Completed

This final report describes the deployment options and the recommended strategy of the deployment of a Rural Connected Vehicle system.  The intent of this effort was to identify the needs of rural users and the constraints imposed by the rural environment, and to conceptualize a variant of the connected vehicle system that is uniquely adapted to meet those needs given those constraints.

This project (Phase 4) continued to build off a series of projects that have been conducted by the ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study to develop planning guidance (warrants) for ITS devices. NOTE: The original term “ITS Warrants” changed to “ITS Planning Guidance” in 2014 to eliminate the statuatory/legal implications association with the publication of official warrants. The guidance was developed to assist agencies with ITS device deployment decisions and site selection.

• Phase 1: ITS Planning Guidance was developed for the following devices: Closed Circuit Television, Dynamic Message Signs, Highway Advisory Radio and Road Weather Information Systems.
• Phase 2: ITS Planning Guidance was developed for the following devices: Variable Speed Limit Signs, Dynamic Speed Display Signs, Curve Warning Systems, Ramp Meters and Intelligent Work Zones.
• Phase 3: This phase documented the activities ENTERPRISE conducted as owner and maintainer of the ITS planning guidance to assist in identifying potential organizations for transitioning the guidance. After the ENTERPRISE Board reviewed the different options for one organization to maintain the ITS Device Planning Guidance, it was agreed that ENTERPRISE should continue to own and maintain the warrants and partner with organizations to review the warrants. In Phase 3, ITS Planning Guidance was also developed for Intersection Conflict Warning Systems.

ENTERPRISE has continued to test and refine the warrants while exploring industry acceptance for the concept. Based on the recommendation from Phase 3, in 2013 ENTERPRISE presented the ITS Device Guidance to the AASHTO Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering (SCOTE). In June 2013 SCOTE approved a resolution to review the ITS planning guidance work completed by the ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund . From October 2013 to July 2014 a task force of SCOTE representatives worked with ENTERPRISE through a number of webinars to provide detailed modifications and comments on the guidelines to ENTERPRISE for consideration.

The purpose of this project (Phase 4) was to continue to work with the SCOTE subcommittee to:

• Update the ITS planning guidance documentation and website based on recommendations from SCOTE and
• Review and prioritize suggested enhancements to the ITS planning guidance suggested by SCOTE and ENTERPRISE to develop a list of enhancements to be completed within this project.

The enhancements and modifications to the planning guidelines from this project (Phase 4) were included in the ITS planning guidance final report. The final report includes background on how the planning guidelines were developed and the text for each of the device planning guidelines in one document. The modifications were also incorporated on the website.

Website

The ITS Planning Guidelines developed by ENTERPRISE are available at: http://enterprise.prog.org/itswarrants/. The website includes background information of the development of the guidelines, instructions on how to use the guidelines, and the guidelines for the ten (10) devices developed to date.

Wireless communication has changed dramatically since the late 1800s when the first wireless communication began via the photophone and radio transmissions. Significant progress has been made over the past decade in improving the breadth and quality of cellular coverage yet challenges still remain with using such communication in rural areas to support ITS devices. Satellite service can be an alternative with greater potential coverage but also greater cost than cellular communication. Radio communication is yet another alternative but with limitations such as line of sight.

In addition to not having a clear understanding of which communication to use with ITS devices in rural areas, ENTERPRISE members expressed concerns about high costs and low reliability. These issues can be even more challenging during disaster situations when information needs to be exchanged across rural areas and traditional networks may be unavailable.

The ENTERPRISE FY2014 Work Plan included a project “Demonstrate and Evaluate Rural Communications to Support Rural ITS” that outlined an initiative to identify, demonstrate, and evaluate one or more emerging communication technologies that could be used by transportation agencies to communicate
with ITS devices in rural areas. Per direction from the ENTERPRISE Board, the project was separated into two phases in order to properly assess issues and potential solutions before coordinating a deployment and evaluation.

• Phase 1: Gather information about issues and potential solutions for communications to ITS devices in rural areas and develop a scope of work for Phase 2.
• Phase 2: Conduct the agreed upon scope developed in Phase 1, such as coordinating a demonstration of rural communications mechanisms and conducting an evaluation.

Phase 1, documented in this project, first gathered information about issues and potential solutions for communications to ITS devices in rural areas. A literature scan was conducted to determine whether adequate published literature exists to support transportation agencies in their selection of wireless communication for ITS devices, particularly in rural areas. This scan of published resources did not yield a substantive set of resources that could provide adequate guidance for understanding which communication to use with ITS devices in rural areas. Therefore, interviews were conducted with personnel from selected ENTERPRISE member agencies to gather information about challenges, as well as solutions implemented, for rural communications. The interviews yielded valuable information about a number of rural communications options and solutions, key issues, including potential options for the Phase 2 scope of work. At the April 2015 in-person ENTERPRISE Board meeting, three options for the Phase 2 demonstration/evaluation were identified. A survey of ENTERPRISE board members was then conducted to rate the options and to guide the Board’s decision. The Phase 2 scope of work reflects priorities determined by the ENTERPRISE Board to be accomplished during the remainder of the “Demonstrate and Evaluate Rural Communications to Support Rural ITS” project.

Related Links:

• Communications to Support Rural ITS – Phase 2

Outreach and communications efforts that are designed to disseminate new information and exchange experiences are critical to advancing the state of practice in transportation. The ENTERPRISE pooled fund program, with the collective experience of its agency members and the wealth of information produced by its project findings, is a key source of expertise for the development, application, and deployment of ITS.

It is possible that ENTERPRISE project results may not reach individuals who could benefit from the findings. This project explored the potential for ENTERPRISE project results to be disseminated more broadly (e.g. ITS professional organizations, catalogued in transportation libraries and databases so they are more easily accessed via search engines). These steps will attempt to reach a wider audience, increase the impact of ENTERPRISE’s work, more effectively contribute to the state of practice in ITS, help reduce duplication of effort on ITS-related investigations/research, and increase the likelihood that products and findings will be utilized by the transportation community.

After collecting information about each of the distribution options (submittal requirements and processes, audiences served, associated costs), the ENTERPRISE Executive Board reviewed the findings, discussed costs and benefits, and determined a future course of action. A full summary of the decisions for future distribution of project information, including an action plan and costs are included in the Project Summary Report.

The traveling public has many options for traveler information, including 511 phone systems, traveler information websites, and applications that can be downloaded for a variety of popular mobile devices (mobile apps).  In an effort to understand the role that mobile apps play in the industry, the ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study researched traffic safety and traveler information apps published by private and public sector agencies.

This ENTERPRISE project “Traffic Safety and Traveler Information Apps” focused on understanding two specific types of mobile device apps: traveler information apps that disseminate real-time information to help improve the mobility and safety of users; and safety apps that are intended to deter unsafe actions, such as inattentive driving. 

This final summary report for this project documents the features and functions of mobile device apps operated by many state and provincial Departments of Transportation (DOTs), as well as those operated by private companies.  It is important to note that the functions and features of mobile apps are constantly changing and even as the report was developed additional features may have been added to the apps. In addition interviews were conducted with personnel from DOTs to help understand the motivation behind the development and operation of the traveler information mobile apps, and to understand the unique role these apps play in each DOT’s traveler information system.

Intersection crashes continue to represent a significant share of transportation fatalities and serious injuries throughout the country. In addition to intersection lighting, signing and geometric improvements, organizations have turned to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) as another tool for improving safety. Over the past several years, a variety of mainline and cross street oriented intersection conflict warning systems (ICWS) have been developed and tested in many states across the country. Some systems have been developed using local expertise, while others have been supported by the USDOT Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance Systems program. No specific guidance has been available for these systems in regard to placement, size, messaging, failsafe, etc. This has resulted in a fairly broad range of approaches and with the states’ growing experience there is now an opportunity to work together in moving toward standardization.

The purpose of the project was to continue coordination with national standards groups, industry associations and other pooled fund programs that have been engaged through the ENTERPRISE ICWS work. Phase 3 also continued to provide ICWS deployment support to ENTERPRISE members.

Webinar Series

A series of webinars were hosted by ENTERPRISE throughout 2015. They were designed to facilitate peer exchange on both introductory and advanced topics. For more information about the webinars contact Ginny Crowson at crowson@acconsultants.org.

Webinar 4 – ICWS Advice from the Experts
November 17, 2015 
This final webinar featured a panel of experts from Design Electric, WSB, Iowa Department of Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation and St. Louis County Minnesota. Panelists offered expert advice about ICWS regarding design, construction, operation and maintenance.
Webinar Presentation
Webinar Recording

Webinar 3 – Liability, Reliability and Credibility – Challenges for ICWS
June 25, 2015, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Central) 
Jon Jackels from SRF Consulting discussed how reliability and credibility can be engineered into ICWS to responsibly address concerns over liability while reaping the benefits of safety.
Webinar Presentation
Webinar Recording

Webinar 2 –FHWA Development of Crash Modification Factors (DCMF) Safety Evaluation of ICWS
April 23, 2015, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Central)Scott Himes from VHB presented the results of a national safety evaluation of ICWS sponsored by the Evaluation of Low Cost Safety Improvements Pooled Fund Study.
Webinar Presentation
Webinar Recording 

Webinar 1 – ICWS 101: An Overview of the System
February 26, 2015, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Central) 
Ken Hansen from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) introduced the concept of ICWS as an ITS safety solution and describe the current state of ICWS resources and use. Ken is a senior engineer with MnDOT and is the project manager for the department’s Rural ICWS deployment project.
Webinar Presentation
Webinar Recording

Related Documents/Links

For a listing of related documents and links to this intersection conflict warning systems 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 4 – Roadmap for Next Generation Intersection Conflict Warning Systems (ICWS): This project identified and documented 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.