Personal Mobility

Motorists in Moorhead, Minnesota frequently experience delays of up to five minutes due to train operations in the downtown area. The Moorhead Train Detection and Traffic Control System will reduce motorist delay and improve emergency vehicle response in the area. The project utilizes video-based detection of train movements to monitor each train’s presence, speed, length and direction. Data from the detectors is transmitted to the system’s central processor, where algorithms calculate the predicted blockage time at several crossings within the downtown area. This information is used in three different applications. First, alternative traffic signal timing plans are deployed when trains of a minimum length are detected. Second, emergency dispatch personnel are notified of crossing status, allowing for more effective emergency vehicle dispatching and response. Third, a future phase of this project will alert motorists to potential delays with strategically placed variable message signs.

Minnesota Department of Transportation

SRF Consulting Group, Inc.

Presented at the 11th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, June 4-7, 2001 Miami Beach, Florida

People with vision impairment generally have difficulty crossing intersections due to lack of traffic information. The most difficult intersection crossing tasks for this population are locating the crosswalk, determining when to cross, and maintaining alignment to the crosswalk while crossing. Through our ongoing effort to develop a prototype Mobile Accessible Pedestrian Signal (MAPS) application for the blind and visually impaired, we interviewed ten blind and low-vision people to better understand the type of information they use at intersection crossings and identified information types that could assist them. With these survey results, a prototype MAPS is developed that provides signal and intersection geometry information to Smartphone users at signalized intersections. User interaction is via simple tactile input (single/double-tap) and Text-To-Speech (TTS) interface are used for feedback. In the future, intersections equipped with Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) will advance the capabilities of MAPS to next level of mobility and safety applications for people with vision impairment. MAPS can take advantage of the low-latency capability of DSRC to coordinate cooperative communication among pedestrians (waiting at the crossing), traffic signal controllers, and approaching vehicles, thereby providing dynamic decision-making support to all travelers, not just the visually impaired.

Minnesota Traffic Observatory

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

The Metropolitan Intelligent Transportation System Integration (MITSI) project was established to be a technology role model for sharing transportation data, so that transportation and device control could be exchanged among legacy systems such as those found in NaviGAtor, City of Atlanta E911, and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).   
This Case Study investigated the institutional issues and processes impacting MITSI as of the conclusion of Phase 1.  Recommendations to improve the project were prepared based on these observations and actions taken during Phase 2.  This process, recommendations and the results of actions taken are documented to share this information with sponsors of similar projects.

Georgia Department of Transportation

NET

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, April 26 - 28, 2004 San Antonio, Texas

The proliferation of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) technology throughout the
nation has led to the State of Minnesota developing their first VII deployment. Currently,
the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has two consultants under
contract to begin work on Phase I of their efforts. A technical program management team
will develop the concept of operations in Phase I, while the evaluation team will develop
the evaluation goals and plans. Phase II will include all implementation efforts as well as
the final project evaluation. Minnesota is currently focusing on three different
applications for their VII demonstration: an enhanced traveler information system, an invehicle
signing system, and a mileage-based user fee system.

Minnesota Department of Transportation

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

Freeway congestion is an ever-increasing problem. With limited funding, building bigger roads is not always an option. So we look to traffic management strategies in order to optimize traffic flow efficiency and safety. Of those strategies, this paper addresses Motorist Information. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has been on the leading edge with their Motorist Information efforts.

Within this paper we will provide background information regarding Mn/DOT’s Traffic Management Center. Again, Mn/DOT was on the leading edge when it was opened in 1972. But the truly impressive expansion of the system came during the 1980’s and 1990’s. Our surveillance increased from 32 CCTV cameras to now more then 240. In addition, we have a fully automated system of more then 400 ramp meters, a continually expanding changeable message sign (CMS) system and the previously mentioned Advanced Traveler Information Systems are described.

This paper will also explain how the low power Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) was initially considered for dissemination of traffic information. But it was determined it would not be as effective as would be needed. So the concept of partnering with the Minneapolis Public Schools (MSP) was presented. There had been nothing like this previously or since. Mn/DOT’s Traffic Radio is the only one of it’s kind in the United States. The partnership includes an amount paid by Mn/DOT to MPS for traffic reports, originating from the Mn/DOT Traffic Management Center, to be broadcast at ten minute intervals from 6:00-9:00 A.M. and 3:30-7:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.

Once Traffic Radio was established it was decided that we needed to provide more options for motorists to receive our information. The idea was that we would provide the most accurate information to everyone regardless of where they were. So through our own development and partnerships we now have Motorist Information available through the Internet, television and the telephone. This paper will identify and describe each of these strategies. And finally, what the future holds.

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Presented at the 10th ITS Annual Conference and Exposition, May 1-4, 2000 Boston, MA