Key Findings
CUSTOMER NEEDS AND USAGE
Two findings were noted under
customer needs and usage:
- The importance of providing
journey time to the traveler is widely recognized, and there is a good understanding
of the value of this information to the customer. The value of journey time information
was found to be high.
- With regard to "511," no other
national three-digit number was used; however, considerable data points were
provided at several sites for call differentiation, duration, costs, impact of
charging,
etc.
INFORMATION CONTENT
Three findings were noted under
information content:
- Automated parking information
systems were available and operated in every city visited. Parking information
systems
are considered part of the traveler information environment and not
as additional services.
- Short-term traveler information
prediction for both transit and traffic are being pursued in several areas. "Next
bus" and "next train" arrival information is available on systems. Short-term
traffic condition forecasting is an EU research project, and some cities have
developed their own algorithms based on current conditions using a 5-year archive.
- Significant emphasis is put
on collecting and providing quality data as the foundation of a sound traveler
information system. Sweden has developed specific data quality documentation
to
improve the data collection process. The data gap perceived in the United States
also exists in Europe, and the need to address the gap was confirmed by the findings
of this scan tour.
BUSINESS/COST RECOVERY MODELS
Several observations were noted
about business/cost recovery models for traveler information systems:
- The state departments of transportation
provide guidance on national policies on traveler information. National
traveler information databases are generally being pursued and are under development.
- Several business models were
of interest. Spain and Glasgow use a strong, public-sector model. Berlin
and the U.K. Highway
Agency's TCC and Munich are following strong public-private
partnership models. Sweden allows for private-sector opportunities within its
traveler
information framework.
- Establishing a sustainable traveler
information system requires integration of information. Multimodal and multiagency
cooperation are critical for successful deployment of ATIS.
- Transportation service operator-based
call centers are far more extensive than in the United States. Spain, Sweden,
and especially the United Kingdom have extensive call center systems
in operation.
- The delivery of in-vehicle information
is much more prominent in Europe than in the United States. RDS-TMC and
the TrafficMaster service provide traveler information to thousands of vehicles.
- As for the customer needs and
use of "511," Spain uses "012" as a general information number, with traffic
information as a selection. No other national three-digit number was used; however,
considerable data points were provided at several sites for call differentiation,
duration, costs, impact of charging, etc., for toll-free and for-fee travel information
telephone advisory services.
- Small-scale, innovative business
models are tested in a discreet way, almost on a pilot project basis before
being
considered for larger deployment.
QUALITY MEASURES
The major finding with regard
to quality measures is the commitment to measuring and improving the quality
of traveler
information collection and delivery. In most cases, the sites start with quantitative
measures and then move (or plan to move) to qualitative measures. In particular,
Sweden has developed specific data quality documentation to improve the data
collection process.
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
There were multiple findings about
technology applications:
- As observed by previous scan
tours, the application of multiple colors and symbols on dynamic signs appears
to improve
message transfer and understanding among commuters. This technology should
be researched for short-term application in the United States. Over and above
the use of multicolor symbols on freeway DMS, further specific applications
are being tested in Munich, including DMS to indicate traffic conditions along
the ring road and map-type DMS to indicate travel time along alternative
routes.
- As a result of the search for
improved and expanded data collection, advanced detection techniques are pursued
and tested at most sites. Examples include research and testing of technologies
and techniques to use vehicles as probes or the use of video technologies
to match vehicles. More work should be done in the United States to explore
these techniques.
- Automated parking information
systems were available and operating in every city visited.
- Real-time information delivery
mechanisms are used extensively, from input to modeling for transportation
planning purposes, to transit arrival time dissemination, and other applications.
- The delivery of in-vehicle information
is prominent in Europe.
INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL CONSISTENCY
ISSUES AND STANDARDS
Specific findings applied to international/national
consistency issues and standards:
- Standards conformance or development
was not a major discussion point at any of the sites. There was an acknowledgment,
however, of the need for and use of standards and of the work of various
standards groups.
- The consistent use of multiple
colors and symbols on dynamic signs appears to improve message transfer and
understanding
among commuters and warrants addressing in the United States.
- Establishing a sustainable traveler
information system requires integration of information. A good example is
the integrated auto/transit ATIS in Barcelona.
- The data gap perceived in the
United States also exists in Europe, and findings of this scan tour
confirmed the need
to address this gap.
POLICY/INSTITUTIONAL/LEGAL
ASPECTS
The following findings, some of
which were mentioned earlier, also relate to policy/institutional/legal aspects:
- As can be expected, the traveler
information policies varied by country, depending on the government (i.e.,
form
of government-socialist, federal republic, etc.).
- National policies on traveler
information exist as a model where the state department of transportation
will
provide guidance. A top-down approach is followed. National traveler information
databases are generally being pursued and are under development.
- Establishing a sustainable traveler
information system requires integration of information. A good example is
the integrated auto/transit ATIS in Barcelona.
- The data gap also exists in
Europe, and the scan tour findings confirm the need to address this gap.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The panel offers the following
initial recommendations:
- The concept of "infostructure" is
supported and reinforced by the scan team findings. Give infostructure greater
priority and expand it locally to include historic, real-time, and predictive
algorithms and data collection.
- Apply additional resources to
close the data gap and improve the quality of traveler information.
- Incorporate
the principle of
traveler information into agency and corporate mission(s).
- Emphasize the institutionalization
of traveler information within transportation management systems and organizations.
- Continue
to pursue deployment
of a national traveler information database that is comprehensive, multimodal,
and
sustainable.
- Monitor the deployment and progress
of ongoing European projects.
- Increase the delivery of travel/journey
time information systems. Deployment might need to be phased depending
on research and technologies. An event to discuss methods to gather data
supporting travel/journey times should be arranged within 1 year.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
A short-term implementation strategy
is described below:
- Arrange an international conference
on journey data and data collection techniques at the ITS World Congress
in Chicago in October 2002. Estimated cost is $20,000.00.
- Establish a national transit
timetable and schedule. Establish a steering committee for a future forum
on
national timetable and schedule information. The forum could be arranged possibly
in cooperation (co-funding) with the I-95 Corridor Coalition or at the APTA
meeting in July 2002. APTA might take the lead in steering committee matters.
Tentative cost estimate for steering committee activities is $20,000.00.
- Invite three European experts
to the "511" deployment launch in Phoenix, Arizona, in March 2002. Estimated
cost
is $15,000.00.
- Investigate the U.S. adoption
of international symbols; initiate a pilot implementation and National Cooperative
Highway Research Program/Transit Cooperative Research Program research.
- Investigate signage techniques,
including innovative technology, colors, and symbols through research, pilot
projects, new or revised standards, and inclusion in the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices.
- Establish standards for quality
and performance of travel information systems.
- Regional architectures development
processes should explicitly address multimodal, integrated ATIS, and
standards.