters further restrict capacity Weather: Snow, fog, rain can all restrict capacity Work zones: major cost is delay imparted to the traveler Highway Capacity Incidents: more delay is caused by incidents than by recurring peak period congestion.

13. Options • Construct new roads • Covered in geometric design • Not likely to happen on a large scale • Reduce Traffic • Travel demand management • Alternative transportation • Increase existing infrastructure capacity • Often exploits the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) All of these are required, and there will (probably) still be congestion

14. Construction Is Part of the Solution

15. Option 1: Construction Highway Construction Cost Sampling General ConclusionHighways cost $1 to $10 million per lane-mile to build

16. San Francisco’s Embarcadero Freeway: Removed 1991

17. Option 2: Reduce Traffic or Spread Demand • Make the trip using another mode • Extra capacity • Don’t make the trip • Pricing • Controls • Make the trip at adifferent time • Pricing • Controls

18. New Slide Tacoma-Seattle Began 2000 4 trips each way daily Everett-Seattle Began 2003 2 trips each way daily Sounder Commuter Rail

19. New Slide

20. New Slide Seattle-Everett Interurban Railway Co. (1907) Asahel Curtis Photo Company Collection, University of Washington Digital Collection

21. New Slide Sounder vs. Interurban

22. Option 2: Alternative Transport SkyTran: Personal MagLev Transporter

23. Option 3: Increase Existing Infrastructure Capacity • An alternative to expensive new highway construction is the implementation of strategies that promote more efficient utilization of transportation infrastructures. • Simple: • More people per vehicle (carpool, bus) • Smaller vehicles (motorcycles) • Narrow lanes

24. Option 3: Increase Existing Infrastructure Capacity • More complex: • Vehicle automation • Variable speed limits • Variable use facilities • Traffic monitoring • Ramp meters • Many rely on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which aims to reduce travel time, ease delay and congestion, improve safety, and reduce pollutant emissions

25. Five Primary Functional Areas of ITS • Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) • Managing incidents • Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) • Giving users information about the system • Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) • Simplifies regulations (with benefits) • Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) • Reduce obstacles to use, give priority to vehicles • Advanced Vehicle Control Systems (AVCS) • Safer, more efficient driving

26. Advanced Traffic Management Systems Photo from the Human-Computer Interaction Lab: University of Maryland

27. WSDOT Traffic Systems Management Center

28. WSDOT Traffic Systems Management Center

29. WSDOT Traffic Systems Management Center

30. ATMS: Snoqualmie Pass

31. Advanced Traveler Information Systems

32. ATIS: trafficgauge

33. http://www.trafficgauge.com/index.html

34. WAP Traffic www.wiresoft.net/traffic/seattle

35. ATIS: Traffic Cameras

36. Commercial Vehicle Operations • Apply, pay for and receive permits, registrations, and licenses electronically • Share of common trucking data across agencies • Exchange information electronically with roadside enforcement personnel • Electronic “screening” of trucks for safety or other regulatory violations • Share information across state lines and with Federal information systems

37. CVO: Weigh-In-Motion System

38. Advanced Public Transportation Systems

39. An Example of APTS http://busview.its.washington.edu/busview_launch.jsp?maps=gif

40. APTS: Bus Signal Priority

41. No need for change Interoperable with other transit agencies Transit agency can track passengers for better system design and cost control APTS: Smart Cards

42. New Slide Advanced Vehicle Control Systems Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) System Lexus LS430/460, ES-350 Benz S-Class, E55, AMG, CLS, SL, CL Acura RL Audi A6, A8, Q7 Cadillac DTS, STS, XLR Honda Legend Infinity M, Q45 Jaguar XK-R BMW 3, 5, 7 Series Nisan Primera Range Rover Sport Toyota Sienna XLE, Avalon Volkswagon Phaeton, Passat Renault Vel Satis Volvo S80

43. VW and Google Earth

45. Windows Live Local Street Level