Implementation and evaluation of the Sacramento regional transportation management center weather alert notification system. Prepared for the U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Operations.

This report presents the results of an evaluation of Caltrans District 3 Regional Transportation Management Center’s (RTMC) implementation of a weather alert notification system. This alert system was selected for implementation from among several weather information integration strategies identified by the RTMC through a self-evaluation process supported by the FHWA Road Weather Management Program. The weather types of particular interest to RTMC operations are fog, wind and frost. These weather conditions have potential consequences for the operation of their transportation system and the safety of the traveling public. The RTMC desired to more effectively and proactively manage their system and keep their traveling public well informed when faced with these weather conditions. They implemented a system that automatically generates adverse weather warnings and alerts to the RTMC operators to help them make more timely and effective decisions regarding posting advisory messages to the public on electronic roadside message signs. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to support evaluation measures in both the baseline and post-deployment periods. The evaluation focused on several significant weather events (fog, wind and frost), documenting the alerts, the progress of the event, and operator messaging responses to the event. It identified a need for operator training and for clear procedures to guide the use of the alert system, and these improvements were implemented on an on-going basis during the course of the evaluation over the 2009-2010 winter period. Management intends to fine tune their alert system, including adding additional sensors when their budgets will allow that, based on the evaluation findings, to further enhance the alert system’s effectiveness. (Author/publisher)