01049375

Component

Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) provide dynamic en-route information to motorists regarding congestion, diversion needs, roadway status, ongoing or planned construction/maintenance activities, and incident status. The typical application of DMS in major metropolitan areas has been to deploy large message boards (e.g. 3-line, 24 characters per line) with full-matrix capability on a large sign structure at key locations regionwide. The costs to implement these signs (typically $100-150k per sign installation) has, however, limited their use to selected, priority locations. Often, due to the coverage of the signs, motorists may receive little or no key traveler information on many of their trips. In the Des Moines area, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has resolved many of the issues related to limited coverage afforded the large dynamic message boards by supplementing its six existing, available permanent DMS with 20 smaller, semi-permanent dynamic message boards. The semi-permanent (referred to as ‘side-mount’ by the DOT) are smaller in scale (typically 3-line, 8 or 10 characters per line) and cost approximately $30-35k per installation. Use of FHWA criteria and DOT-approved guidelines in defining message sets for motorists has resulted in the ability of most messages being easily and effectively displayed and understood by motorists. Owing to the success of its program in Des Moines, the DOT is deploying additional side-mount DMS in several urban areas in Eastern Iowa.

01042056

07-0718

English

14p

2007

Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting

CD-ROM

Maps; Photos

Advanced traveler information systems; Highway operations; Incident detection; Incident management; Operations; Traffic congestion; Traffic diversion; Traffic incidents; Variable message signs

Des Moines (Iowa); Iowa

Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2007 Paper #07-0718

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2007 5:18PM