Overview
Real-time traffic information on changeable message signs (CMS) has gained
popularity in urban areas where congestion and incidents frequently impact vehicle travel. CMS broadcasts information about downstream corridor delays, traffic incidents, and estimated travel times. Displaying accurate travel times on CMS helps commuters assess traffic, alleviates driver stress, and allows drivers to make better route decisions. Knowing the driving times to popular destinations, travelers may choose a less-congested route or a different form of transportation.
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Moreover, signs are the most effective means to communicate real-time, relevant information to motorists. Unlike a radio broadcast, CMS may be placed where they are most useful to drivers.
For the past two years, CCIT has helped Caltrans deploy an automated system nicknamed MITTENS to display travel times on CMS in the Bay Area. MITTENS relies on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s 511 system for travel time predictions. These predictions are based on real-time traffic data collected by toll tag readers/FasTrak, Caltrans’ embedded, loop-traffic detectors, and speed-radar data purchased from Speedinfo, Inc. Predictions are updated every minute and reported on the signs.
After a year of delivering messages to over twenty signs in the Bay Area, Caltrans and CCIT saw the need to enhance MITTENS’ functionalities. As a result, CCIT developed a new and flexible version of the software. The new system is more easily configured and operable. Different message templates can be specified, scheduled, or activated in response to traffic conditions.
Operators also have an easier time adjusting settings, and may now display two-page flashing messages that combine travel times on one page with manually-inputted information on the other page.
The new version of MITTENS also enables displaying transit information along with freeway travel times. In partnership with Caltrain, Caltrans District 4 is comparing driving times with riding baby bullet trains along the US 101 corridor. This feature is designed to encourage motorists to use public transit during rush hours.
The CCIT team provides on-going support and incrementally enhances MITTENS’ functionality. Near-term enhancements consist of adding features to the user interface to enable editing train schedules and defining different templates for CMS display.
With those improvements, Caltrans will soon be able to autonomously operate and administer MITTENS. The messages will soon be deployed to 20 more signs in the Bay Area, bringing the total to more than 45 out of roughly 100 signs in the entire Bay area.
Finally, CCIT is upgrading MITTENS to allow deployment in other Caltrans districts, including District 3, District 5, and District 10, and to test alternative technologies and processing techniques to calculate travel times.
This task includes evaluating requirements and costs associated with deploying new detection technologies in the districts where sensor coverage is not available, or not enough to estimate travel times.
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