Overview
In this case study you will learn:
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How Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) uses TSMO strategies and technology deployments to facilitate parallel freeway-arterial traffic management, continued incident management, safety, mobility, SPaT, and CAV readiness efforts.
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How Maryland’s US 1, parallel to I-95 between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. became The US 1 Innovative Technology Deployment Corridor and how it is the first TSMO project that focuses exclusively on innovative arterial operations and using ATM solutions as a package. This project is also the pilot for Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) applications in the state of Maryland.
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How This project will improve traffic, incident/emergency, weather and special event management and operations along this segment of the I-95/US 1 corridor.
Background
Maryland’s US 1 is heavily traveled and will benefit from improved access and connectivity to area commerce and local transit, and help people get where they want to go safely. It was found that incidents that occur during peak hours on nearby area freeways are the primary cause of congestion on US 1. The goal of this project was to add technology to improve corridor operations during incidents and special events that cause traffic to divert from area freeways onto US 1. The US 1 corridor parallels I-95, which connects the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. beltways. US 1 serves as the primary detour route during roadway incidents along I-95. Prior to this project, there were no arterial DMS or Travel Time Sensors along the US 1 Corridor to aid in monitoring or managing traffic along the route. The project also provided an opportunity to deploy new and innovative C-V2X technology for testing, resulting in lessons learned for future deployments. The project uses TSMO strategies and technology deployments to facilitate parallel freeway-arterial traffic management, continued incident management, safety, mobility, SPaT, and CAV readiness efforts.
TSMO Planning, Strategies and Deployment
As a part of Transportation Systems Mobility and Operations (TSMO) initiatives, the Office of Transportation Mobility and Operations (OTMO) is shifting its focus from spot-deployment projects to Innovative Congestion Management (ICM) and Advanced Transportation Management (ATM) solutions. The US 1 Innovative Technology Deployment Corridor is OTMO’s first TSMO project that focuses exclusively on innovative arterial operations and using ATM solutions as a package. This project is also the pilot for Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) applications in the state of Maryland.
The US 1 Innovative Technology Deployment Corridor involves TSMO strategies and technology deployments to facilitate parallel freeway-arterial traffic management, continued incident management, safety, mobility, SPaT, and CAV readiness efforts. This project represents an ideal opportunity for MDOT SHA to combine efforts and demonstrate multi-office collaboration within the agency in pursuit of next-generation solutions to address recurring and non-recurring congestion issues. It also aims to secure travel time reliability along this section of the I-95/US 1 corridor. Key elements of this project are:
• Arterial Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras and Origin-Destination (O-D)/Travel Time (TT) Sensors to support traffic management, incident detection and response;
• C-V2X (Cellular-Vehicle-to-Everything) and Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Roadside Unit (RSU) deployments at intersections in support of CAV- and SPaT-related efforts;
• Upgraded Traffic Signal Controllers to support alternative traffic management algorithms and accommodate future connected vehicle (CV) applications. The CV/SPaT-related improvements being proposed include:
• Red Light Violation Warning (RLVW) – Warns drivers at risk of violating a red traffic signal indication;
• Signal Priority & Preemption – Enables transit, freight, or emergency vehicles to request priority and receive priority status response;
• Eco-Approach & Departure (ECO A/D) – Supports optimized car and commercial vehicle progression through the corridor;
• Pedestrian in Signalized Crosswalk Warning – Warns drivers of the presence of pedestrians in their path of travel; and
• Mobile Accessible Pedestrian Signal System (PED-SIG) – Allows visually- impaired pedestrians to request and receive cross indications using personal devices.
• Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) for travelers’ information and the implementation of a Highway Access Alert System;
• Fiber optic communication connectivity (with redundancy) to support this project and future needs; and
• Other communications considerations to support field equipment (e.g. Cellular, leased circuits, etc.).
Communications Planning and Execution
The project involved many systems engineering and stakeholder meetings, which included obtaining partner agency recommendations. The project was also a standing item at the MDOT SHA Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Working Group, which is comprised of representatives from various MDOT SHA offices, partner agencies, and private consultant firms. MDOT SHA's newsletter, Momentum, also featured an article on the project - https://apps.roads.maryland.gov/momentum/February2020
Outcome, Benefit and Learnings
This project will improve traffic, incident/emergency, weather and special event management and operations along this segment of the I-95/US 1 corridor
• The crash rate along several segments of US 1 is above the statewide average and improved operations and safety will help to reduce the frequency of crashes;
• Enhanced freeway-arterial operations and travelers’ information during Freeway Incident Traffic Management (FITM) Plan activations;
• A more robust ITS infrastructure and communications network will be available along this segment of the I-95/US 1 corridor;
• O-D/TT sensor deployments will provide data to identify travel patterns, traffic profiles and assist the agency with its planning and travel forecasting;
• Improved travel time reliability will be a product of this effort. Timing improvements along the US 1 corridor will support detours around network-crippling incidents occurring on I-95
• The 2020 Maryland Mobility Report indicates that, due to adaptive signal deployments, the Planning Time Index (PTI) on the US 1 corridor between Montgomery Road and MD 175 improved by 19%;
• Highway access alerts will help to prevent motorist and freight from getting caught in choke points along I-95;
• SPaT applications will facilitate improved freight operations and progression through priority and preemption ECO A/D deployments