Rural Traveler Information Phase 1: Rural Traveler Information Needs Assessment and Pilot Study

摘要

Real-time traveler information services have thrived in two primary contexts: urban-focused systems and regional systems. Urban systems, strengthened by an extensive sensing and technology infrastructure, are able to offer significant volumes of information, updated at regular frequencies. Regional systems offer information over a larger geographic area, and can therefore more readily serve travelers on less regular trips, such as recreational or longer distance travel. However, these systems generally provide information on specific areas or highway segments, meaning that prospective travelers may need to consult multiple links to determine the travel conditions they will experience, and make a prudent decision regarding when to leave, which route to take, and how to prepare for the trip. The objective of this project was to put a variety of route-oriented real-time and near real-time information together in a single web-based location in a user-friendly format that does not stop at jurisdictional boundary lines (state, district or county lines, for example). This would allow travelers making a trip in or through rural areas to have current travel information on a route-specific basis and across a wide geographic area, customized for a specific origin and destination, which will help them to make their trip more safely and with a minimum of delay. This project focused on a limited geographic area -Caltrans District 1 and District 2, and Oregon - to provide a proof-of-concept of this approach. While this scale of implementation will yield some direct benefits for the selected area, researchers believe that the principal value of this effort is in demonstrating the feasibility and attractiveness of a One-Stop Shop website for real-time route-specific traveler information for rural areas. This report presents the results of work culminating in the development of a prototype website. Project tasks included a review of practice, compilation of concept of operations and website requirements documents, and development of the prototype website.