Benefit of the Month

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In Colorado, an automated commercial vehicle pre-screening system installed at three ports of entry check stations saved 48,200 gallons of fuel per month. Read more...

Archive

October, 2009

In Los Angeles, transit signal priority reduced total transit travel time by approximately 25 percent.(July 2001)

September, 2009

Signal retiming projects in several U.S. and Canadian cities decreased delay by 13 to 94 percent, and improved travel times by 7 to 25 percent.(April 2004)

August, 2009

In Myrtle Creek, Oregon, an advanced curve speed warning system installed on I-5 reduced the speed of 76 percent of drivers surveyed.(June 2006)

July, 2009

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, fixed-route scheduling software improved operations by saving approximately 60 hours per week in operator labor, resulting in a savings of approximately $62,000 per year.(10 June 2008)

June, 2009

Modeling data indicated that an automated work zone information system deployed on I-5 near Los Angeles contributed to a 4.3 percent increase in diversions and an 81 percent increase in average network speed.(9-13 January 2005)

May, 2009

In Georgia, the NaviGAtor incident management program reduced annual fuel consumption by 6.83 million gallons, and contributed to decreased emissions: 2,457 tons less Carbon monoxide, 186 tons less hydrocarbons, and 262 tons less Nitrous oxides.(August 2006)

April, 2009

An evaluation of scheduling software for the paratransit service in Billings, Montana found that the break-even point for savings as a result of the software implementation was a three percent improvement in efficiency.(May 2, 2007)

March, 2009

The Columbus Electronic Freight Management system reduced total transit time of an air-freight supply chain from 96 hours to 82 hours (14 percent) and saved $5.94 per shipment in labor costs across the entire supply chain by reducing paper work.(June 2008)

February, 2009

A Kansas DOT survey of State and local transportation agencies found that AVL applications for highway maintenance can have benefit-to-cost ratios ranging from 2.6:1 to 24:1 or higher.(January 2004)

January, 2009

In North Carolina, Smart Work Zone systems increased alternate route usage by 10 to 15 percent when specific delay and alternate route information was posted on roadside dynamic message signs.(September 2004)

December, 2008

In Salt Lake City, Utah, staff meteorologists stationed at a TOC provided detailed weather forecast data to winter maintenance personnel, reducing costs for snow and ice control activities, and yielding a benefit-to-cost ratio of 10:1.(February 2007)

November, 2008

Outside San Francisco, a transit-based smart parking system contributed to an increase in transit mode share, a decrease in commute time and a reduction in total VMT.(December 2006. )

October, 2008

In St. Paul, Minnesota, an advanced parking management system reduced travel times by nine percent.(January 2007)

September, 2008

In Florida, the addition of Open Road Tolling (ORT) to an existing Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) mainline toll plaza decreased crashes by an estimated 22 to 26 percent.(21-25 January 2007)

August, 2008

Evaluation data show that adaptive signal control strategies can improve travel times in comparison to optimized signal timing plans.(2 February 2005)

May, 2008

Trucks equipped with collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and advanced braking systems have the potential to reduce truck-initiated rear-end crashes by up to 28 percent.(1/5/2007)

April, 2008

Congestion charging in London resulted in pollutant emission reductions: 8 percent for oxides of nitrogen, 7 percent for airborne particulate matter, and 16 percent for carbon dioxide.(July 2007)

March, 2008

In Oregon, approximately 90 percent of motorists surveyed indicated that they would slow down in response to messages displayed by an automated high wind warning system.(February 2006)

February, 2008

In Denver, transit AVL decreased early and late arrivals by 12 and 21 percent, respectively.(August 2000)

January, 2008

Winter maintenance personnel indicated that anti-icing techniques limit snow/ice bonding on roadways, improve plow efficiency, reduce the time required to clear snow/ice from roadways, reduce maintenance costs (overtime pay and materials), and reduce the need for abrasive cleanup activities.(March 2001)

December, 2007

In Vantage, Washington an automated anti-icing system installed on I-90 had a benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.36:1, with benefits including fewer winter weather-related crashes and more efficient use of abrasives.(7-11 January 2001)

November, 2007

HAZMAT safety and security technologies can have tremendous societal cost savings well beyond the break even point for benefits and costs.(11 November 2004)

October, 2007

In Oakland County, Michigan a two-phase project to retime 640 traffic signals resulted in a benefit-cost ratio of 175:1 for the first phase and 55:1 for the second.(November/December 2004)

September, 2007

In Houston, a survey of motorists found that 85 percent of respondents changed their route after viewing real-time travel time information on freeway dynamic message signs.(May 2005)

August, 2007

An I-40 work zone in Arkansas equipped with an automated work zone information system had fewer fatal crashes compared to similar sites without the technology.(12-16 January 2003)

July, 2007

Congestion pricing in London decreases inner city traffic by about 20 percent and generates more than £97 million each year for transit improvements.(January 2006)

June, 2007

Freeway lane reversal improved traffic volumes by 44% following South Carolina hurricane.

May, 2007

In Kentucky, 94% of travelers surveyed said they were satisfied with the information provided by 511 Tourism Service operators.

April, 2007

A dynamic lane merge system reduced aggressive driving by smoothing traffic flow at merge points in a work zone outside Detroit.

March, 2007

North Carolina estimates indicated that work zone delay messages reduced maximum traffic backups by 56 percent cutting traveler delay in half.

February, 2007

Driver assistance technologies for bus rapid transit are shown to be cost-effective.

December, 2006

TMC-dispatched motorist assistance patrols can reduce incident duration and secondary crashes by 69%.

November, 2006

Freeway service patrol programs that enlist full-time support reduce incident duration by 15 to 30 percent over programs with part-time staff.

October, 2006

In Tysons Corner, Virginia, optimized signal timing reduced delay by approximately 22 percent.

September, 2006

More than 70% of truck drivers surveyed on a rural Interstate highway in northern California indicated that messages displayed by an advanced curve warning system were helpful.

August, 2006

Maryland’s CHART incident management program resulted in an estimated 377 fewer secondary crashes in 2002.

July, 2006

Automated Work Zone Information System updates travelers with real-time work zone traveler information on I-15 in Devore, California; reduces peak-hour traffic delays by up to 50%.

June, 2006

Conditional transit signal priority helps buses arrive on time and minimizes impact on other traffic.

May, 2006

In-vehicle lane departure warning systems could reduce road-departure crashes by 10% each year.

April, 2006

The WashDOT road/weather information website (rWeather) provided a broad variety of useful information to winter road maintenance personnel.

March, 2006

Drivers who use route-specific travel time information instead of wide-area traffic advisories can improve on-time performance by 5-13%.

February, 2006

Regional incident management teams reduce average incident duration by approximately 20 minutes on interstate highways.

January, 2006

Dynamic message signs that warn drivers of high winds and harsh driving conditions can reduce traffic speeds by 16% and improve uniformity of traffic flow.

December, 2005

Electronic toll collection systems reduce environmentally harmful emissions 16 to 63% at toll plazas.

November, 2005

In Montana, weigh-in-motion scales in travel lanes can improve pavement fatigue estimates and save $4.1 million per year in construction costs.

October, 2005

Adaptive signal control systems equipped with transit signal priority can reduce delay on both mainlines and cross streets.

September, 2005

Freeway management systems that detect congestion, initiate lane controls, and warn drivers of slow traffic can decrease accident rates by 23%.

August, 2005

Electronic supply chain manifest systems reduce the amount of time carriers spend processing manifests and transferring loads from one mode to another by more than 50%.

July, 2005

Electronic border clearance can ease pre-approved carriers through customs 50% faster.

June, 2005

Simulation study predicts use of automated decision support tools can decrease travel times by up to 29%.

May, 2005

Dynamic message signs reduce risk at railroad crossings; warn drivers of "Second Train Coming."

April, 2005

Fog warning system promotes uniform traffic flow among vehicles; aids travel safety.

March, 2005

511 traveler and weather information system receives high satisfaction ratings.

February, 2005

Trucking companies say highway advisory radio and road weather information systems made them safer.

January, 2005

Traffic and travel time information posted on dynamic message signs frequently help Wisconsin travelers to adjust travel routes.

December, 2004

Electronic screening techniques that promote compliance with commercial vehicle safety inspections have the potential to prevent thousands of truck accidents each year.

November, 2004

Users give Virginia’s 511 service high marks; nearly half adjust travel plans based on 511’s information.

October, 2004

90% of visitors surveyed at the Acadia National Park in Maine say transit information signs made it easier to get around.

September, 2004

Optimized traffic signal control strategies reduce delays 14-19%; decrease emissions 9-13%.

August, 2004

Automatic Vehicle Location with Computer Aided Dispatch Helps Buses Arrive On-Time.

July, 2004

Automated pedestrian detection systems prevent vehicle-pedestrian conflicts; reduce dangerous crossings at crosswalks by 81%.

June, 2004

Innovative Warning System Improves Safety at Rural Intersection

May, 2004

Electronic toll collection saves New Jersey Turnpike travelers 2.1 million hours each year; reduces fuel wasted at toll stations.

April, 2004

Maryland incident management system cuts incident duration by more than half in the Baltimore-Washington region.

March, 2004

Integrated adaptive signal control, highway ramp metering, and alternative route information can help balance heavy traffic loads and improve commute times.

February, 2004

Downhill speed warnings on mountain highways warn truck drivers when to put on the brakes.

January, 2004

Highway maintenance operators use FORETELL weather information system to prepare roads for impending storms

December, 2003

Internet and Telephone Traveler Information Services Influence Commuter Behavior More Effectively than Radio/TV Broadcasts

November, 2003

Adaptive signal control systems reduce intersection delay up to 18% in Los Angeles

October, 2003

Transit Signal Priority Systems help buses arrive on time, shorten trips up to 20%

September, 2003

Safety for Truck Drivers Enhanced by Automated Inspection System

August, 2003

Work Zone Incident Durations Cut by 44% with Temporary Deployment of ITS Services

June, 2003

Incident Notification Time Cut by Two-Thirds or More in Automated Collision Notification (ACN) Field Operational Test