Washington, District of Columbia, United States
On-Time Reliability Impacts of Advanced Traveler Information Services (ATIS)
Summary Information
This study used the Mitretek Systems HOWLATE method (Heuristic On-Line Web-Linked Arrival Time Estimator) to quantify the potential benefits of implementing Advanced Traveler Information Services (ATIS) in the Washington DC area. In September and October of 1999, software applications were used to collect travel time information for major arterial and freeway links in the region as they were posted on the internet. This data was compiled and input into a forward star rotation dynamic programming model of the Washington DC metropolitan transportation network in order to compare the on-time reliability and travel time performance for ATIS users and ATIS non-users.
The simulation proceeded in two steps. First, traveler path and time of departure choices were established for a pair of travelers (ATIS users, and ATIS non-users) who determined departure choices based on previous network experience. In the second step, the travel times and on-time performance of each traveler were reconstructed based on trip timing and the routes chosen in step one. ATIS non-users were characterized as one of two types, conservative or aggressive. The conservative non-user chose earlier start times in order to buffer late arrival risk while the aggressive user chose later start times. In-vehicle travel times and the on-time arrival performance were tracked for each ATIS user and non-user pair traveling throughout the network.
RESULTS
The analysis indicated that ATIS users realized substantial time management benefits from on-time arrival performance and trip predictability, but realized only marginal reductions in in-vehicle travel time.
The following table summarizes the travel performance for a sample of more than 75,000 trips in the DC area during peak periods.
AM Peak (6:30-9:30) and PM Peak (3:30-6:30).
| COMMUTER |
ON-TIME RELIABILITY |
LATENESS RISK |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative Non-User |
92% |
8% |
| Aggressive Non-User |
81% |
19% |
| ATIS User
|
97% |
3% |
The following table summarizes travel performance for a commute between Laurel, Maryland and Dale City, Virginia from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. It was noted that during this period, ATIS users demonstrated better performance than conservative non-users.
| COMMUTER |
ON-TIME RELIABILITY |
LATENESS RISK |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative Non-User |
90% |
10% |
| Aggressive Non-User |
78% |
22% |
| ATIS User
|
92% |
8% |
This study used the Mitretek Systems HOWLATE method (Heuristic On-Line Web-Linked Arrival Time Estimator) to quantify the potential benefits of implementing Advanced Traveler Information Services (ATIS) in the Washington DC area. In September and October of 1999, software applications were used to collect travel time information for major arterial and freeway links in the region as they were posted on the internet. This data was compiled and input into a forward star rotation dynamic programming model of the Washington DC metropolitan transportation network in order to compare the on-time reliability and travel time performance for ATIS users and ATIS non-users.
The simulation proceeded in two steps. First, traveler path and time of departure choices were established for a pair of travelers (ATIS users, and ATIS non-users) who determined departure choices based on previous network experience. In the second step, the travel times and on-time performance of each traveler were reconstructed based on trip timing and the routes chosen in step one. ATIS non-users were characterized as one of two types, conservative or aggressive. The conservative non-user chose earlier start times in order to buffer late arrival risk while the aggressive user chose later start times. In-vehicle travel times and the on-time arrival performance were tracked for each ATIS user and non-user pair traveling throughout the network.
RESULTS
The analysis indicated that ATIS users realized substantial time management benefits from on-time arrival performance and trip predictability, but realized only marginal reductions in in-vehicle travel time.
The following table summarizes the travel performance for a sample of more than 75,000 trips in the DC area during peak periods.
AM Peak (6:30-9:30) and PM Peak (3:30-6:30).
| COMMUTER |
ON-TIME RELIABILITY |
LATENESS RISK |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative Non-User |
92% |
8% |
| Aggressive Non-User |
81% |
19% |
| ATIS User
|
97% |
3% |
The following table summarizes travel performance for a commute between Laurel, Maryland and Dale City, Virginia from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. It was noted that during this period, ATIS users demonstrated better performance than conservative non-users.
| COMMUTER |
ON-TIME RELIABILITY |
LATENESS RISK |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative Non-User |
90% |
10% |
| Aggressive Non-User |
78% |
22% |
| ATIS User
|
92% |
8% |
