ATMS06-Traffic Information Dissemination (Service Package*)

Description

This service package provides driver information using roadway equipment such as dynamic message signs or highway advisory radio. A wide range of information can be disseminated including traffic and road conditions, closure and detour information, travel restrictions, incident information, and emergency alerts and driver advisories. This package provides information to drivers at specific equipped locations on the road network. Careful placement of the roadway equipment provides the information at points in the network where the drivers have recourse and can tailor their routes to account for the new information. This package also covers the equipment and interfaces that provide traffic information from a traffic management center to the media (for instance via a direct tie-in between a traffic management center and radio or television station computer systems), Transit Management, Emergency Management, and Information Service Providers. A link to the Maintenance and Construction Management subsystem allows real time information on road/bridge closures and restrictions due to maintenance and construction activities to be disseminated. The sharing of transportation operations data described in this service package also supports other services like ATMS09- Traffic Decision Support and Demand Management.

Graphic
Equipment Packages
Flows
Goals and Objectives
ITS Applications
User Services
Transaction Set

Service Package Graphic

Get the Source Graphic, a Windows Metafile (WMF), in ZIP format.
About this Graphic

Includes Equipment Packages and Subsystems:

Equipment Package	Subsystem
Roadway Equipment Coordination	Roadway
Roadway Traffic Information Dissemination	Roadway
TMC Traffic Information Dissemination	Traffic Management

Includes Architecture Flows:

Source	Architecture Flow	Destination	In Graphic
Border Inspection Systems	border wait times data	Traffic Management	Yes
Maintenance and Construction Management	current asset restrictions	Traffic Management	Yes
Other Roadway	roadway equipment coordination	Roadway	Yes
Roadway	broadcast advisories	Basic Vehicle	Yes
Roadway	driver information	Driver	Yes
Roadway	roadway equipment coordination	Other Roadway	Yes
Roadway	roadway information system status	Traffic Management	Yes
Traffic Management	road network conditions	Emergency Management	Yes
Traffic Management	road network conditions	Information Service Provider	Yes
Traffic Management	traffic images	Information Service Provider	Yes
Traffic Management	traffic information for media	Media	Yes
Traffic Management	roadway information system data	Roadway	Yes
Traffic Management	traffic operator data	Traffic Operations Personnel	Yes
Traffic Management	road network conditions	Transit Management	Yes
Traffic Management	traffic images	Transit Management	Yes
Traffic Operations Personnel	traffic operator inputs	Traffic Management	Yes

Associated Planning Factors and Goals

Planning Factor	Goal
A. Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;	Support regional economic productivity and development
B. Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;	Improve the safety of the transportation system
D. Increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight;	Enhance mobility, convenience, and comfort for transportation system users
E. Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;	Reduce environmental impacts
G. Promote efficient system management and operation;	Increase operational efficiency and reliability of the transportation system

Associated Objective Categories

Objective Category
Arterial Management: Reliability
Emergency/Incident Management: Person Hours of Delay
Emergency/Incident Management: Traveler Information
Emergency/Incident Management: Use of Technology
Freeway Management: Efficiency
Freeway Management: Reliability
Freeway Management: Transportation Management Centers
Freight Management: Detours and Routing
Freight Management: Travel Time Reliability
Special Event Management: Traveler Information
Special Event Management: Use of Technology
System Efficiency: Cost of Congestion
System Efficiency: Delay
System Efficiency: Duration of Congestion
System Efficiency: Energy Consumption
System Efficiency: Extent of Congestion
System Efficiency: Intensity of Congestion (Travel Time Index)
System Efficiency: Travel Time
System Reliability: Non-Recurring Delay
System Reliability: Planning Time Index
System Reliability: Travel Time 90th/95th Percentile
System Reliability: Travel Time Buffer Index
System Reliability: Variability
Travel Weather Management: Disseminating Information
Traveler Information: Information Dissemination
Work Zone Management: Traveler Information

Associated Objectives and Performance Measures

Objective	Performance Measure
Annual rate of change in regional average commute travel time will not exceed regional rate of population growth through the year Y.	Average commute trip travel time (minutes).
Decrease the average buffer index for (multiple routes or trips) by X percent over Y years.	The buffer index represents the extra time (buffer) most travelers add to their average travel time when planning trips. This is the extra time between the average travel time and near-worst case travel time (95th percentile). The buffer index is stated as a percentage of the average travel time. Average buffer index or buffer time can be calculated using miles traveled as a weighting factor. Buffer time = 95th percentile travel time (min) – average travel time (min).
Decrease the buffer index for (specific travel routes) by X percent over the next Y years.	The buffer index represents the extra time (buffer) most travelers add to their average travel time when planning trips. This is the extra time between the average travel time and near-worst case travel time (95th percentile). The buffer index is stated as a percentage of the average travel time. Average buffer index or buffer time can be calculated using miles traveled as a weighting factor. Buffer time = 95th percentile travel time (min) – average travel time (min).
Improve average travel time during peak periods by X percent by year Y.	Average travel time during peak periods (minutes).
Increase number of ITS-related assets (e.g., roadside cameras, dynamic message signs, vehicle speed detectors) in use for incident and emergency detection by X in Y years.	Number of ITS-related assets in use for incident detection.
Increase number of regional road miles covered by ITS-related assets (e.g., roadside cameras, dynamic message signs, vehicle speed detectors) in use for incident detection by X percent in Y years.	Number of regional roadway miles covered by ITS-related assets in use for incident detection.
Increase the accuracy and completeness of traveler information posted (on variable message signs, websites, and/or web 2.0 technologies) by reducing the number of incomplete and inaccurate reports by X percent in Y years.	Number of complaints received from system users about inaccurate or missing information.
Increase the level of transportation management center (TMC) field hardware (cameras, variable message signs, electronic toll tag readers, ITS applications, etc.) by X percent by year Y.	Total amount of TMC equipment.
Increase the methods of effectively disseminating special event information to travelers by X percent in Y years (e.g., media releases, highway advisory radio, dynamic message signs, commercial AM and FM radio).	Number of effective methods to disseminate special event information to travelers.
Increase the percent of major special events using ITS-related assets (e.g., roadside cameras, dynamic message signs, vehicle speed detectors) to detect and manage special event entry/exit bottlenecks and incidents by X percent in Y years.	Percent of special events using ITS-related assets to detect and manage incidents/bottlenecks at entry/exit routes of the events.
Increase the percentage of planned special events (with attendance above Z) with information on anticipated and actual travel conditions being disseminated to the traveling public at least X hours prior to the event.	Percent of special events with expected attendance over Z that traveler information is disseminated at least X hours prior to the event.
Maintain the rate of growth in facility miles experiencing recurring congestion as less than the population growth rate (or employment growth rate).	Percent of lane-miles (or rail) operating at LOS F or V/C > 1.0
Provide freight operators with traveler alerts and alternate routes in the case of incidents, special events, weather, construction, and severe congestion at choke points on X percent of freight-significant routes by year Y.	Percent of freight-significant routes where traveler alerts and alternate route information is provided in the case of incidents, special events, weather, construction, and severe congestion at choke points.
Provide traveler information regarding work zones using variable message signs (VMS), 511, traveler information websites, and/or Web 2.0 technologies for at least X percent of work zones on major arterials, freeways, and transit routes over the next Y years.	Percent of work zones on major arterials, freeways, and transit routes for which traveler information is available via variable message signs (VMS), 511, traveler information websites, and/or Web 2.0 technologies.
Reduce buffer index on arterials during peak and off-peak periods by X percent in Y years.	The buffer index (represents the extra time (buffer) travelers add to their average travel time when planning trips in order to arrive on-time 95 percent of the time).
Reduce buffer index on regional freight routes during peak and off-peak periods by X percent in Y years.	Buffer Index on regional freight routes during peak and off-peak period.
Reduce buffer index on the freeway system during peak and off-peak periods by X percent in Y years.	The buffer index (represents the extra time (buffer) travelers add to their average travel time when planning trips in order to arrive on-time 95 percent of the time).
Reduce delay associated with incidents on arterials by X percent by year Y.	Hours of delay associated with incidents.
Reduce delay associated with incidents on the freeway system by X percent by year Y.	Hours of delay associated with incidents.
Reduce excess fuel consumed due to congestion by X percent by year Y.	Excess fuel consumed (total or per capita).
Reduce hours of delay per capita by X percent by year Y.	Hours of delay (person-hours).
Reduce hours of delay per capita by X percent by year Y.	Hours of delay per capita.
Reduce hours of delay per driver by X percent by year Y.	Hours of delay (person-hours).
Reduce hours of delay per driver by X percent by year Y.	Hours of delay per driver.
Reduce the 90th (or 95th) percentile travel times for each route selected by X percent over Y years.	95th or 90th percentile travel times for selected routes.
Reduce the annual monetary cost of congestion per capita for the next X years.	Cost (in dollars) of congestion or delay per capita.
Reduce the average buffer time needed to arrive on-time for 95 percent of trips on (specified routes) by X minutes over Y years.	The buffer index represents the extra time (buffer) most travelers add to their average travel time when planning trips. This is the extra time between the average travel time and near-worst case travel time (95th percentile). The buffer index is stated as a percentage of the average travel time. Average buffer index or buffer time can be calculated using miles traveled as a weighting factor. Buffer time = 95th percentile travel time (min) – average travel time (min).
Reduce the average of the 90th (or 95th) percentile travel times for (a group of specific travel routes or trips in the region) by X minutes in Y years.	95th or 90th percentile travel times for selected routes.
Reduce the average planning time for (specific routes in region) by X minutes over the next Y years.	The planning time index represents the time that must be added to travel time at free-flow speeds or the posted speed limit to ensure on time arrivals for 95 percent of the trips. Planning time = 95th percentile travel time (minutes) – Travel time at free-flow speed or posted speed limit. Average planning time index or planning time can be computed using a weighted average over person miles traveled.
Reduce the average planning time index for (specific routes in region) by X (no units) over the next Y years.	The planning time index represents the time that must be added to travel time at free-flow speeds or the posted speed limit to ensure on time arrivals for 95 percent of the trips. Planning time = 95th percentile travel time (minutes) – Travel time at free-flow speed or posted speed limit. Average planning time index or planning time can be computed using a weighted average over person miles traveled.
Reduce the daily hours of recurring congestion on major freeways from X to Y by year Z.	Hours per day at LOS F or V/C > 1.0 (or other threshold).
Reduce the number of hours per day that the top 20 most congested roadways experience recurring congestion by X percent by year Y.	Hours per day at LOS F or V/C > 1.0 (or other threshold).
Reduce the number of person hours (or vehicle hours) of delay experienced by travelers on the freeway system.	Hours of delay (vehicle-hours or person-hours).
Reduce the number of person hours (or vehicle hours) of delay experienced by travelers on the freeway system.	Hours of delay per capita or driver.
Reduce the percentage of facility miles (highway, arterial, rail, etc.) experiencing recurring congestion during the peak period by X percent by year Y.	Percent of lane-miles (or rail) operating at LOS F or V/C > 1.0
Reduce the person hours (or vehicle hours) of total delay associated with traffic incidents by X percent over Y years.	Person hours (or vehicle hours) of delay associated with traffic incidents.
Reduce the regional average travel time index by X percent per year.	Travel time index (the average travel time during the peak period, using congested speeds, divided by the off-peak period travel time, using posted or free-flow speeds).
Reduce the share of freeway miles at Level of Service (LOS) X by Y by year Z.	Miles at LOS X or V/C > 1.0 (or other threshold).
Reduce the share of major intersections operating at LOS Z by X percent by year Y.	Percent of intersections operating at LOS F or V/C > 1.0
Reduce the time between recovery from incident and removal of traveler alerts for that incident.	Time between recovery from incident and removal of traveler alerts.
Reduce the variability of travel time on specified routes by X percent during peak and off-peak periods by year Y.	Variance of travel time. Variance is the sum of the squared deviations from the mean. This can also be calculated as the standard deviation of travel time. Standard deviation is the square root of variance.
Reduce time between incident/emergency verification and posting a traveler alert to traveler information outlets (e.g., variable message signs, agency website, 511 system) by X minutes in Y years.	Time to alert motorists of an incident/emergency.
Reduce time to alert travelers of travel weather impacts (using variable message signs, 511, road weather information systems, public information broadcasts, the agency's website, Web 2.0 technologies, etc.) by X (time period or percent) in Y years.	Time from beginning of weather event to posting of traveler information on (variable message signs, 511, Road Weather Information Systems, public information broadcasts etc.).
Reduce time to alert travelers of travel weather impacts (using variable message signs, 511, road weather information systems, public information broadcasts, the agency's website, Web 2.0 technologies, etc.) by X (time period or percent) in Y years.	Time from beginning of weather event to posting of traveler information on agency website.
Reduce total energy consumption per capita for transportation by X percent by year Y.	Total energy consumed per capita for transportation.
Reduce total fuel consumption per capita for transportation by X percent by year Y.	Total fuel consumed per capita for transportation.
Reduce total person hours of delay (or travel-time delay per capita) by time period (peak, off-peak) caused by all transient events such as traffic incidents, special events, and work zones.	Total person hours of delay during scheduled and/or unscheduled disruptions to travel.
Reduce total person hours of delay (or travel-time delay per capita) by time period (peak, off-peak) caused by scheduled events, work zones, or system maintenance by x hours in y years.	Travel time delay during scheduled and/or unscheduled disruptions to travel.
Reduce total person hours of delay (or travel-time delay per capita) by time period (peak, off-peak) caused by unscheduled disruptions to travel.	Total person hours of delay during scheduled and/or unscheduled disruptions to travel.

Since the mapping between objectives and service packages is not always straight-forward and often situation-dependent, these mappings should only be used as a starting point. Users should do their own analysis to identify the best service packages for their region.

Related ITS Applications of ITS Taxonomy

Classification	Category	ITS Application Area	ITS Application(s)
Intelligent Infrastructure	Arterial Management	Information Dissemination	Dynamic Message Signs Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Infrastructure	Freeway Management	Information Dissemination	Dynamic Message Signs Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Infrastructure	Road Weather Management	Information Dissemination - Advisory Strategies	Dynamic Message Signs Highway Advisory Radio
Intelligent Infrastructure	Roadway Operations & Maintenance	Information Dissemination	Highway Advisory Radio Portable Dynamic Message Signs

User Services related to this Service Package:

User Service
1.2 En-route Driver Information
1.6 Traffic Control
1.7 Incident Management

Transaction Set Diagram

The source graphic, a Windows Metafile (WMF), for the TSD can be downloaded here: TSD

The following discusses how the National ITS Architecture provides the transportation service described by this service package. Each numbered item describes the operation of that portion of the service package identified with the corresponding number on the transaction set diagram.

The Maintenance and Construction Management Subsystem provides current restrictions (current asset restrictions) such as height and weight restrictions to the Traffic Management Subsystem. This information can be sent when new restrictions are put in place or on a set schedule. Similarly the Border Inspection Systems sends border wait times data.
Traffic Operations Personnel can control (traffic operator inputs) the information broadcast to travelers via HAR or other broadcasting equipment. The Traffic Management Subsystem controls (roadway information system data) the equipment on the roadway that broadcast information (broadcast advisories) to Basic Vehicles.
Traffic Operations Personnel can also control (traffic operator inputs) the information displayed to travelers on dynamic message signs or other equipment along the roadway. The Traffic Management Subsystem controls (roadway information system data) the equipment on the roadway that displays information (driver information) to Drivers.
Roadway equipment can be coordinated (roadway equipment coordination) through peer-to-peer, master-slave or other configurations. Status of the roadway information equipment (roadway information system status) can be monitored by the Traffic Management Subsystem. The entire process is under the asynchronous monitoring (traffic operator data) of Traffic Operations Personnel.
Traffic Management Subsystem can share the current and/or expected use of the road network (road network conditions and traffic images) with an Information Service Provider Subsystem, Transit Management Subsystem, Emergency Management Subsystem and/or the Media. This information can be provided on a set update interval, when conditions change, or on request (request flows not included in the architecture).