EVALUATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE'S ADVANCED TRAVELER INFORMATION SYSTEM (ATIS) PROJECT, PHASE III

Abstract

The Center for Intelligent Transportation Systems within the Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center at the Pennsylvania State University assisted the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in a study to understand how motorists and truckers on the Turnpike obtain and use travel information. To accomplish this goal, a mail-back survey was distributed to 5,510 motorists and 3,584 truckers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between October 22, 2001, and November 7, 2001. A total of 1,528 (27.7%) motorists and 889 (24.8%) truckers returned completed questionnaires. Key findings of the study include: More than 50% of the motorists sought some type of travel information before making their trip. The most common types of travel information sought were traffic conditions, weather conditions, and route maps. Just over one-third of motorists used information provided by a variable message sign (VMS) during their current trip. In general, the motorists felt that the VMS displays were clearly visible and easy to read and understand, and that the information provided by the VMS was of good quality. The majority of motorists using the VMS would use VMS-provided information again. Only 5% of motorists used information provided by a highway advisory radio (HAR) during their current trip. In general, the motorists felt that the HAR messages were fairly easy to access and understand, and that the information provided by the HAR was of good quality. The majority of motorists using the HAR would use HAR-provided information again. The most common types of travel information sought by truckers before trips were: route maps, route information, and weather conditions. Over half of truckers used information provided by a VMS during their current trip. In general, the truckers felt that the VMS displays were clearly visible and easy to read and understand, and that the information provided by the VMS was of good quality. The majority of truckers using the VMS would use VMS-provided information again. Only 14.9% of truckers used information provided by a HAR during their current trip. In general, the truckers felt that the HAR messages were fairly easy to access and understand, and that the information provided by the HAR was of good quality. The majority of truckers using the HAR would use HAR-provided information again.

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