Proposed real-time motorist information system for major activity center in Houston, Texas

Abstract

These improvements i n v o l v e mainlanes, frontage roads and i n t e r s e c t i o n s , and p r ov i s i o n s f o r an elevated transitway located i n t h e median o f t h e freeway. The o b j e c t i v e o f t h e m o t o r i s t information p r o j e c t i s t o provide accurate and t i m e l y information f o r Greenway Plaza employees on freeway construction, accidents, and disabled vehicles. The information on the computer d i s p l a y terminals w i l l be obtained from several commercial t r a f f i c advisory services, M o t o r i s t Assistance Program, TSDHPT courtesy p a t r o l radio, t r a n s i t a u t h o r i t y , law enforcement, and other emergency vehicles. Additional roadway c o n d i t i o n r e p o r t s and i n c i d e n t management information t h a t r e l a t e t o t r a f f i c operations w i l l be provided t o these terminals by t h e TSDHPT I n t e r i m T r a f f i c Control Center. Description TvDe and Format o f Messaqes D i sD1 aved The system i s designed t o provide roadway and t r a f f i c c o n d i t i o n i n t e x t form w i t h various c o l o r s and computer graphics techniques t o p r i o r i t i z e and categorize t h e information. Because t h e d i s p l a y terminals w i l l be used f o r t r i p planning f o r those persons already i n t h e Southwest Freeway C o r r i d o r (i.e. a t t h e Greenway Plaza terminal l o c a t i o n s ) , t h e information should be p r i o r i t i z e d f o r t h i s audience. A suggested p r i o r i t y l i s t i n g o f messages i s shown bel ow: P r i o r i t y No. 1: o I n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g lane blockages on t h e Southwest F r e e w a y ( a c c i d e n t s , c o n s t r u c t i o n , s t a l l s , maintenance). o I n c i d e n t s on access r o u t e s t o Southwest Freeway (frontage roads, ramps, cross s t r e e t s ) . o Major problems on adjacent a r t e r i a l s and cross s t r e e t s . 424 CH2789=6/89100000424$1.00 @ 1989 IEEE P r i o r i t y No. 2: o I n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g lane blockages on t h e 1-610 West Loop. P r i o r i t y No. 3: o The most severe i n c i d e n t i n v o l v i n g another urban freeway. P r i o r i t y No. 4 : o I n c i d e n t s on other freeways. P r i o r i t y No. 5: o Roadway c o n d i t i o n s (congestion) on Southwest Freeway. Place Southwest Freeway message w i t h i n a box. o Show only Southwest Freeway messages on t h e d i spl ays . o Some o t h e r mode o r combination o f the f o u r . The type o f information t o be displayed has n o t been decided a t t h i s time. However, t h e f o l l o w i n g recommendations are submitted: A l l accidents on t h e Southwest Freeway t h a t b l o c k one o r more lanes. A l l disabled vehicles on the Southwest Freeway t h a t block one o r more lanes. Any c o n s t r u c t i o n o r maintenance a c t i v i t y t h a t blocks one o r more lanes and/or a f f e c t s t h e operational e f f i c i e n c y and s a f e t y o f t h e freeway . A l l accidents on t h e 1-610 West Loop t h a t b l o c k one o r more lane...