1 Introduction and Overview

1.1 Background

A decade ago, traveler information was thought to be largely in the public sector area of responsibility. It was the public sector, after all, that was deploying detection technologies on freeways, actively monitoring and managing systems from operations centers, and providing available data to travelers via roadside infrastructure such as dynamic message signs (DMS) and highway advisory radio (HAR). The media was an active partner, typically dominant in the area of radio information dissemination due to its well-established broadcast capabilities in metropolitan areas throughout the country. As more data became available, partnerships began to emerge between commercial media providers and public-sector transportation agencies, which broadened both the reach and quality of traveler information.

With the Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiatives in the late 1990s, new approaches and partnerships emerged as private-sector technology companies began to get more involved in providing innovative applications to support traveler information. Traveler information has evolved separately in each mode of transportation, with heavy focus on traffic information. Only in recent years has the emphasis moved toward regional and multimodal systems. Today, a unique balance between the public and private sectors provides real-time data to support traveler information across multiple modes. New advancements in communications and sensor technology have created additional opportunities to provide information for both the public and private sectors.

1.2 Purpose and Objectives for Assessing the Real-Time Traveler Information Marketplace

This report takes a multi-modal look at the “lay of the land” of the real-time traveler information market in the United States. This includes identification and characterization of the gaps in the domestic industry with respect to data coverage, data quality, data procurement methods, and data usage. Ultimately, the focus is to identify the gaps in real-time information across different modes (i.e. traffic, transit, parking, and intermodal/freight). The analysis also includes documenting the institutional, technical, and cost issues associated with collecting real-time data from these modes, opportunities for closing the gaps, and utility of real-time data for uses beyond traveler information. Although each mode offers a unique set of challenges, an important objective of this study is to identify opportunities to best leverage resources and innovative approaches that span multiple modes.

1.3 Modal Context

1.3.1 Traffic

From the traffic perspective, real-time traveler information has its roots in freeway and traffic management applications. Systems that have been deployed for urban freeway management, statewide maintenance, and weather detection, as well as operations of other agencies such as law enforcement, provide valuable inputs to a regional and statewide data set to support traveler information systems. Real-time data has traditionally been collected by sensor-based systems deployed and operated by departments of transportation (DOTs) as part of urban area freeway management systems. Combined with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras for visual monitoring, detection systems also provide a valuable data set to support traveler information functions that include speed maps, travel times, and access to corridor snapshots or streaming video. With the increased deployment of 511 and enhanced Web-based agency traveler information systems, there is a stronger focus on obtaining more precise data as well as real-time data that extends beyond urban area boundaries.

Partnerships among the public and private sectors have been a mainstay of traveler information. For example, the media has been, and remains, a key partner in traveler information dissemination through a variety of communications modes—radio, TV, and Web access are among the most prevalent. Other private-sector partners play important roles in data aggregation and dissemination, and there has also been an increase in the role of the private sector in data collection in recent years. This marks an important shift, in that these partners are developing systems with a broad national footprint, as opposed to localized or regional systems with a specific target audience. It has also spurred an increase in vertical partnerships within the private-sector supply chain to provide a full spectrum of services for traveler information, including collecting and aggregating data; providing a data output; combining with other data and information types; linking to map-based applications; and delivering to users through in-vehicle, Web-based, and mobile-accessible applications.

1.3.2 Transit

Various forms of static transit traveler information (e.g., printed schedules, systems maps, and fares) have existed for decades. While this static information is still needed for various route planning activities, new technologies have allowed additional information to be accurately provided to transit riders in real time. Patrons appreciate real-time information when it is available and use it for both routine day-to-day trips and unfamiliar trips, such as those taken in a new city or on a route that the traveler typically does not take. Information disseminated to customers can include service disruptions, vehicle locations and arrival time, or even vehicle capacity. Many transit agencies strive to provide real-time information that is widely available across multiple media paths and is presented in a seamless stream to customers across the entire network. This consolidated information source should support a variety of access methods that range from pre-trip information available on a Website or by phone to mid-trip information provided via mobile device while en route, at a stop, or on the transit vehicle while it is en route.

Many transit agencies focus their real-time information efforts on providing vehicle location and arrival time information, which is made possible by a variety of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies—most notably, global positioning system (GPS) based automatic vehicle location (AVL). Most agencies have deployed GPS-based AVL data for fleet management purposes, but the data also forms the backbone for providing real-time transit information to customers. Once location is determined, an algorithm can be used to predict estimated time of arrival at downstream transit stations and stops, which can be disseminated to customers. Transit agencies of all sizes are beginning to see the benefits of obtaining AVL data for transit routes. The need for this type of data originated with transit agencies striving to optimize operations and monitor system performance, but the ability to share that information with patrons provides yet another user benefit.

Some transit agencies have preferred to contract out to private companies data collection device installation, data aggregation, and information dissemination, so that the agencies can continue to focus on their core competency—transit operations. In addition to their partnerships with private companies, transit agencies are beginning to partner with each other to create more robust traveler information networks, especially across agencies located in the same metropolitan area or region. Data and information sharing between agencies is primarily related to the trip planning function and is based on scheduled, not real-time, information. Unfortunately, a lack of standards, systems with credible information, and understanding of the nature of real-time data often prevents collaboration and full utilization of real-time transit data.

1.3.3 Parking

With respect to parking, notable progress has been made in the past few years in providing real-time parking availability information. The public and private sectors are working together to make this information readily available to the public in real time, as well as to explore the possibility of actively managing parking availability by adjusting prices. Often, parking is available, but travelers are not properly matched to spaces. In other situations, public parking is in short supply, but private parking is readily available; or there truly is a parking shortage, but travelers are not aware of it until they arrive at their destination.

Increasingly, ITS is seen as a potential solution for many of today’s parking shortage problems, including issues related to parking for passenger and commercial vehicles. Advanced parking information systems (APIS) have resulted in measurable traffic flow improvements for locations including airports and downtown central business districts. Public- and private-sector agencies also have technology options available to monitor parking utilization and the paid status of parked vehicles in real time to increase the percentage of parking violators that are cited. Thus, such information systems have benefits for the traveling public as well as the potential to increase revenue for regional and local governments. Potential business models are being developed for smart parking applications for both the private and public sectors including models based on payment from end users and municipalities; these models will continue to develop over the next few years.

1.3.4 Freight

Both government and the industry are concerned with the increasing congestion faced by freight and intermodal traffic on the nation’s heavy-freight highway corridors and at freight bottlenecks. Commercial drivers are often already aware of recurring congestion, but need additional updates to inform them of unexpected delays stemming from incidents, road closures, and weather. Truckers use traveler information applications from both the public (e.g., 511 systems and DMS) and private (e.g., telematics) sectors to help them to increase their productivity, improve routing and route choices, optimize fuel consumption, and more effectively manage time. For example, dynamic routing around traffic incidents will allow truckers to decrease the amount of time lost due to non-recurring congestion, which is currently estimated to cause 40 percent to 60 percent of the lost productivity.

The public sector has focused some of its real-time freight information technology on providing additional freight-specific information to truckers as part of existing traveler information systems. These add-ons consider the size, probable route choices, and operational characteristics of commercial vehicles. For example, instead of the local weather updates that most passenger vehicles would be interested in, trucks on long-haul routes might be interested in predicted weather conditions several hundred miles down the road. Truckers might also require information regarding parking availability along their route in order to properly utilize their available hours of service. The public sector has also focused on deploying systems at intermodal facilities and border crossings, where freight traffic frequently bottlenecks.

The private sector has developed in-vehicle communications systems that can be installed in a vehicle’s cab to provide additional real-time information regarding weather, routing, and congestion. These systems can also provide information related to tolling and truck lanes, size and weight restrictions and permitting, and security. Systems can also be leveraged as probes to track individual truck movements and operational performance metrics to more closely manage fleet operations.

1.4 Research Methodology

The process for the development of this report included performing a literature review, conducting a series of interviews with industry experts, synthesizing an overall industry assessment and gap analysis, and developing recommendations. Information was gleaned through review of literature and interviews with industry experts from the public sector, private sector, and academic organizations with perspectives across each of the modes. Additional input and reviews from multimodal experts at the US DOT were sought to gain valuable insights to the process. With the breadth of potential information that could be utilized in this study, the research team focused on the following core focus areas within each mode to guide the research and interview processes:

Current systems and programs
Technology applications and data collection strategies
Coverage and extent of deployment
Data quality, including quality measures
Customer and internal usage of real-time data for traveler information
Procurement methods and business models
Agency perspectives on the current state of the industry and the current and future role of the public sector in the traveler information marketplace
Private-sector perspectives on important trends and developments in the industry, as well as approaches to partnering and business models
Gaps in the current real-time traveler information marketplace (technology, coverage, usage, etc.)
Trends and vision for the traveler information marketplace in the next 5-year horizon
Specific triggers or barriers to reaching that vision
Potential roles for the US DOT to advance the marketplace over the next 5 years.

This section describes the research team’s approach to consolidate the most recent research and industry perspectives on the real-time traveler information marketplace.

1.4.1 Literature Review

The literature review focused on identifying reports, studies, system documentation, user surveys, evaluations and procurement documentation, and regional and national statistics. The research team reviewed over 100 resources across all four modes, with approximately half covering the traffic mode. In most instances, available literature was able to provide quantifiable statistical data (such as coverage of 511 systems, number of transit agencies using AVL, regions deploying real-time parking, etc.) as well as program-specific documentation about current and past projects at the regional and national levels.

1.4.2 Interviews with Subject Matter Experts

The research team conducted interviews with more than 62 industry experts across modes, which included practitioners and system operators from the public sector, private-sector technology and service providers, academia, other industry experts (including association/coalition representatives), and the US DOT. The interviews captured current trends and issues not readily available in published literature and obtained input on the current and future states of the real-time traveler information marketplace.

1.4.3 Gap Analysis Synthesis

One of the key objectives of this study was to identify gaps in current approaches, systems, partnering strategies, and technologies relative to the real-time traveler information marketplace. This gap analysis assessed a range of different issues within each mode and identified gaps at the institutional level (e.g., partnerships and procurement strategies), coverage between systems operated by the public sector and those operated by the private sector, and variability in quality and different customers’ quality expectations as well as usage (which included how or if data collected could serve purposes beyond traveler information). Gaps range from inability to deploy data collection technologies on highways (by the public sector) beyond urban areas where demand is greatest for real-time network data, to effectively integrating multiple data sources (such as from different transit operators) for a comprehensive regional real-time data set.

1.5 Organization of Report

This report covers the four modes (i.e., traffic, transit, parking, freight) under six key topic areas (i.e., technology, data coverage, data quality, uses of real-time data, procurement, and costs). However, these modes and topic areas are inter-related. One topic area in a mode could potentially impact another topic area within that mode, the same topic area in another mode, or even another topic area in another mode. For example, advancements in data collection technology in one mode could potentially reduce traveler information system implementation costs and help increase the data coverage and quality for that mode, thereby increasing its usage. At the same time, since many of the modes utilize similar technology, including sensors and probes for data collection, communications infrastructure for data transmission, computer applications for data aggregation, and various types of equipment for information dissemination, advancements in technology could potentially benefit more than one mode. Achievements in deploying 511 systems, developing data quality metrics, and creating data procurement models can also have similar multi-modal impacts.

In view of these interdependencies, this white paper presents an integrated modal perspective on the different aspects of the real-time traveler information marketplace. However, in some instances where applicable, this white paper describes specific modal issues in more detail to provide a comprehensive discussion on specific attributes or challenges. Each section includes an overview of the topic area, identifies important trends, discusses key gaps, and provides recommended strategies to close these gaps and roles for the US DOT in addressing the gaps. Table 1.1 lists the key sections of the white paper.

Table 1.1 : White Paper Key Sections
Section	Highlights and Topics Covered
1. Introduction and Overview	Presents the background and objective for the study, provides a context for the different modes being examined, and presents the research approach. This section also includes some important cross-cutting issues and trends among the mode areas.
2. Background	Discusses different technologies to support real-time data collection and information dissemination, as well as identifies emerging technologies and applications. Also identifies different procurement approaches for real-time data, and some of the challenges with public-private procurement processes.
3. Real-Time Data Coverage	Discusses coverage from a modal perspective, with subsections on traffic, transit, parking, and freight. Also details coverage gaps for each of the respective modes.
4. Data Quality	Looks at the different quality measures and metrics in use today for traveler information, including tools to measure quality. Also discusses how quality is perceived from different perspectives and identifies gaps.
5. Uses of Real-Time Data	Discusses the different ways in which real-time data can support traveler information, system management, and operations, as well as uses of data for performance monitoring and improvement. Also presents different perspectives from the public and the private sectors.
6. Costs	Presents system costs by mode for information collection and dissemination, and discusses the different cost considerations for the various real-time systems. Also identifies summary-level costs to fill gaps at the national level.
7. Conclusions	Presents recommendations and roles for the US DOT and other entities to close the real-time data gap and achieve the vision of real-time information for all roads and modes, all of the time.

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