Advanced Traveler Information Systems September 1998

part of the operational test, but has been
discontinued. The Travel-Aid weather stations
and radar detectors provide information to the
TMC and augment the existing traveler
information system of advisory radio, 1-800
SNOW INFO, and the Washington Department
of Transportation (WSDOT) web page.
Preliminary field testing is currently underway,
with a final evaluation report expected in
September 1998.
Transit En-Route Information
En-route transit information systems are starting
to be developed in the U.S. as the
implementation of AVL systems with improved
collection and distribution of data make real-
time information available. Projects integrating
traffic and transit information, particularly to

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U.S. Department of Transportation
September
1998
Federal Highway Administration
Booz
·
Allen & Hamilton
Advanced Traveler Information Systems Field Operational Test Cross-Cutting Study
9
promote the shift from Single Occupant
Vehicles (SOV) to High Occupancy Vehicles
(HOV), include the FOT Travlink and the
California Smart Traveler project. One way to
encourage modal shift is by providing drivers
with guidance to park and ride lots and including
real-time information on public transit services.
European studies have identified that service
“reliability and punctuality are perhaps the most
important requirements influencing the
perception of a public transport system.” The
presence of en-route traveler information
systems can significantly contribute to this
perception.
3
FINDINGS
The following sections present the findings of
this report organized in five categories:
•
Impacts
–whether the results of the tests
caused changes
•