Abstract:
This report identifies the key issues that must be considered by state and other highway operating agencies in selecting traffic equipment for collecting the truck volumes and load spectra needed for analysis and design of pavement structures. The report also identifies steps that must be taken to ensure that the equipment performs appropriately and that, as a consequence, the data collected accurately describe the vehicles being monitored. The report is a useful resource for state personnel and others involved in the planning and design of highway pavements and structures.

Authors:
Hallenbeck, M.E., Weinblatt, H.

Keywords:
Analysis, data, design, highway, pavement, pavements, structures, traffic, truck, volume, Miscellaneous Library

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Abstract:
The SWIFT (Seattle Wide-area for Travelers) project was a field operational test of a wide area ITS communications system using a flexible FM sub-carrier High Speed Data System (HSDS). The test was conducted in a partnership with WSDOT, King County Metro Transit, Delco Electronics, Inc., IBM, Seiko Communications Systems, Metro Traffic Control and the Federal Highway Administration. Three devices were used, by the public, to receive the traveler a Delco car radio (capable of providing vector navigation in addition to personal paging and the messages); a Seiko wrist watch pager; and a portable computer (capable of providing graphic displays of traffic advisories and bus positions). After the 15-month test, interviews with the 600 Seattle commuters/participants were conducted to assess user acceptance. A communications study evaluated the adequacy of the HSDS system to disseminate traveler information. Architecture study assessed the effectiveness of the various components to carry out SWIFT operations. institutional issues study documented the history of the project and assessed the institutional issues confronted. A deployment cost study investigated the cost of deployment of a SWIFT system and assessment of potential profitability. The first five reports in this series detail individual aspects of the project.

Authors:
Wetherby, B., Perez, W.

Keywords:
Acceptance, Assessment, bus, computer, control, cost, counties, data, Deployment, effectiveness, evaluation, highway, Institutional, interviews, Issues, ITS, Miscellaneous Library, paging, portable computer, project, public, seattle, speed, Study, SWIFT, System, systems, traffic, traffic advisories, traffic control, transit, traveler information, WSDOT

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Abstract:
The Seattle Wide-area Information for Travelers (SWIFT) Operational Test was intended to evaluate the performance of a large-scale, urban Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) deployment in the Seattle area. With the majority the SWIFT system completed by June 30,1996, the SWIFT Field Operational Test (FOT) evaluation was conducted from July 1, 1996, through September 20, 1997. The unique features of the SWIFT ATIS included the provision of information for multiple transportation modes, the delivery of this information using three different devices, and the use of FM sideband as the primary communications medium. This report details the findings for the SWIFT Consumer Acceptance Study based on the evaluation objectives that were identified in the SWIFT Evaluation Plan (1995). The primary objectives of the SWIFT Consumer Acceptance Study were to assess the following: Importance of traveler information in travel planning, Usefulness of SWIFT traveler information in travel planning, Minimum set of user services and device features required to provide viable product and services, User perceptions of SWIFT device usefulness, Willingness-to-pay for different services. User perceptions of changes in travel convenience and efficiency, User perceptions of changes in traffic congestion, air quality, energy consumption, and safety. ,

Authors:
Trombly, J., Wetherby, B., Dixson, A.

Keywords:
Acceptance, air quality, analysis, Assessment, ATIS, availability, bus, computer, congestion, congestion information, Consumer, data, data collection, Energy, environmental, evaluation, group, impact, impacts, improvement, incident, interviews, Miscellaneous Library, objectives, performance, planning, portable computer, quality, reliability, safety, seattle, Study, SWIFT, System, systems, traffic, traffic congestion, transit, transportation, travel, traveler information, urban

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Abstract:
The Seattle Wide-area Information For Travelers (SWIFT) project was a highly successful Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Field Operational Test (FOT) that was conducted over a four-year period from 1993 to 1997. The purpose of the project was to test the efficacy of a High Speed Data System (HSDS), or FM Sub-carrier, to disseminate incident, bus and speedlcongestion information via three different end-user devices: pager watch, portable computer and in-vehicle navigation device. Six hundred ninety (690) commuters, many with route- or mode-choice options, participated in the FOT and provided user-acceptance evaluations. Other evaluation components examined the system architecture, communications coverage, institutional issues, and consumer acceptance. The primary purpose of the SWIFT Deployment Cost Study was to provide an independent Life Cycle Cost Estimate (LCCE) of an operational and fully deployed SWIFT system. Moreover, it is intended to provide both the SWIFT participants and the FHWA with a measure of the commercial viability of \\\"SWIFT-like\\\" systems nationwide. Table ES- 1 shows the organizations that were included in the SWIFT Deployment Cost Study LCCE and commercial viability analysis.Table ES-1. Deployed SWIFT Participants (CostIRevenue Participants).Industry Government/InstitutionaISeiko Communications Systems, Inc. (SCS) King CountyMetro Networks University of WashingtonEtak, Inc.IBM (FOT Development Only)Delco Electronics (FOT Development Only)The methodology for the SWlFT Deployment Cost Study LCCE relied on standard proven costestimation and data collection and analysis techniques to provide cost estimates for each SWIFTparticipant shown above across the following three life-cycle phases:1) FOT development (costs of current SWIFT Test)King County Metro TransitUniversity of Washington (UW)2) Commercial Development (additional development and procurement costs for fullydeploying an operational SWIFT system (follows the completion of the SWIFT test)3) Annual Commercial Operations (annual operations costs for a fully deployed SWIFTsystem)A summary of the resulting life cycle cost estimate (LCCE) for the deployed SWIFT system ispresented in Table ES-2. Here, the FOT Development phase (based on SWIFT test actuals) wasestimated to cost $6.4 Million, the Commercial Development phase was estimated to cost $1.5Million, and the Annual Commercial Operations costs were estimated to be $0.8 Million.-- -SWIFT Deployment Cost Study I

Authors:
Jensen, M.

Keywords:
Acceptance, analysis, Annual, bus, computer, Consumer, cost, costs, counties, data, data collection, Deployment, development, evaluation, incident, Institutional, Intelligent transportation system, Issues, ITS, methodology, Miscellaneous Library, mode choice, networks, portable computer, project, seattle, speed, Study, SWIFT, System, systems, transportation, Washington

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Abstract:
This report examines the feasibility of implementing an automated vehicle toll collection system for the Washington State Ferry System. The study concluded that such a system would pay for itself in four to five years. Impelementation of such a system is not recommended at this time, but it should be considered after similar projects, ongoing in other states, demonstrate that the AVI technology has achieved the accuracy and reliability requirements of a toll collection system.

Authors:
Rutherford, G.S., Hallenbeck, M.E.

Keywords:
Marine, AVI, automated toll collection, automated vehicle identification, Miscellaneous Library

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