Cedar Rapids ITS Deployment Project

Cedar Rapids ITS Deployment Project Concept of Operations July 29, 2011

Table of Contents Section 1 Introduction Purpose Goal of ITS Deployments Section 2 Needs Assessment General Background Stakeholders Current Issues Section 3 Suggested Strategies Proposed ITS Deployment Existing ITS Devices SIMS Software New ITS Devices Coordinated Incident Management Section 4 Implementation Notes Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 2

Section 1 Introduction In early 2011, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) began a process to evaluate the potential for the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies within the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. As part of the process, a Needs Assessment document based upon local stakeholders input was developed. The Needs Assessment documented traffic operations problems associated with traffic incidents and ongoing congestion within the Cedar Rapids area. Purpose The purpose of the Cedar Rapids ITS Project is to investigate and deploy advanced technologies and institute operation procedures to help mitigate existing traffic concerns and future potential concerns in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. The deployment of an ITS system may offer additional opportunities to disseminate accurate and timely traffic information to the travelling public so they can make educated decisions on their travel options (e.g., taking an alternative route to their destination). Additionally, previous ITS network deployments by the Iowa DOT have provided new traffic and incident management tools to authorized users responsible for traffic operations. Goal of ITS Deployments The goal of the Iowa DOT s ITS program is to provide systems that improve the safety and efficiency of our transportation system and mitigate traffic impacts resulting from daily traffic congestion and traffic incidents, both planned (e.g., construction, special events) and unplanned (e.g., crashes). In addition to the installation of ITS devices and infrastructure, the Iowa DOT has coupled a comprehensive traffic incident management planning effort with ITS deployment projects. By coordinating the efforts of local stakeholders, both public and private sector, the ability to leverage the benefits of new ITS technologies is increased. Planning how to utilize ITS (e.g., preplanned DMS messages), and deciding in advance what actions will be taken (e.g., utilizing an alternative route when a pre defined situation occurs), help to meet the goals of improved safety and efficiency of traffic operations. Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 3

Section 2 Needs Assessment General Background The Cedar Rapids ITS deployment project is centered on the I 380 corridor from Wright Brothers Blvd northerly to County Home Road. The project also incorporates US 30 from 16th Ave. SW easterly to the US 30/IA 13 and IA 13 from the US 30 interchange northerly to US Business 151 (7th Ave.) in Marion. The project area includes the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, and Robins. The study area includes: I 380 from Wright Brothers Blvd north to I 380 at County Home Rd; US 30 from 16 th Avenue SW east to US 30 at IA 13; IA 100 (Collins Rd) from Edgewood Blvd east to IA 13. Stakeholders Primary stakeholders comprise those agencies that have a role in the operation or policy development for the system. This includes any agencies that may collect, contribute, convey, process or distribute information associated with the system, and those that have a role in setting policy for system operations. City Fire Department (Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins) City Police Department (Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins) City Public Works Department (Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins) FHWA (Iowa) Iowa Communications Network (ICN) Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) Iowa DOT Research & Technology Iowa DOT District Office Iowa DOT District Maintenance Manager Iowa DOT Area Maintenance Garage Iowa DOT Resident Construction Engineer s (RCE) Office Iowa DOT Statewide Operations Support Center (SOSC) Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 4

Iowa State Patrol Local Media Outlets Other Local Law Enforcement Metropolitan Planning Organization (Corridor MPO) 911 Center(s) (Cedar Rapids Police, Marion Police, Linn County Sheriff) Linn County Emergency Management Linn County Sheriff they also have a paramedic unit Linn County Secondary Roads Others Commercial Vehicle Operators Tow and Recovery Service Operators Current Issues A stakeholder workshop was held in Cedar Rapids on March 3, 2011. The workshop was intended to solicit input from local stakeholders for incorporation into the Needs Assessment and Concept of Operations for this project as well as for a separate Iowa DOT study, by HNTB Corporation, analyzing the ITS needs for a short stretch of I 380 near the Cedar River crossing. The workshop was attended by 23 stakeholders including representatives from local public works departments, law enforcement, fire and rescue, the Iowa DOT, Federal Highway Administration, and the towing and recovery industry. A Needs Assessment document was developed for this project based upon the stakeholder workshop. The Needs Assessment identified the following problem areas: The quality and quantity of information provided to the travelling public on traffic incidents or roadway conditions is insufficient. o Getting messages on DMS s far enough from incident to get drivers to good alternate routes o Better messages on DMS s that better inform drivers o Getting drivers to believe the message on the signs o Do not put too much reliance on drivers heeding messages on DMS o Minimizing secondary incidents by better diversion of traffic better use of diversion tools DMS, arrow boards, etc. o Use of ITS on arterial streets to provide direction to drivers to use alternate interchanges to avoid congestion Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 5

Notification of incidents to those responsible for traffic operations and/or public safety is not timely or does not provide adequate information to quickly and appropriately respond. o A lack of situational awareness results in delayed and inefficient response to traffic incidents. o Response issues in the 5 in 1 area getting proper equipment to deal with spills dispatching from various areas of the town to quickly respond cameras would be very beneficial to get a more accurate description of the location of an incident o Police not familiar with use of mile marker more intuitive to use street names o Need to get local 911 centers involved in incident management efforts and planning not present at this meeting o How do we share camera views/resources between agencies who has control of the camera view? How do agencies coordinate this? o Might be limitations with communications infrastructure to operate available technologies o City just put up PTZ cameras needs coordination with Iowa DOT ITS as well as local police, EMS, others Barriers to clearing incidents quickly exist. o Improving communication with other agencies involved in an incident Many Hats o Even small incidents require a lot of resources to handle traffic control in 5 in 1 area only use cones during major incidents o Police light flooding makes directional signs hard to distinguish, especially at night o rubbernecking causes bottlenecks o Are currently not tracking overall response times for past incidents o Lack of consistent training requirements for tow services Alternative routes for detouring traffic are not efficiently being utilized. o Development of diversion plans during incidents o Diversion routes are currently developed for each closure on an ad hoc basis. o Closing of ramps during incidents on I 380 how do you coordinate this? o A lot of enforcement officers to implement a diversion route deciding what routes, setting access points, etc. o North part of I 380 does not have a good diversion route Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 6

o Shift changing of agency staff during major incidents o North part of I 380 does not have a good diversion route County Home Rd not adequate to handle good diversion (unlike south parts with Hwy 13/151) lack of a good bypass route o NB I 380 and Hwy 30 weaving traffic creates lane usage issues becomes a safety and bottleneck area merging traffic slows overall traffic flow o SB I 380 and Hwy 30 challenging geometry at ramp split signing is not adequate creates a safety issue lane usage is not intuitive for the driver o More development along Hwy 30 creates safety issues with more at grade intersections o Traffic lights (lack of) at Hwy 13/Hwy 151 and Mt. Vernon Rd. creates bottlenecks existing all way stop Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 7

Section 3 Suggested Strategies Proposed ITS deployment ITS network communications and base infrastructure Communications to and from ITS devices, and communication between stakeholders is necessary in order to utilize ITS and enable better coordination among agencies. The network communications installation would include the fiber optic backbone for the ITS network and all hand holes, device cabinets, poles (for mounting cameras and sensors, etc.), fiber termination cabinets and electrical service. This installation would not include ITS devices (i.e., no camera, sensor or wireless equipment installation), but would provide the base infrastructure required for future ITS device deployment. The fiber optic communications network may extend from the DOT Maintenance Garage on Kirkwood Blvd north along 380 to connect ITS devices as well as a connection to the Iowa DOT District 6 Office. Additional fiber paths which may be considered include US 30 and IA 100. Camera Systems Camera systems will provide surveillance capabilities of the freeway system to aid in the identification of traffic incidents and the appropriate response to incidents by Iowa DOT staff and local stakeholders. Cameras will enable staff at the Iowa DOT SOSC to better utilize assets including DMS, 511, and DOT staff. Local stakeholders can use cameras to dispatch the correct number and type of resources to an incident scene as well as assess the safety of the travelling public and first responders. Traffic Sensor Systems Traffic sensor installations generally consist of side fire radar units which provide traffic flow information including speed, volume, and occupancy to SIMS for the generation of alerts and alarms to notify users of traffic incidents. SOSC operators and 911 staff can view sensor information, provided graphically, to observe traffic flow (i.e., a color coded traffic map showing where traffic is free flowing, slow, or stop and go). Additionally, traffic flow information is shared with the news media and the general public via 511 phone service and the 511ia.org website. Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 8

Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) HAR provides traffic information to motorists via AM radio broadcasts. HAR allows the Iowa DOT to communicate with drivers without the safety issues of using cell phones or smart phones while driving. HAR messages are generated by the 511 system. Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) Overhead and side mount DMS provide en route traveler information. The Coordinated Incident Management Planning effort may identify additional side mount DMS needed to improve communication with the public to provide incident information and facilitate traffic diversion. Existing ITS Devices The Iowa DOT previously installed a limited number of ITS devices in the Cedar Rapids area which should be integrated into any future ITS deployment. The Iowa DOT has the following ITS devices installed at this time: DMS I 380 north of 76th (NB); I 380 SB to US 30 WB ramp; I 380 at 15th Ave SW (NB); I 380 at Wilson Ave SW (SB); I 380 at 29th St NE (SB); I 380 at Tower Terrace Rd (SB); US 30 at Kirkwood Blvd (WB); US 30 west of Edgewood (EB). PTZ Cameras I 380 at Rest Area(NB); I 380 at Wright Bros Blvd; I 380 at 76th Ave; I 380 at US 30. RWIS US 30 west of I 380/US 30 interchange US 30 bridge over Cedar River I 380 5 in 1 structure Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 9

Statewide ITS Management Software (SIMS): SIMS provides an integrated automated traffic management system (ATMS) software package which enables DOT personnel and partner agencies to control and configure existing and future ITS devices statewide to assist in the management of traffic along Iowa s highways. SIMS interfaces with CARS, the Iowa DOT s 511 Traveler Information Service, to enable the delivery of real time traffic information to the general public. Figure 1 shows the flow of information to and from the SIMS software. Statewide ITS Management Software ---System Components--- Local Media Outlets Local Law Enforcement Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Systems Accident Info Cameras Traffic Sensors Public Web Sites Camera Video (No Control) Camera Video CARS 511 Travel Info System CARS-HAR Statewide ITS Management Software (SIMS) From CARS-HAR Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) Alerts Alarms Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) Ramp & Mainline Gates (I-29, I-35, I-74) LEGEND SIMS Project ITS Deployment Projects Figure 1 SIMS Software Information Flow Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 10

Coordinated Incident Management Planning As part of past ITS deployments, the Iowa DOT has included a comprehensive, coordinated incident management planning component as part of the design and deployment of ITS. The new tools provided by ITS devices require the Iowa DOT and local stakeholders to develop new strategies for utilization of ITS to increase the safety and efficiency of transportation for the general public and first responders. Incident management planning has included on scene best practices, coordination of communications and resource allocation amongst stakeholders, and the development of incident response plans. Incident management projects in other Iowa metropolitan areas have identified diversion routes, development of DMS plans for different scenarios, identification of individuals and agencies who respond to incidents based upon geographic location, and developed recommended response matrices. It is anticipated this effort will address issues similar to past efforts as well as the suggested improvements recommended by this and past studies of the area (e.g., 1/10 mile reference markers, trailblazer signs). Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 11

Section 4 Implementation Notes The Iowa DOT has not yet identified the funding stream for the ITS deployments in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. The Iowa DOT has estimated full deployment in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area will consist of 45+ PTZ cameras and 55+ traffic sensors. In addition, it is anticipated a single Highway Advisory Radio broadcast station will be installed. In past ITS deployments, the Iowa DOT has partnered with local stakeholders and other state agencies to leverage existing and newly installed infrastructure to maximize return on investment. It is anticipated that similar partnering opportunities will be investigated as part of the design of the Cedar Rapids ITS deployment. Cedar Rapids ITS Concept of Operations Page 12