The Changeable Message Sign Operation and Messaging Handbook is written for personnel in state, regional, and local transportation agencies that have responsibility for the operation of and/or message design for large permanent changeable message signs (CMSs) or portable CMSs. The Handbook is designed to help both new and experienced users of CMSs at various levels of the agency including a) entry level personnel, b) personnel very experienced with traffic operations, and c) managers. It provides very specific information for entry-level personnel, reminders for experienced personnel, and higher-level information for managers regardless whether or not they work in one of the traffic management centers in the state. The Changeable Message Sign Operation and Messaging Handbook contains the following ten modules: 1) Introduction; 2) Overview of CMS Applications, Issues, and Message Design Operations; 3) CMS Operations Policies; 4) CMS Operating Fundamentals; 5) Principles of CMS Message Design; 6) Dealing with Long Messages; 7) Establishing the Maximum Message Length; 8) Formatting Messages; 9) Dynamic Features on CMSs; 10) CMS Operations Procedures and Guidelines; and 11) CMS Message Design Process. It also contains the following appendices: Appendix A - CMS Message Design Process: Incidents, and Appendix B - CMS Message Design: Roadwork. (Author/publisher)
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