Variable Message Sign Guidelines

1 Chapter 1 - Variable Message Sign Guidelines Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility December 2018 NYSDOT VMS Guidelines i December 2018 PREFACE This document provides guidance for the use of Variable Message Signs (VMS). NYSDOT personnel should use this document when making decisions on when, where, and how to effectively deploy VMS for providing real-time motorist information. For the purpose of this document, VMS will refer to both Permanent (fixed) and Portable Variable Message Signs (PVMS) unless otherwise noted. These Guidelines contain a compilation of national research and current operational practices within NYSDOT.

2 All VMS Guidelines are consistent with the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) policy for VMS use. All standards cited in these Guidelines are required by the current edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Exceptions or deviations from these Guidelines shall be reviewed and approved by the Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility. NYSDOT recognizes the benefits of properly using VMS to manage traffic and inform motorists of real time information. The Department is also aware that improper use of VMS can adversely affect travel and credibility with motorists on our highways.

3 Due to the importance of proper and effective VMS usage, NYSDOT has developed these Guidelines . NOTE: These Guidelines shall be used in accordance with the current NYSDOT VMS Policy and do not replace requirements in the MUTCD or Highway Design Manual. NYSDOT VMS Guidelines ii December 2018 Table of Contents PREFACE .. i GLOSSARY .. iv ACRONYMS .. vi CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND .. 1 Terminology _____1 Types of VMS _____1 Permanent VMS .. 1 Portable VMS (PVMS) .. 2 Truck-Mounted VMS .. 2 Matrix Types _____2 Modular or Character Matrix .. 2 Line Matrix .. 2 Full Matrix .. 2 CHAPTER 2 MESSAGING AND USE OVERVIEW .. 3 CHAPTER 3 USAGE.

4 5 Incident Management _____5 Other Messages _____5 AMBER & Missing Person Alerts .. 5 Emergency Homeland Security Messages .. 5 Advance Notice - Roadwork and Special Events .. 6 Travel Time .. 6 Weather .. 6 Air Quality Action Days .. 7 Blank Signs .. 7 Safety Campaigns .. 7 Local Community 7 Appropriate and Inappropriate VMS Usage _____8 Regional Pilot Programs _____9 Responsibilities for Usage _____9 MUTCD Limitations on the Use of VMS _____ 10 Using Graphics and Color _____ 10 Message Priorities _____ 11 CHAPTER 4 - LOCATION .. 12 Installation and Placement _____ 12 Visibility _____ 13 Safety _____ 14 CHAPTER 5 MESSAGES.

5 16 NYSDOT VMS Guidelines iii December 2018 Message Anatomy _____ 16 Unit of Information .. 16 Phase .. 17 Message .. 18 Message Factors _____ 18 Display Time .. 18 Message Length .. 18 Message Type _____ 19 CHAPTER 6 - EQUIPMENT .. 23 Permanent and PVMS Models _____ 23 VMS Coordination with Other Field Elements _____ 25 CHAPTER 7 - DOCUMENTATION .. 26 Appendices APPENDIX A - Abbreviations .. 27 APPENDIX B - Permanent VMS Sample Messages .. 32 APPENDIX C - Portable VMS Sample Messages .. 37 APPENDIX D - AMBER Alert Operations and Implementation Guide .. 41 APPENDIX E - Missing Adult Operations and Implementation Guide.

6 48 APPENDIX F - Missing Child Operations and Implementation Guide .. 55 APPENDIX G - Missing College Student Operations and Implementation 61 APPENDIX H - Travel Time Systems Requirements .. 67 APPENDIX I - Air Quality Action Days VMS Policy and Guide .. 73 APPENDIX J - Official Guidance on VMS Messaging for Severe Weather (2018) .. 78 APPENDIX K - Official Guidance on VMS Messaging for Official Truck Bans .. 85 APPENDIX L - Official Guidance on VMS Messaging for High Wind Warnings .. 88 APPENDIX M - Official Guidance on VMS Messaging for Holiday Travel .. 90 NYSDOT VMS Guidelines iv December 2018 GLOSSARY AMBER Alert: The America s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response Alert is a Plan through which emergency alerts are issued to notify the public about abductions of children that may be in serious danger Bottleneck: A location where traffic demand wanting to use a section of roadway is greater than that section s capacity Character: Letter, numeral, or symbol formed by a group of pixels, usually an array of five-wide by seven-high pixels Clear Zone.

7 The unobstructed, relatively flat area beyond the edge of the traveled way Cone of Visibility: The area inside which a VMS sign is visible, which is narrow near the sign and gradually increases in width as the physical distance from the sign increases, effectively creating a cone shaped foot print on the pavement Congestion: A condition where a breakdown of traffic flow has occurred and a queue begins to form because the amount of traffic approaching a section of highway exceeds the amount of traffic passing through it Credibility: Believability (credit, belief or trust; confidence) Cycle: For multi-phase messages, the complete series of phases for a given Message ; the time within which a set of phases is complete Decision Point: An interchange or intersection where a motorist must decide on a route Display Time: For two-phase or multi-phase messages, the time in seconds that each phase will be visible Downstream: Beyond a certain location, in the same direction of traffic End of Queue: The last cars to arrive in a queue.

8 The upstream end of congestion Extended Message : Multi-phase Message Frame: A set of text displayed as one phase of an extended Message Graphic: Array or configuration of pixels that forms an image or symbol for the purpose of conveying information Head of Queue: The downstream most area of congestion, usually used during dissipation LED: A type of technology used for VMS luminance; light emitting diode Legibility: The ease in which a sign can be read or deciphered Luminance: A measure of the brightness of a luminous surface NYSDOT VMS Guidelines v December 2018 Message : All the characters, numerals, and symbols or a graphic image used to convey a warning or instruction, including all panels in two-phase or multi-phase operation Missing Person Alerts: Alerts related to Missing Adult Alerts, Missing Child Alerts and Missing College Student Alerts Module.

9 A board that consists of a fixed number of pixels that, when arranged with other boards, makes up the line or panel of a VMS sign Multi-phase: Any Message that requires more than two panels Panel: The physical part of a sign, which displays the Message ; also used to reference a part of a Message that is held by one panel, as in a two-phase or multi-phase Message Phase: One panel of a two-panel or multi-panel Message , and the display time for that panel. When talking about a single panel, the terms phase and panel are often used interchangeably. Queue: A waiting line (of vehicles); the area of congested traffic upstream of a bottleneck or incident scene Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again, or typically, congestion that occurs on a regular basis Rubbernecking: Slowing down to look at some incident or distraction Secondary crash: Crashes that occur in the queue of an initial crash Skew: To turn aside, or to one side; slanting.

10 Oblique Special Event: A sporting event, concert, or other event likely to attract large numbers of attendees, potentially causing heavy traffic or congestion Taper: A section of cones laid out to divert vehicles out of a lane, shoulder, or away from an obstruction Target Value: How well a VMS attracts the motorists attention Traveled Way: The portion of the roadway for the movement of vehicles, excluding shoulders Two-phase: Any Message that requires two panels Unit of Information: Typically, one to four words of text and usually occupying one line on a VMS phase Upstream: Against, or in the same direction of traffic, but ahead or in advance of a certain location Variable Message Sign: Defined in Section of the MUTCD as a traffic control device that is capable of displaying one or more alternative messages ; also called Dynamic Message Sign or Changeable Message Sign NYSDOT VMS Guidelines vi December 2018 ACRONYMS ACRONYM MEANING AMBER.