MODULE 7. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

1 Manual TABLE OF CONTENTSM odule 7. TABLE OF CONTENTS7-1 MODULE 7. INFORMATION DISSEMINATIONTABLE OF DESIGN INFORMATION DISSEMINATION CONSENSUS AMONG Differences in Operating Philosophies Among Common Ground Between GOALS AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA AND FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, DATA REQUIREMENTS, ANDINFORMATION AND SCREEN IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING TECHNIQUES AND INFORMATION of (or Tape)..7-18 Rotating Disk or Blank-Out (Incandescent Bulb) Matrix or Shuttered Matrix Fiber-optic or Matrix Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Disks with and Disadvantages of the DMS TABLE OF CONTENTSM odule 7. TABLE OF CONTENTS7-2IN-VEHICLE In-Vehicle INFORMATION Advisory HAR (AHAR)..7-24 Cellular Telephone Hotlines ..7-25 Commercial In-vehicle INFORMATION Display Data Assistants (PDAs).

2 7-29 Computers (Internet).. LESSONS MESSAGE ISSUES CONCERNING AT-REST DISPLAY EXAMPLE OF AN INFORMATION DISSEMINATIONSYSTEM: TABLE OF CONTENTSM odule 7. TABLE OF CONTENTS7-3 Figure 7-1. Dynamic Message Signing on New Jersey 7. INFORMATION INTRODUCTIONIt is well known that the key to successfuldriving task performance is efficientinformation gathering and processing.(1)Likewise, properly communicating withmotorists is critical to successful freewaytraffic management and rely on a wide variety ofinformation to properly accomplish thecontrol, guidance, and navigational aspectsof the driving task. The roadway alignmentand general terrain itself provides a greatdeal of this INFORMATION through visual cues; sources such as pavement markingsand regulatory, warning, and guide signsalso contribute greatly to the overallinformation system.

3 However, in aneffective freeway management system,dynamic methods of conveying informationto motorists or travelers are often needed tobetter operate and control the management systems rely onvarious INFORMATION disseminationcomponents to apprise all types of travelers(motorists, transit users, commercial vehicleoperators, etc.) of current and anticipatedtravel conditions so that informed mode,departure time, and route choice decisionscan be made. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION is also managed inorder to improve travel conditions in theManual TABLE OF CONTENTSM odule 7. TABLE OF CONTENTS7-4corridor by influencing traveler behavior (byand technologies being utilized forrecommending diversion routes around aninformation DISSEMINATION within theincident, for example).

4 This INFORMATION canintegrated regional transportationbe disseminated from a variety of sourcesmanagement system.(State departments of transportation, transitagencies, private-sector INFORMATION serviceproviders, etc.) using a variety of methods(dynamic message signs, commercial radiotraffic reports, traffic INFORMATION kiosks,etc.). MODULE OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this MODULE are threefold:CTo describe how to define, establish, andcoordinate effective traveler informationcomponents in a freeway identify existing and emergingtechnologies available to facilitateinformation DISSEMINATION to illustrate how informationdissemination components can integratewith each other and with othercomponents of a freeway SCOPEThis MODULE addresses both traditional andemerging INFORMATION disseminationprocesses and technologies for freewaymanagement systems.

5 Whereas a number oftechnologies ( , dynamic message signs,highway advisory radio) have been aroundfor a number of years, there are newopportunities today. In the past, informationwas distributed in response to an , the focus is to provide a continuousflow of INFORMATION to travelers, businesses,and commercial carriers in order to maketheir trip travel time more predictable. Thefocus of this MODULE is to emphasize theneed for integration among all DESIGN PROCESSD ecisions about when, where, and how todisseminate travel-related INFORMATION to thepublic have become much more complex inrecent years, due to improved traffic/weather/transit surveillance capabilities andexpanded INFORMATION DISSEMINATION with the other components that can beincluded in a freeway management system,the decisions necessary to develop andintegrate INFORMATION DISSEMINATION into thesystem can be best accomplished byfollowing the basic decision processdescribed in MODULE 2.

6 Specific applicationof this process to the task of incorporatinginformation DISSEMINATION into a freewaymanagement system is discussed in thefollowing sections. IDENTIFY NEEDSThe first step in the decision process is toidentify the need to be addressed throughinformation DISSEMINATION , or stated anotherway, the INFORMATION needs that exist in thefreeway corridor. Two basic categories ofinformation DISSEMINATION exist:CPre-trip route guidance and 7-1 presents examples of some of thespecific types of need and/or informationneeds in these categories. Certaininformation may be needed both pre-trip anden route, whereas other INFORMATION may beneeded for either one or the other. To theextent possible, these INFORMATION needsshould be further defined by the following:Manual TABLE OF CONTENTSM odule 7.

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS7-5 Table 7-1. INFORMATION Need of INFORMATION Needpre-trip planningCcurrent/anticipated traffic conditions - speeds- incident locations- other congestion locations- upcoming road closuresCweather effects- pavement conditions- road closuresCroute guidance- around incidents- to special eventsCtransit INFORMATION - bus schedules and status- transfer locations- rideshare matching (preplanning and real-time matching)en route guidance andCcurrent traffic conditions INFORMATION - speeds- incident locations- other congestion locationsCweather effects- pavement conditions- road closuresCroute guidance- around incidents- to special eventsClane/shoulder/ramp use also important early on to identify agencies and/or the private sector can be one such factor. SomeThese characteristics affect how wellpavement condition INFORMATION , forinformation can be received by the users, andexample, for fear of establishing a precedentwhat types of responses can be expectedthat may be used against them if they fail tofrom the users who have that informationwarn of that pavement condition (or one) in the future.

8 PreestablishedIn addition to the needs to be addressedprivate sector companies regarding access tothrough INFORMATION DISSEMINATION efforts, itfactors or issues that will influence the abilityprovide that INFORMATION . Tort liabilityagencies may avoid providing currentagreements between public agencies andManual TABLE OF CONTENTSM odule 7. TABLE OF CONTENTS7-6agency data may also influence the directionof future DISSEMINATION problem identification step of thedecision process also includes an inventoryof existing INFORMATION sources, includingmedia reports and private sector a consensus regarding theThe inventory can include such data items asimportance of INFORMATION DISSEMINATION andtarget audiences, accessibility, frequency ofits role as part of an overall freewayreports, and INFORMATION accuracy.

9 Ifmanagement system is the next step in thepossible, assessments of user satisfactiondecision process. It is important that projectwith the INFORMATION should also be take ownership of the effort upIDENTIFY INFORMATIONDISSEMINATION PARTNERSThe key partners in the development of theinvolved. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION component of afreeway management system include theFor example, highway and transit agenciesfollowing:may view the presence of some degree ofCTraditional State and local public sectordifferent ways if an HOV lane is includedagencies (transportation and publicwithin the freeway right-of-way. Whereasworks, transit, toll authorities, lawdiverting freeway traffic to arterial streetsenforcement).might be a primary goal of the highwayCCommercial bus utilization and the HOV lane asCPrivate sector traffic reporting servicesPartners need to communicate these(distributing through commercial mediaconcerns to each other so that a consensusvenues or through direct subscription toabout goals can be ).

10 CLocal fleet operators (delivery services,differences in operational philosophiestaxis, etc.).between public agencies and private sectorIn some cases, the owners/operators ofdrive public agency decisions regarding themajor traffic generators (malls, touristdissemination of travel-related INFORMATION ,attractions, annual special event promotions,marketing opportunities and profit motivesetc.) could also be important partners towill generally dictate private sector interests,include in the decision-making , and decisions. A clear under-BUILD CONSENSUS AMONGPARTNERSI dentify Differences in OperatingPhilosophies Among Partnersfront, or it may never work. To make thishappen, it is important to identify andunderstand the differences in operationalphilosophies of the different partnersrecurrent congestion on the freeway in veryagency, the transit agency may desire toa means of reducing that partners must also be aware of theentities.