Commercial Operations

Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) strategies have been proposed as a composition of solutions for improving safety and optimizing vehicular and person throughput along an entire corridor. A portion of I-75 located in southeast Michigan is scheduled for extensive construction and rehabilitation. To prepare for the anticipated loss of capacity on I-75, MDOT performed a study to evaluate ICM solutions that could improve multi-modal throughput on the designated corridor located in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. The stakeholder representation included agencies responsible for the roadway networks, transit, and public safety within the designated study area. Facilitated by a transportation consultant, the stakeholders identified corridor needs, assessed the corridor infrastructure, and identified opportunities to improve travel outcomes for users of the corridor through improved inter-agency coordination and the application of technology and traveler information.

Kimley-Horn and Associates

Paper submitted for publication and presentation at the ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

New York City traffic and transit agencies wanted to expedite bus travel and
considered assessing signal priority strategies that extend the green signal, or truncate the red, to get to the next green. A study was conducted with computer simulation software, followed by
implementation of a pilot field test. The project, on Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, included
several studies, including 1) just transit signal priority, 2) just signal timing optimization, and
then 3) both measures: inbound (to a major ferry terminal) in the morning and outbound in the
evening. With both optimization and transit signal priority, travel time for buses was reduced by
17% in the morning and 11% in evening. It was concluded that signal priority can expedite
transit vehicles without impacting non-transit traffic. Benefits are best achieved if bus stops are
located on the far side of an intersection and if adequate efforts are made at optimization of the
signal settings.

Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

New York City Department of Transportation

Paper submitted for publication and presentation at the ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

TransLink® is the San Francisco Bay Area’s largest Intelligent Transportation System initiative,
and first regional smart card system. It promises to integrate all fare structures and simplify the
method of fare collection across 26 transit agencies. In the near future, this regional smart card
system will be expanded to include other types of payment transactions including parking.
TransLink® reduces the agencies dependence on time-consuming cash collection systems and
has the ability to streamline travel for Bay Area commuters, especially those who use multiple
transit systems during a commute or trip. This paper presents the technical and institutional
challenges of the TransLink® system observed during the first phases of implementation,
including the challenges of launching, operating, and maintaining the system. Finally, the paper
will discuss the various steps taken to ensure the success of this regional smart card system.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Kimley-Horn and Associates

Paper submitted for publication and presentation at the ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

The paper provides background for and analysis of bus signal priority applications used
by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) along route 522, a rapid bus route.
Technical features of the application are discussed, and the functional benefits of the
technologies are calculated. The paper addresses two technology types—loop and
gps/spread spectrum—and discusses the operational constants under which these
technologies are applied.

Commuter Associates

Caltrans District 4

San Jose DOT

AC Transit

Paper submitted for publication and presentation at the ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

Providing a well-managed transportation infrastructure is an essential function of a public
transportation agency. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications such as Advanced
Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) improve safety and fuel efficiency, and reduce
congestion. However, the software life-cycle costs of these systems often place them beyond
the reach of small and medium-sized agencies. This paper discusses the results of the first
implementation of the Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) open ATMS outside
of Minnesota. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) IRIS demonstration
study implemented IRIS within a midsized urban/rural Caltrans district and two rural districts
that otherwise could not afford an ATMS. Results show dramatic cost savings compared with
an existing proprietary ATMS system, increased capabilities and reliability, and a number of
secondary benefits derived from this multi-agency collaborative approach.

AHMCT, University of California, Davis

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas