Comments on: What is Active Traffic Management?

By: Smarter Highways - Seattle Transit Blog

Smarter Highways - Seattle Transit Blog — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:52:20 +0000

[...] is starting to ramp up it’s public information campaign for Active Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). It was a good choice on their part to re-brand ATMS, and other associated ITS technologies, as [...]

By: Healthrow Airport Parking

Healthrow Airport Parking — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:01:43 +0000

I am finding it slightly worrying that so many people have not heard of or are not familiar with the Active Traffic Management Scheme for instance hard shoulder running and variable speed limits.

By: The Perfect Storm: 520 Tolling - Seattle Transit Blog

The Perfect Storm: 520 Tolling - Seattle Transit Blog — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:32:28 +0000

[...] Technology ($23 million for ATMS) [...]

By: John Niles

John Niles — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:04:26 +0000

Obama Administration seeks input on intelligent transportation systems. An opportunity to request an emphasis on transit applications.

If you’ve never commented on a Federal docket, you ought to give it a shot; it’s participatory democracy.

New RFI: U.S. DOT Requests Public Comments on ITS Program

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=090000648095e55e

Category > Opportunity: April 22, 2009 (JPO)

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) is requesting public comments through a Request for Information (RFI) on the strategic direction of its Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program. Comments will be used to shape the next, multi-year, ITS research agenda. Specifically, the Department seeks comment and insight on a set of proposed goals and objectives for the ITS Program. The content of the RFI represents the current thinking on the next strategy for ITS Program research, a strategy that is under development and will be reflected in an ITS Program Strategic Plan that is expected to be completed in October 2009.

The department is interested in exploring new opportunities for research and development, technology transfer, and evaluation of next generation ITS technologies. Responses should take into account the critical role of advanced technologies in achieving transformative change in the areas of safety, mobility, environmental stewardship, and deployment policy. The RFI along with instructions for submittal can be found at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number RITA 2009-0001. Contact Kim Riddle: 202-366-5128.

By: John Niles

John Niles — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:10:44 +0000

This article by Adam Parast is a very interesting summary.

What I like about Active Traffic Management is that it can be designed to provide appropriate priority to bus transit in congested conditions. Potentially part of integrated corridor management (ICM).

More than you want to know about ICM is posted by US DOT at http://www.its.dot.gov/icms/index.htm .

By: Dave F

Dave F — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:43:40 +0000

The way we usually get around that type of stuff is by using cameras just to issue a civil ticket, rather than a criminal one. If you run a red light, for example, I think they just send a fine to the owner of the car since they can’t prove that the owner was actually driving, which they would need to do in order to issue a criminal ticket. Camera infractions don’t show up on your insurance, for example (although this is just what I’ve read, cause I’ve never gotten one). It’s the same way you can get a parking ticket on your car even though the government can’t prove you were actually the person who parked it.

By: Adam B. Parast

Adam B. Parast — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:01:28 +0000

Yes it is very important to ensure that laws relating to speed cameras are very well written so that when they are challenged in court the state wins. I went to a house transportation committee meeting where this was a significant part of the discussion.

Sweden has a large number of speed enforcement cameras. When I was there last summer we drove along a country road that had them every 5 miles or so. They certainly make people slow down because everyone know that if they speed past them they will get a ticket. Thing is that everyone speeds up between them. Our GPS unit even gave us warning when we were speeding at approaching the cameras. I know it sounds nannyish but then again Sweden has the first or second the safest roads in the world.

By: Tim Whittome

Tim Whittome — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:03:34 +0000

These signs are excellent and hopefully they will work just fine. Like Derek above I am from the Uk and variable speed signs were used on the M25 motorway around London – at least on sections of it around Heathrow Airport if I can recall correctly. I was much younger then, but they seemed pretty effective and in your face so you couldn’t miss them.

Good work, WSDOT. Now if they only add improved signage for SeaTac Airport on the I-5, I-90 and I-405 and ‘cats eyes’ (embedded lane reflectors), I would be quite happy! That’s another tale however and perhaps not for this post.

Tim

By: eldan

eldan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:02:44 +0000

There have been some similar issues in the UK. Some people manage to get out of the speeding tickets by arguing that the police have no evidence of who was driving the car at the time, and there have been challenges based on privacy law. The thing is that most people who get fined pay, and that’s enough to change the majority of peoples’ behaviour.

The average speed cameras are almost universally unpopular with drivers, but I think Derek’s observation about their effectiveness applies pretty generally, whereas the old-style point speed cameras caused a lot of abrupt slowing down and speeding up because people knew where they were.

By: cuyahoga

cuyahoga — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:40:57 +0000

They are also adding variable speed limits to I-90 as part of the title="Two-Way Transit Project". The westbound signs are up and I think they are currently testing them.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:45:02 +0000

WSDOT just published an environmental assessment for tolling the existing 520 bridge. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/LkWaMgt/library.htm

They are holding two public hearings:
* Seattle Public Library, University Branch, 5-7 p.m., Thursday, April 30
* Bellevue Regional Library, 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 28.

By: Adam B. Parast

Adam B. Parast — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:11:36 +0000

Not on the I5 segment but it will be part of the tolling system on SR520. ATM can stand on it’s own and does not need tolling systems.

By: rex

rex — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:20:54 +0000

Does that include congestion pricing or tolls on the length travelled?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 06:37:51 +0000

Are there automated signs for that? If not, it is not active, it’s just signs posted saying you can use the lane during certain hours which is what they did on the SR 302 off ramp from SR 16 westbound due to congestion at a traffic light.

By: Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:26:51 +0000

I wonder if that is legal in the US. I think that red-light cameras, which have photographic proof of law breaking, are on sort of shaky legal grounds. The right to face your accuser, no proof of which driver made the fault just which vehicles, and privacy issues. This would be one step further.

By: Zed

Zed — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:45:25 +0000

It would be complete carnage. I was waiting at the Eastgate freeway station last week and was amazed at how many SOV’s were using the HOV ramp to access I-90, and then proceeding to cross the double-white to get to 405. Are simple rules really that hard to follow? There was even a trooper there watching the ramps. I saw several people start down the ramp and then turn around behind the trooper so they wouldn’t get caught!

By: ted

ted — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:17:01 +0000

I wonder how “regular” drivers would react if ATM was implemented. I say this because there seem to be a lot more stupid drivers who can’t comprehend even the simplest signs, like “DON’T CROSS DOUBLE-WHITE LINES” or “KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS.” What would happen if these dumb drivers were confronted with all those new signs and rules?

By: CriticalWonk

CriticalWonk — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:26:32 +0000

The UK site is sweet. Nothing else to say since I drive on the freeway maybe twice a year at most…

By: downintacoma

downintacoma — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:10:19 +0000

What about variable speed limits on a lane-by-lane basis? It’s an intriguing idea, but could be potentially dangerous without lane-change restrictions. Think temporary express lanes: when conditions allow, the inner two lanes are hiked to 70, while the outer two lanes remain at 60. Cars wishing to enter those lanes can do so only at the entrance point and must maintain the higher speed while in those lanes. (No trucks in those lanes might be a nice kicker.) During that stretch, drivers can leave the high-speed lanes to exit the highway, but not re-enter them (creating an advantage over current HOV or express lane systems). These lanes would not have dedicated exits. At a reasonable point, all lanes return to normal speed.

Either that, or expand commuter rail.

By: Adam B. Parast

Adam B. Parast — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:21:51 +0000

Yes but no other DOT in the US has done this either.