Weather affects the performance and safety of the Nation's highway system every day. This article describes how, through the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Road Weather Management Program, partners from the transportation and meteorological communities are working together to develop strategies to reduce crashes and delays due to storms and harsh atmospheric conditions. Researchers are studying, developing, and implementing weather-responsive traffic management (WRTM) solutions. The FHWA Road Weather Management Program reviews current practices, documents the benefits of existing approaches, and identifies needs. Advancements in intelligent transportation systems, road weather information systems, weather and traffic data collection, and forecasting technologies can present new opportunities for better understanding how drivers behave in adverse weather and how their decisions affect traffic flow. Ultimately, these technologies can support WRTM strategies such as real-time modification of traffic signal and ramp meter timing, operation of automated deicing systems, and setting of variable speed limits. FHWA recently conducted research to identify relevant datasets, including domestic and international sources, and analysed the gaps between research needs and data availability. In addition, an effort is underway to develop applications using data culled from weather stations and the U.S. Department of Transportation's IntelliDrive initiative. Ongoing research will evaluate how weather and traffic information can improve traffic operations by enabling system managers to reset traffic signals and ramp meters; display advisory and warning messages; and make decisions on traffic control, maintenance, routing and diversion. In the near term, FHWA also plans to expand development and deployment of decision-support modules for traffic management in adverse weather. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting