Overview
Summary
Interstate 84 between Pendleton and La Grande, Oregon experiences some of the highest crash rates and severity in Eastern Oregon, making it a high priority for improvement. ODOT recognized a number of issues in the corridor related to hazardous weather. Winter weather in this corridor includes persistent heavy winter fog and blizzards that affect visibility, heavy snow and ice conditions, and high winds that overturn vehicles. Due to these issues, the I-84 Snow Zone project was developed to implement a $15.6M fully automated system that gathers real-time weather with surface condition readings and traffic data that is then used in Oregon DOT’s Active Traffic Management (ATM) system. This system provides traffic advisory messages to the public via 32 variable message signs and access to 21 live cameras accessible online at ODOT’s traveler information website www.TripCheck.com. The project installed 11 new Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) to capture road surface and atmospheric conditions along this road segment. The project also included the installation of luminaires with LED curve delineation lighting for use during heavy fog events. This project provides features that give motorists advanced warning that result in the reduced frequency of crashes, and provide ODOT personnel real-time information to focus winter maintenance priorities to the correct locations. This project will reduce the estimated $2.7M in annual closure-related costs experienced by delayed movements.
In this case study you will learn:
- How Interstate 84 between Pendleton and La Grande in Oregon experiences some of the highest crash rates and severity in Eastern Oregon, due to hazardous winter weather.
- How the I-84 Snow Zone project was developed to implement a $15.6M fully automated system that gathers real-time weather with surface condition readings and traffic data that is then used in Oregon DOT’s Active Traffic Management (ATM) system.
- This system provides traffic advisory messages to the public via 32 variable message signs and access to 21 live cameras accessible online at ODOT’s traveler information website www.TripCheck.com. The project installed 11 new Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) to capture road surface and atmospheric conditions along this road segment. The project also included the installation of luminaires with LED curve delineation lighting for use during heavy fog events
Background
Interstate 84 between Pendleton and La Grande experiences some of the highest crash rates and severity in Eastern Oregon, making it a high priority for improvement. ODOT recognized a number of issues in the corridor related to hazardous weather. Winter weather in this corridor includes persistent heavy winter fog and blizzards that affect visibility, heavy snow and ice conditions, and high winds that overturn vehicles. The segment referred to as Emigrant Hill is particularly hazardous. I-84 drops around 2000 feet with a 6% grade and a series of hairpin turns. The unique landscape with significant changes in elevation create a two-to-three times greater crash rate than the statewide average for interstates. Over 75% of the crashes involve out-of-state commercial vehicle drivers unfamiliar with the terrain. This area, far from utility power, prevented the installation of other ITS improvements in the past.
Weather related crashes create a number of operational challenges, including the safety of motorists and ODOT employees, road closure related congestion at the I-84/Hwy 331 Interchange at Exit 216, and delayed emergency response to incidents leading to reduced winter-time travel reliability. This causes a high cost to motorists, freight haulers, and intercity transit. On this corridor, previous analysis of freeway closures showed a yearly average of 40 closure hours and annually cost the public $2.7M in delay, congestion, and other impacts. Reduction in visibility, high winds, slippery roads, steep grades, and truck volumes are key contributors to crashes and closures inspiring a TSMO solution.
TSMO Planning, Strategies and Deployment
In 2017-2018, an I-84 Pendleton-La Grande VSL and Corridor Management Plan was developed to evaluate over 200 miles of I-84 and I-82 in Eastern Oregon. The planning effort sought to find transportation system management and operations (TSMO) solutions to improve safety and operations along the two interstate routes. From this plan, the I-84 Snow Zone project was developed. The implemented project was a $15.6M fully automated system that gathers real-time weather with surface condition readings and traffic data that is then used in Oregon DOT’s Active Traffic Management (ATM) system.
This system provides traffic advisory messages to the public via 32 variable message signs and access to 21 live cameras accessible online at ODOT’s traveler information website www.TripCheck.com. The project installed 11 new Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) to capture road surface and atmospheric conditions along this road segment. The project also included the installation of luminaires with LED curve delineation lighting for use during heavy fog events. Information from the weather stations is used by ODOT’s statewide ATM software system to automatically generate real-time warning messages for slippery or icy road conditions, low visibility, and high winds.
Additionally, ATM provides automated notifications to the Traffic Operations Center (TOC) of severe conditions that would require the interstate to be closed. To assist with efficiently implementing interstate closures, a freeway on-ramp gate installed in the middle of the corridor can be remotely closed to prevent vehicles from entering the freeway. Due to the remote location, utility power was not available through much of the corridor. ODOT had to install its own underground, 7.2 kV electrical service along 10 miles of the steepest section of the corridor.
Communications Planning and Execution
I-84 is a critical connection for both local motorists and those from out of the area, including motor carriers and tourist- related travelers. To better define the issues and identify appropriate corrections, the I-84 Pendleton-La Grande VSL and Corridor Management Plan was developed with input from stakeholders, including local businesses, freight industry representatives, emergency responders, community members, transit operators and members of the nearby Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In- person workshops were held in Pendleton, La Grande and Ontario as well as several online open houses. The I-84 Snow Zone Safety Improvement project advanced many of the recommendations that came out of that plan. Before, during and after project construction, we used local media, including newspaper, social media and radio, to inform travelers of the project and its impacts, emphasizing what they could expect after the project’s completion: a safer, more informed and more reliable journey on I-84.
Outcome, Benefit and Learnings
This project was able to leverage ODOT’s previous experience with ATM projects and ODOT’s existing statewide ATM software system. These systems provide both weather and congestion based solutions in urban and rural locations. I-84 Snow Zone Safety Improvement Project is the latest of Oregon’s ATM implementations. The I-84 Snow Zone Safety Improvement Project has succeeded in providing automatic real-time advisory messages to inform motorists about hazardous conditions. While the system has only operated through one winter season, the safety improvements have led to reduced winter closures and the related congestion at the I-84/Hwy 331 Eastbound Interchange where vehicles exit the freeway during closures. Real-time road weather information and tailored notifications provided ODOT crews accurate information for focusing emergency response in addition to accurate prioritization of winter maintenance activities. The enhanced network of cameras in the corridor helps direct emergency response to the correct location and allows responders to plan a more efficient response to the incident. Winter travel reliability has improved with reduced crashes and interstate closures.
The improved travel reliability and safety improvements, resulting from the project directly, supports freight and commerce. This corridor is almost 50% truck traffic, so closures affect freight haulers and consumers, dependent on freight, particularly hard. The overwhelming majority of closures, related to commercial vehicles, hazardous weather, spinouts or wrecks, block the road and, take significant time to clear. This project provides features that give motorists advanced warning that result in the reduced frequency of crashes, and provide ODOT personnel real-time information to focus winter maintenance priorities to the correct locations. This project will reduce the estimated $2.7M in annual closure-related costs experienced by delayed movements.
ODOT was able to develop reliable electrical power to vital portions of I-84 that had none. Adding 10 miles of buried power, to what has been an electrical desert, was a significant part of the project and corresponded to locations of our more significant accident locations. This allowed for the installation of ITS features for the current project, but more importantly, this electrification will allow for improved ITS, connected vehicles, and operational improvements in the future, creating foundational improvement for the next generation of transportation and operational improvements.