Use recommended practices to provide accurate travel time messages to the public using Dynamic Message Signs (DMS).

Experiences and guidance from the use of DMSs in metropolitan areas.

Date Posted
01/21/2007
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Identifier
2007-L00337

Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) Recommended Practice and Guidance

Summary Information

Dynamic Message Signs (DMSs) are playing increasingly important roles in attempts to improve highway safety, operations, and use of existing facilities. DMSs are traffic control devices used for traffic warning, regulation, routing and management, and are intended to affect the behavior of drivers by providing real-time traffic-related information. The terms Dynamic Message Signs and Changeable Messages Signs are used interchangeably in this lesson learned, and by the associated reference materials.

Over the years, transportation agencies have invested millions of dollars to acquire and install dynamic message signs (DMS) as ways to provide information to motorists en-route. Based on the numbers of DMS reported in the 2002 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployment tracking database, at least $330,000,000 have been spent on DMS. During adverse road conditions, traffic incidents and construction the signs have been used very effectively. The DMS have also been valuable assets for child abduction (AMBER) alerts and national security messages. But, we have also seen too many instances where the DMS are underutilized or providing generic information even though traffic conditions are deteriorating. As noted in Christine Johnson's December 21, 2001, memorandum, "Congestion Ahead Messages" (see http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/travelinfo/resources/cms_rept/travtime.htm#Dec21memo for more details) there are many reasons why ineffective or questionable messages are displayed (1). However, regardless of the underlying reasons, the public sees only an ineffectively used, expensive piece of technology.

As discussed in the "Congestion Ahead Messages" memorandum referenced above, better DMS messages, based on travel times, can be displayed with the information currently available. There is no need to wait for more complete or "full" data coverage to begin providing better information to motorists. The goal should be to have travel time information as the default information available to motorists throughout the day. A "dark" or blank DMS is a transportation investment that is not being fully utilized. Transportation officials should be asking why is it dark and what will it take to get travel times posted on an ongoing basis. Furthermore, no new DMS should be installed in a major metropolitan area or along a heavily traveled route unless the operating agency and the jurisdiction have the capability to display travel time messages.

Lessons Learned

An examination of databases and a sampling of locations reveal at least 12 metropolitan areas that are providing travel time messages on DMS. But at least 25 other metropolitan areas are gathering travel time data and have DMS deployed. A list of all of these metropolitan areas can be found at the end of this lesson. Travel time messages are not appropriate for every location, but they have proven successful in regions or corridors that experience periods of recurring congestion - congestion generally resulting from traffic demand exceeding available capacity and not caused by any specific event such as a traffic incident, road construction or a lane closure. The DMS can provide dynamic travel time information instead of providing generic messages such as "congestion ahead" or "stay alert."



While travel time messages may be overridden by traffic incident or road construction messages, they can provide valuable motorist information in conjunction with the event messages, as well as after the incident or construction has been cleared if there is residual congestion. Also, special events that typically generate traffic demand that exceeds capacity - fairs, concerts, sporting events - provide additional opportunities for providing travel time information to motorists.



The areas that have been providing travel time messages have found solid public support for the messages. Their experiences have provided a number of recommendations summarized here from the guidance report referenced below.

  • Seek feedback from and educate the public before starting to post travel time messages. A campaign of public awareness is critical in order for the time messages to have an initial positive effect. New types of messages often cause motorists to slow down, so any efforts to reduce those "surprise" effects will help motorists more easily adapt to the new messages. Also engaging the public and the media in helping determine destinations and message forms will improve the quality of service and help achieve a positive response to the messages.
  • Generate travel times automatically. Travel times should be generated automatically and not require a human operator to manually enter travel time data. All but one of the locations surveyed that provide travel time messages use automated processes to calculate the travel times. They use different technologies to measure the traffic flow, including loop detectors, video detection systems, automatic vehicle identification transponders and toll tags. The traffic data are processed to produce travel time over specified links between identified destinations. It is important to note that effective travel time messages do not require the data to be 100% accurate. Research has indicated that data with error rates of 20% produce useful traveler information. When presenting a range of travel times on DMS the acceptable error rate may be even higher.
  • Construct travel time messages to benefit more than the local commuter where there is a mixture of types of travelers. Successful practices from the Atlanta area demonstrate that a relatively simple change to local information can benefit unfamiliar travelers as well. By including the distance to the destination in addition to the travel time, even those travelers unfamiliar with the area can determine the approximate level of congestion ahead.
  • Maintain credibility of DMS messages by changing them in a timely manner and by validating the message displayed (1). Displaying messages that are inaccurate leads to motorist confusion and can adversely affect both traffic flow and the transportation agency’s credibility.

As stated in the January 19, 2001, Policy Memorandum, "Use of Changeable Message Sign (CMS)" (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/policy/pame.htm) and reiterated by subsequent policy memorandums in 2002 ("AMBER Alert Use of Changeable Message Sign" - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/policy/ambermemo.htm) and 2003 ("Use of Changeable Message Sign for Emergency Security Messages" - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/policy/securmemo.htm), FHWA supports the use of dynamic message signs as traffic control devices to safely and efficiently manage traffic by informing motorists of roadway conditions and required actions to perform. It is FHWA policy that the appropriate use of DMS and other types of real-time displays should be limited to managing travel, controlling and diverting traffic, identifying current and anticipated roadway conditions, or regulating access to specific lanes or the entire roadway. But it is also important that these assets and investments be used more effectively to provide motorists with meaningful and useful information. Providing travel time information is an excellent method of notifying motorists about current conditions in a manner that can be easily interpreted and understood. Following these guidelines for providing travel times and ensuring the DMS messages are credible will increase the use of the information provided by Dynamic Message Signs as well as increasing customer satisfaction with this information.



Metropolitan Areas Providing Travel Time Messages on Dynamic Message Signs:

  • Atlanta
  • Chicago
  • Cincinnati
  • Columbus
  • Detroit
  • Hampton Roads
  • Houston
  • Louisville
  • Milwaukee
  • Nashville
  • Orlando
  • San Antonio



References:



(1) Johnson, Christine M., Policy Memorandum on the Use of Changeable Message Signs, January 19, 2001.

Document:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/policy/pame.htm