Cost-benefit analysis of ITS project in the Houston, Texas.
Houston, Texas, United States
ITS instrumental in reducing Texan congestion
Summary Information
In January 2015, overheight vehicle detection systems (OHVDS) were implemented on Interstate I-10 in Houston to improve safety for truckers and reduce numbers of overheight vehicle hits on several low-clearance bridges (35 hits in 2014).
Two detection systems were deployed. Each used an active dual-beam infrared sensor installed 14 feet above the roadway to detect overheight trucks and then activated a dedicated dynamic message sign (DMS) to warn drivers using a single-phase three-line message: "OVERHEIGHT MUST EXIT I-160." To encourage compliance, overhead static warning signs reading "TRUCK HEIGHT MEASUREMENT ZONE AHEAD" were installed in 2018, and CCTV camera systems were used to capture violators.
FINDINGS
The average number of alerts raised was 64 per day on I-10 West and 27 per day on I-10 East. Evaluations carried out in 2015 and 2016 showed increases in trucks using the advised alternative route of 5 to 7 percent, while bridge hits deceased by 66 percent from 35 hits in 2014 to 12 hits in both 2015 and 2016.
