Full deployment of comprehensive ITS strategies in Seattle are projected to reduce CO, HC, and NOx emissions by 16 percent, 17 percent and 21 percent, respectively and reduce fuel consumption by 19 percent.

The projected results of full ITS deployment in a large metropolitan area.

Date Posted
02/09/2016
Identifier
2015-B01031
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Benefits and Costs of Full Operations and ITS Deployment: A 2003 Simulation for Seattle

Summary Information

The Federal Highway Administration initiated a study to explore the benefits and costs of fully deploying operational strategies and integrating ITS in the large metropolitan area of Seattle. The strategies included in Seattle's Full Operations and ITS Deployment Scenario were identified by consulting with local agencies to identify the overall ITS program planned through the next 25 years. The benefits are contingent on complete deployment of the full operations and ITS deployment scenario. The selected strategies are listed in the following table.

 

Category Strategy
Arterial Traffic Management Systems Central Control Signal Coordination
Emergency Vehicle Signal Preemption
Transit Vehicle Signal Priority
Freeway Management Systems Central Control Ramping Metering
Transit Management Fixed-Route Automated Scheduling and Automatic Vehicle Location
Fixed-Route Security Systems
Electronic Transit Fare Payment
Incident Management Systems Incident Detection, Verification, Response, and Management
Emergency Management Systems Emergency Vehicle Control Service
Telemedicine
Emergency Vehicle AVL
Traveler Information Phone- and Web-Based Traveler Information System
Kiosk-Based Traveler Information
Highway Advisory Radio
Dynamic Message Signs
Crash Prevention and Safety Railroad Crossing Monitoring Systems
Commercial Vehicle Operations Weigh-in-Motion and Safety Information Exchange
Combination Screening and Clearance
Supporting Deployment Traffic Management Center
Transit Management Center
Emergency Management
Information Service Provider Center
Closed Circuit TV and Loop Detectors
Benefits
  • The ITS improvements would result in decreased vehicle pollutants and reduced fuel use in the Seattle area.
  • Full deployment would result in a reduction for all emissions analyzed. Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions were reduced by approximately 16 percent and 17 percent, respectively, while nitrous oxides were reduced by more than 21 percent.
  • Fuel use in the region was cut by more than 1 million gallons per day, a total reduction of more than 19 percent. This represents an average savings of more than 0.1 gallons per trip.
Deployment Locations