Abstract:
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has deployed advanced weather systems and products to support maintenance operations and to provide public information. The expanded system has tremendously improved the availability and quality of weather information for WSDOT crews and the traveling public. Use of current and forecast weather information has increased from nearly non-existent to an actively used, Department-wide resource. This summary report overviews the various efforts, products, and reports generated since the beginning of the road weather project.

Authors:
Senn,L.

Keywords:
availability, information systems, maintenance, public, public information, quality, Road Weather Information System, System, systems, transportation, Washington, Washington state, weather prediction, winter road maintenance, WSDOT

Download Report:

External Links: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/624.1.pdf http://wsdot.wa.gov/Research/Reports/600/624.1.htm

Abstract:
TrafficTV is a traffic and traveler information resource available on cable television (UWTV2 Channel 76). It began operation June 1, 1998, as part of the SmartTrek Operational Deployment under the name Traffic Channel. The SmartTrek evaluation of May 2001 identified several problems with Traffic Channel and recommended some improvements. This project made those changes and renamed the application TrafficTV. A series of meetings was held in June 2003. These meetings involved personnel from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Northwest Region, WSDOT Advanced Technology Branch, WSDOT Olympia office, the University of Washington's UWTV, and the UW Intelligent Transportation Systems Research Program. From these meetings came a set of recommended changes. These changes were made to TrafficTV and are documented in this report. Battelle Institute conducted a focus group in May 2004 to evaluate the resulting program. This focus group concluded that TrafficTV is a useful traveler information tool but has not had sufficient public exposure to make it widely known to the traveling public. A market penetration audit conducted by Media Audit in June and July 2004 indicated that when viewers were asked about TrafficTV, over 94,000 had seen the program within the last week. This was deemed surprisingly high, given the lack of external exposure and that viewers would have found TrafficTV only by word of mouth or by "channel surfing." Again, a conclusion of the audit was that additional exposure would make TrafficTV more valuable as a traveler information tool. As a result of the publicity recommendations, a banner has been added to the North West Region's traveler information page to alert users to the availability of TrafficTV.

Authors:
Dailey,D. J., Bradbury,J.

Keywords:
traveler information, cable TV, Intelligent transportation system, congestion information, traffic, evaluation, Washington, Washington state, transportation, WSDOT, intelligent transportation systems, systems, research, program, group, public

Download Report:

External Links: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/603.1.pdf http://wsdot.wa.gov/Research/Reports/600/603.1.htm

Abstract:
High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, also known as carpool lanes and diamond lanes, are designated for use by carpoolers, transit riders, ride sharers and motorcyclists that meet the occupancy requirement. By restricting access, the HOV lanes benefit users by allowing them to travel the freeway system at a faster speed, thus saving time, and experiencing greater time reliability in comparison to motorists on general purpose (GP) lanes. To accurately evaluate the system's effectiveness, a state policy requires an annual HOV system report to document system performance, examining the HOV lanes' person-carrying capability, travel time savings, and trip reliability benefits in comparison to adjacent GP lanes. HOV lane violation rates are also evaluated. This report describes the results of an extensive monitoring effort of HOV lane use and performance in the Puget Sound area in 2002. It presents an analysis of data collected to describe the number of people and vehicles that use HOV lanes, the reliability of the HOV lanes, the travel time savings in comparison to GP lanes, violation rates and public perceptions. This information is intended to serve as reliable input for transportation decision makers and planners in evaluating the impact and adequacy of the existing HOV lane system in the Puget sound area, and in planning for other HOV facilities. This is volume 1 of a two-volume set. Volume 2 provides an overview of major trends in HOV lane performance by comparing data presented in the 2000 HOV Performance Report.

Authors:
Nee,J., Ishimaru,J. M., Hallenbeck,M. E.

Keywords:
analysis, benefit, benefits, carpool, data, facilities, freeway, GP lanes, high occupancy, high occupancy vehicle, HOV, HOV facilities, HOV lanes, HOV performance, monitoring, occupancy, performance, performance monitoring, planning, policy, public, reliability, research, speed, transit, transportation, travel time, violation, volume

Download Report:

External Links: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/584.2.pdf http://wsdot.wa.gov/Research/Reports/500/584.2.htm

Abstract:
This Reference Manual addresses land use and development practices that support and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of associated transportation systems. It references strategies and tools used to foster transportation-efficient land-use patterns (transportation-efficient development is defined as supporting the use of alternative transportation modes while reducing the need to drive alone). The manual documents state-of-the-art best practices at the national level, in addition to practices that are specific to Washington State and the Puget Sound region.The Manual is in two parts: regulatory strategies and tools and financial strategies and tools. The strategies (six regulatory and four financial) relate to the planning and policy-making environment shaping land use those general approaches and related policies used to plan transportation-efficient land use and development. Each strategy in turn contains a number of tools, the specific mechanisms used to guide the implementation of the strategies. Detailed explanations of how the tools have functioned or can work are provided, along with examples of specific applications and case studies to illustrate the scope and extent of the tools' effectiveness.The Reference Manual is the second product of a three-phase project by the Washington State Department of Transportation, which is known as Integrating Land Use and Transportation Investment Decision-Making. The first phase reviewed current land-use and development practices by the various local jurisdictions. It is summarized in Implementing Transportation-Efficient Development: A Local Interview (WSDOT 2002, WA-RD 549.1). The third phase will integrate findings from phases 1 and 2 with other data to produce criteria for evaluating the transportation efficiency of land-use and development patterns. It will provide WSDOT with a method to assess how existing and planned land uses could extend, support, or shorten the lifespan of existing or planned transportation system capacity.

Authors:
Moudon,A. V., Cail,M., Pergakes,N., Forsyth,C., Lillard,L.

Keywords:
land use and transportation, smart growth, development, zoning, codes, parking, affordable housing, public, private financial strategies, transportation efficiency

Download Report:

External Links: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/574.1.pdf http://wsdot.wa.gov/Research/Reports/500/574.1.htm

Abstract:
This summary report presents an overview of the level of traveler usage (e.g., how many vehicles use the freeways) and travel performance (e.g., how fast they are traveling, where and how often congestion ocurs) on the principal urban freeways in the central Puget Sound area. The freeways studied in this project are managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) using its FLOW system, a coordinated network of traffic monitoring, measuring, information dissemination, and control devices that operates on urban state and Interstate highways in the central Puget Sound region. Data presented in this report were collected by the WSDOT's freeway surveillance system. The project that led to this report is intended to meet two separate purposes: 1) to enhance WSDOT's ability to monitor and improve its traffic management efforts on Seattle-area highways, and 2) to provide useful information to the public and decision makers about the status of the freeway system's operational performance. This report is primarily intended to meet the second of these objectives. However, the software developed to assist in freeway data analysis for this project and many of the graphics presented in this report are directly applicable to the first objective.

Authors:
Avery,R. P., Ishimaru,J. M., Nee,J., Hallenbeck,M. E.

Keywords:
analysis, Archived Data User Services (ADUS), congestion, congestion monitoring, control, data, flow, freeway, freeway performance, highway, information dissemination, ITS, management, monitoring, performance, public, research, surveillance, traffic, traffic management, traffic monitoring, transportation, urban, Washington, Washington state, WSDOT

Download Report:

External Links: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/563.1.pdf http://wsdot.wa.gov/Research/Reports/500/563.1.htm

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

Download Report:

Abstract:
The impacts that would result from providing "reserved capacity" for trucks rather than restricting trucks are considered in this study. In the extreme case, trucks would be allowed to travel in a dedicated or exclusive lane. A more moderate approach would be to provide a cooperative dedicated lane in which vehicles such as trucks and buses could share a common lane and yet be separated from general traffic.The study determined the following. Reserved-capacity strategies for trucks would offer (1) nearly $10 million in annual travel time savings for the trucking industry, (2) a savings of about 2.5 minutes per average truck trip (less than 8 percent savings in trip travel time), and (3) almost $30 million in annual travel time savings for single-occupancy vehicles in the Seattle region. The difference in travel times between the reserved-capacity strategy that would add trucks to the existing HOV lanes and the one that would add an exclusive truck lane would be insignificant, providing little justification for the construction of an exclusive truck lane. In all likelihood, the impact of reserved-capacity strategies on safety would be small, depending on the particular reserved capacity strategy. Reserved capacity strategies for trucks would accelerate pavement deterioration in the reserved lanes, but the reduction in the pavement deterioration rates of the general purpose lanes might help to balance future reconstruction costs. Surveys of the general public and subsequent statistical analysis showed considerable resistance to reserved-capacity strategies for trucks. However, this resistance is not unlike that encountered when HOV lanes were first considered.It is the recommendation of this study that the idea of reserved-capacity strategies for trucks continue to be presented to the trucking industry, to the public, and to other impacted agencies for discussion and consideration. The study showed that the adverse impacts of such strategies are easily manageable and there is at least potential for freight-productivity improvements.

Authors:
Trowbridge,A., Nam,D., Mannering,F. L., Carson,J.

Keywords:
agencies, analysis, Annual, buses, construction, corridors, cost, costs, deterioration, exclusive truck lanes, freight, freight mobility, HOV, HOV lanes, impact, impacts, improvement, lanes, pavement, public, reconstruction, research, resistance, safety, seattle, statistical analysis, survey, Surveys, travel, travel time, travel times, truck, trucking, trucks, urban

Download Report:

Abstract:
This final report demonstrates the feasibility of employing high molecular weight/high density polyethylene cylinders as the energy dissipating medium in highway safety appurtenances. It is shown that this polymer can dissipate large amounts of kinetic energy, undergo large deformations and strains without fracturing, and essentially restore itself to its original size, shape, and energy dissipation potential when the forcing function is removed.This research involves a quasi-static and impact loading experimentalinvestigation to determine the energy dissipation characteristics of HMW HDPEtubes as functions of temperature, radius to wall thickness ratio, strain,strain-rate, deformation, and repeated and cyclic loading. The results ofthis experimental program are analyzed to develop analytic energy dissipationexpressions which are then employed in the design of truck mountedattenuators (TMA), Finally, an expert system computer program, CADS, ismodified to use HMW HDPE tubes in the generalized design of crash cushions.The potential financial, legal, and safety payoffs for highway operationsassociated with developing highway safety devices which are essentiallymaintenance free are significant. Maintenance costs associated with therepair of impacted safety devices would be greatly reduced or eliminated.Tort liability exposure related to damaged or collapsed hardware would besignificantly decreased. Finally, the safety of the motoring public and themaintenance personnel involved in maintaining and repairing damaged hardwarewould be enhanced.

Authors:
Carney III,J. F.

Keywords:
computer, computer program, cost, costs, cyclic loading, density, design, development, Energy, experimental, expert system, exposure, highway, highway safety, impact, impact attenuation devices, ITS, maintenance, maintenance free, polyethylene, polymer, program, public, research, reusable, safety, self-restoration, strains, temperature, truck

Download Report:

Abstract:
A Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) system was installed on I-90, Snoqualmie Pass to inform motorists of winter driving conditions. Despite numerous operational problems with equipment, the service has been well received by the traveling public. The system was found to have an added benefit during the summer months as an information system to alert motorists of delays or other problems caused by construction activities. The HAR system on Snoqualmie Pass has been expanded and additional systems have been installed in the Seattle area to inform motorists of construction activities.

Authors:
Krug,H. O.

Keywords:
benefit, condition, construction, HAR, highway, Highway Advisory Radio, public, seattle, systems, winter, winter driving

Download Report:

Abstract:
This report describes the feasibility, costs and benefits of automating the vessel and crew scheduling functions of the Marine Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation. The project examined the needs of the Marine Division, reviewed its current procedures, and compared available commercial and public domain software packages. Some existing packages intended for use by the transit and airline industries offer promise, but all the packages examined require considerable modification to meet the needs of the Marine Division.

Authors:
Hallenbeck,M. E.

Keywords:
analysis, automated toll collection, automated vehicle identification, AVI, benefit, benefits, billing, cost, costs, crew scheduling, data, ferry, ferry system, ITS, marine, public, scheduling, scheduling systems, software, systems, transit, transportation, vessel, Washington, Washington state

Download Report:

Abstract:
This study was undertaken to measure and assess current transportation behavior, attitudes, and adjustments people have made or are planning to make to cope with higher costs of transportation and energy shortages. A secondary objective was to develop an effective and inexpensive system to collect a sizeable amount of multimodal data for various types of travel from a statistically reliable sample of modal data for various types of travel from a statistically reliable sample of households in the State of Washington. Telephone interviews of approximately 15 minutes in length were conducted with 2,500 households in 1980 and 2,000 homes in 1983, with both samples having a 95 percent confidence level. Residents of metropolitan, urban and rural areas were included. The households interviewed were selected by a random computer search of telephone numbers. Respondents were screened to ensure that an adult member (18 years or older) of the household was interviewed. The questionnaire dealt with the travel habits of the household rather than just the person being interviewed. Travel to work, local travel, long distance travel, recreational travel, use of public transit and other modes of travel, as well as vehicle ownership trends were topics covered in the interviews. The household's travel patterns two years prior to the interview, as well as current behavior and future plans were included. The replies to the questions indicated that people were concerned about transportation problems and were willing to provide detailed facts and opinions about their household's transportation behavior.

Authors:
Limotti,Brian, Iverson,Evan, Jacobson,Robert

Keywords:
attitudes, behavior, computer, condition, cost, costs, data, data collection, Energy, energy shortages, households, interviews, multimodal, planning, public, public transit, Recreational travel, ridership, rural, Surveys, System, transit, transportation, travel, travel patterns, urban, Washington, Washington state

Download Report:

Abstract:
A study of recreational vehicle waste disposal at highway rest areas was conducted from RV wastewater is significantly stronger than wastewater in BOD, COD, and suspended solids. It also contains preservative compounds, most of which contain formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative. With adequate dilution, these wastes should not interfere with waste by mixed cultures of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria or There that waste treatment facilities be affected by improper use of the disposal stations, such as for disposal of hazardous wastes. In addition, improper use may lead to temporary unsanitary conditions around the station. Equations to estimate disposal station use and loading factors, and design equations for treatment of wastes are presented. The public perceives the stations to be and cost-effective provided they are paid for by RV owners. RV owners are willing to pay an annual fee which will cover the costs of construction, operation and maintenance of the stations.

Authors:
Kiernan,K., Brown,C., Benjamin,M., Ferguson,J. F.

Keywords:
Annual, biological waste treatment, condition, construction, cost, cost effective, costs, design, disposal, equations, facilities, fee, Formaldehyde Toxcity, Hazardous, hazardous wastes, highway, maintenance, public, recreational vehicles, rest area, rest areas, Study, suspended solids

Download Report:

Abstract:
The purpose of the study is to determine how distinctive social, economic, land use, governmental and political characteristics in the Vancouver-Portland area to uneven growth which in turn affects the transportation system. Interviews with public and private industrial representatives to identify the reasons underlying uneven growth are discussed. A statistical analysis of population, employment, vehicle registration and traffic across the Interstate 5 bridge connecting Vancouver and Portland is also presented. Recommendations are listed which suggest ways to improve the transportation system through modification of elements contributing to uneven growth.

Authors:
Public Transportation and Planning Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

Keywords:
analysis, bi-city, bi-state, bridge, economic development, employment, industrial location decision, interviews, land use, land use sewerage, land-use, population, public, statistical analysis, Study, System, traffic, traffic volumes, transportation, Uneven growth rate

Download Report:

Abstract:
While gasoline represents one-third of all hazardous materials transported in the country by trucks, the risk associated with gas transportation, as viewed by the private sector, is small. Public perceptions of risk are much greater due to lack of knowledge of probabilities and consequences of spills. Methods to improve knowledge available to the public on gasoline spills and methods to improve estimates of environmental damages from gasoline spills is presented. Generalization of methodologies to hazardous materials in general are discussed.

Authors:
Eagen,P. D.

Keywords:
damage, environmental, Hazardous, highway, Highway Transportation, Gasoline, Interim, materials, methodology, methods, public, Risk, transportation, truck, trucks

Download Report:

Abstract:
Transportation improvements of all kinds are being evaluated more carefully than ever during the planning stages. This attention to detail is well justified because the implications of such projects transcend the engineering disciplines and have environmental, social , and economic effects of major importance. In the economic area one of the impacts that is of great concern to the public i s the effect of a highway on property values. The purpose of this study is to measure the beneficial and adverse effects of limited- access highways on property values. A need exists in the State of Washington to have current data and analyses concerning this subject that apply specifically to this state . In addition there have been several theoretical developments that allow refinement of previous studies and validation of the results .OverviewThis study analyzed the beneficial effects of a highway on the values of surrounding properties by determining the real estate price trends in areas where a highway was constructed and comparing these trends with those in comparable areas which did not experience such changes. There were four residential areas utilized for parts of this study: Kingsgate east of Lake Washington on 1-405, north King County along 1-5 north of the Seattle city limits , Spokane near the east city limits along 1-90, and the southeast section of Puyallup along SR 512. Because of the lack of an adequate control area f o r the Spokane study, only the other three areas were used for the benefit estimation.

Authors:
Social and Econonomic Planning Section of the WA State Department of Highways

Keywords:
benefit, control, counties, data, development, environmental, highway, Highways, impact, impacts, improvement, planning, project, property values, public, seattle, transportation, Washington

Abstract:
The objective of this research was to examine the effects that construction of a major highway has on the value of surrounding properties, a topic which is of great public concern. Information was obtained on actual sales prices, as well as the characteristics of the properties. Four residential study areas were used, and as many as 4,785 sales were obtained in each area. The information on building and neighborhood characteristics was used to generate a quality-adjusted price index. This index for the years during which a highway was opened was compared with an index for an area which had been unaffected by highway change. The results show that when the highway significantly increased the accessibility of the residences, property values increased by 12 to 15 percent. Unfortunately, the houses closest to the highway had this increase partially offset by a .2 percent to 1.2 percent reduction for each 2k dBA increase in the highway noise level. Houses with highway noise were not found to take any longer to sell. In a commercial-industrial area, land values were found to increase 16.7 percent when a major highway was opened. Interviews were conducted in both residential and commercial areas.

Authors:
Palmquist,R. B.

Keywords:
construction, highway, impact, improvement, index, interviews, noise, property values, public, Real Property, Land Value, Property Value, Noise Pollution, Highways, Freeways, research, Washington

Download Report:

Abstract:
The Central Avalanche Hazard Forecasting project has been funded by the Washington State Highway Commission since July 1975 in order to test the feasibility and effectiveness of central avalanche forecasting for the Cascade Mountain Passes and adjacent territory . Historically, avalanche forecasting in the Cascade Mountains has been done locally on an area-by-area basis by Highway Department personnel and by Forest Rangers and professional ski patrolmen at individual ski areas. This project explored the possibilities of improving both mountain weather and related avalanche forecasts for use by WSDOT during winter operations in the mountain passes and, secondarily, explored the usefulness of anarea-wide forecasting service to other, cooperating agencies. The aim of this work has been to establish the technical and administrative framework for an operational, on-going mountain weather and avalanche forecasting service for Western Washington under the joint support of interested public agencies. This aim has been achieved in autumn 1978 by the operation of an avalanche forecasting office administered by the US Forest Service, housed by the National Weather Service, and supported by WSDT, with additional peripheral support from both the public and private sectors. Previous reports published by the project include: Interim Report, June 1976 (Report No. 23.2); Final Report, June 1977 (Report No. 23.3)Implementation Report, December 1978, which will be published in Spring 1979If you would like to obtain copies of any of these reports, contact WSDOT Public Transportation and Planning Division in Olympia (SCAN 234-61 49) or the Avalanche Research Office on SCAN 323-7180 or Write Avalanche Research,Department of Atmospheric Sciences AK-40, University of Washington, Seattle,Phil Taylor, Research Engineer, has done an outstanding job of developing much of this equipment and devising methods of operation. He is, unfortunately, no longer with the University. He will be working in Autumn 1978 with the US Forest Service as a consultant in addition to his continuing work with the US Geological Survey. This Operating Manual is intended to be an informational document with limited distribution and its format reflects that informality.

Authors:
University of Washington

Keywords:
agencies, avalanche, avalanche forecasting, developed, effectiveness, equipment, forecasting, framework, hazard, highway, Interim, ITS, manual, methods, Operating, planning, project, public, research, survey, transportation, Washington, Washington state, winter

Download Report:

Abstract:
This report summarizes the first year of activity under Washington State Department of Highways project Central Avalanche Hazard Forecasting (Agreement Y-1700) to test the feasibility and effectiveness of central avalanche forecasting for the Cascade Mountain Passes and adjacent territory . This project explores thepossibilities of improving both mountain weather and related avalanche forecasts for use by the WSDH during winter operations in the mountain passes, and, secondarily, explores the usefulness of an area-wide forecasting service to other, cooperating agencies. The eventual aim of this work is to establish thetechnical and administrative framework for an operational, on-going mountain weather and avalanche forecasting service for Western Washington under the joint support of interested public agencies.

Authors:
LaChapplle,E. R., Moore,M. B., Reanier,F. W.

Keywords:
agencies, avalanche, avalanche forecasting, snow, weather, effectiveness, forecasting, framework, hazard, highway, highways, Interim, project, public, Washington, Washington state, winter

Download Report:

Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to produce guidelines that will provide assistance to those responsible for the planning and implementation of community involvement plans. These guidelines cover the many elements of a multi-faced community involvement approach and give direction for planning and implementation of these guidelines.A considerable amount of recent experience and information on community involvement was compiled and analyzed to afford the capability of tailoring a community involvement plan for an individual plan for an individual and unique community as defined by its characteristics. Among the major elements discussed are the general principals which must be followed to achieve successful community involvement; the criteria to determine how extensive an involvement plan should be for a particular community as defined by the characteristics of the community and type of proposed action; the establishment of an implementation schedule; detailed discussion of the methods used to disseminate information and obtain citizen input; a description of the various types of community groups which can be used for cooperative planning; recommendations to improve the effectiveness of public meetings; and the basic strategy used in evaluating the success of a community involvement plan.

Authors:
Social and Econonomic Planning Section of the WA State Department of Highways

Keywords:
Community Involvement, Citizen Participation, Citizen Input, Dissemination of Information, Cooperative Planning, Multi-faceted, Scheduling and Implementation, criteria, development, effectiveness, group, ITS, Meeting, methods, planning, program, public

Download Report: