This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
Title: Variable Speed Limit System for I-80 Elk Mountain Corridor
Principal Investigator's Name(s): Dr. Rhonda Young, P.E.
Project Sponsor: Wyoming Department of Transportation
Project Timeline: Completion February 2010
Background: Safety is a primary concern for transportation agencies and new methods are constantly being implemented to address this concern. One active area of research is the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to improve the safety of roadways. Variable speed limits (VSL) are one type of ITS system that has shown promise for improving safety on roadways subject to adverse conditions (FHWA, 2007). VSLs are systems that change either the advisory or the enforceable speed limits of a roadway based on conditions such as weather, traffic volumes, incidents, or the presence of roadway construction. VSL systems have been implemented on roadway segments such as I-40 in Arizona and I-90 in Washington. A more specialized version of a VSL has been implemented on steep downgrades on I-70 in Colorado and I-84 in Oregon. Maryland and Michigan have recently utilized VSL systems in work zones. VSL systems have also been installed in Australia to avoid rear-end collisions in the area south of Sydney, in France in the urban area of Marseille, in Germany to stabilize traffic flow during heavy volume conditions, and in Finland to improve safety during hazardous road conditions.
Phase I
- Determine Baseline Operating Conditions
- Purchase, Install, and Test VSL Signs
- Develop Decision-Support System
- Coordination with Highway Patrol
Phase 2
- Implementation of System
- Monitoring of System
- Determination of System Effectiveness
Long Term
Long Term Monitoring of Crash History on Corridor