Book Description

Many transportation agencies have recommended travel times as the default messages on dynamic message signs (DMSs). This report presents analytical models to assist traffic engineers with effective operations of existing DMSs and deployment of new DMSs to display travel times on major freeways and arterials. More specifically, given the locations of existing DMSs, one of the proposed models determines the destinations for which to display travel times to maximize the benefit to motorists. Three extended models further improve the benefit by relocating DMSs, adding new ones to the current system or deploying a DMS system to a new area. The case study on the I-95/595 corridor in FDOT District 4 demonstrates the applicability of the proposed models. These models can be used in conjunction with other general guidelines provided by the federal and state agencies for optimal deployment and operations of DMS to display travel times.