A dial-in telephone system is being installed in Dallas, Texas, to inform motorists of traffic conditions on a major expressway leading to the central business district. This paper summarizes the findings of a questionnaire administered to over 300 motorists in 7 central business firms. The questionnaire was designed to establish the degree of interest in the service and to help develop design and operational criteria for the phone messages. The results of the survey indicate that 75 percent of the respondents stated that they would use the service. Their greatest interest was in information regarding location and degree of congestion, alternate routes, the reason for congestion, and whether a lane was blocked. Messages based on the survey results were recommended for various situations, and other design and operational criteria were specified. A follow-up study is planned to be conducted after the system is in use to determine motorists' evaluation and use of the system.
Abstract