2019

Transportation agencies across the country have deployed numerous Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) devices and systems, some of which have been in place for more than 25 years. As technology changes, it is important to evaluate these “legacy” devices and systems to determine if needs have changed; whether these devices and systems should be replaced, reused, or evolved in other ways; or whether it is beneficial to continue their operation.

The ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study conducted this research to help increase members’ understanding of agency practices for evolving and phasing out ITS devices and systems. This project documented nearly 60 case studies, including decision factors, criteria, approaches, and tools transportation agencies use to help guide decision-making when evolving and phasing out ITS devices and systems. Based on the case studies, a set of criteria and applicable tools was developed for ten common ITS devices and systems. These criteria are intended to assist agencies with identifying and navigating through multiple considerations while assessing ITS devices and systems to determine potential evolutions or eliminations. In addition, multiple overarching tools used by agencies to guide decisions for managing ITS devices and systems were documented.

Intersection Conflict Warning Systems (ICWS) are used to warn drivers on the mainline road of the presence of traffic at stop-controlled intersections and/or warn drivers at stop-controlled approaches of the presence of traffic on mainline roads. ICWS deployments are still relatively new with few deployments prior to 2010, however the number of deployments has increased in the past several years nationwide.

The ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study has completed several ICWS related projects from 2011 – 2015 including design and guidance for ICWS, system engineering documents for ICWS, and overall coordination and outreach with national standards groups, industry associations, and other pooled fund programs. Building off these previous efforts, ENTERPRISE conducted this project to identify and document issues related to the development and deployment of next-generation approaches to ICWS. This information was utilized to develop a roadmap of prioritized next steps to help guide future ICWS deployment efforts.

Related Documents/Links

For a listing of related documents and links to this intersection warning conflict systems (ICWS) ENTERPRISE project click here. For more information about the other phases of ENTERPRISE work with intersection conflict warning systems go to:

• Phase 1 – Developing Consistency in ITS Safety Solutions – Intersection Conflict Warning Systems (ICWS): The purpose of this project was to develop a consistent approach for accelerated, uniform deployment and further evaluation of intersection conflict warning systems (ICWS), and to recommend preliminary standards for MUTCD consideration. This work was initiated through a webinar and two in-person workshops. Participants included ENTERPRISE pooled fund states, other states that have deployed systems, FHWA, NCUTCD, AASHTO and NACE.
• Phase 2 – ICWS Coordination and Systems Engineering: This project furthered supported the standardization of ICWS by coordinating among the various national standards and association groups, and by developing a concept of operations and system requirements for the four types of ICWS identified in the Design and Evaluation Guidance for Intersection Conflict Warning Systems developed in Phase 1. 
• Phase 3 – ICWS Support and Outreach: This phase will continue coordination with national standards groups, industry associations and other pooled fund programs that have been engaged through the ENTERPRISE ICWS work. Phase 3 will also continue to provide ICWS deployment support to ENTERPRISE members.

In recent years, probe data generated by fleet vehicles and travelers themselves is being aggregated by third-party data providers and offered to agencies as comprehensive, real-time speed data. Before third-party data became available, the costs associated with deployment and maintenance of detectors often limited the coverage area for which state and local DOTs could monitor traffic. The benefits of this new probe/speed data include statewide coverage without the need for wide scale deployment of detectors. As many agencies have begun to use real-time speed data from third-party providers, the uses of the data have increased.

This ENTERPRISE project “Assess Speed Data for Traffic Management” first involved conducting an online search and contacting individuals at agencies to gather information on the use of real-time third-party speed data in operations. Then, these findings were analyzed to document and share common practices, challenges, and solutions to these challenges. Specifically, the objectives of this project included efforts to understand:

• Which DOTs are using the real-time speed data provided by third-party providers?
• How are DOTs using the data, especially for real-time traffic operations?
• What benefits are DOTs recognizing from the data?
• What challenges are DOTs facing (e.g., conflation of data) and how have these been addressed?
• How is speed data being combined with detector data, and what is the potential for speed data to supplement a more limited deployment of detectors for volume collection?