The Siskiyou Pass Traveler Information and Incident Management Early-Winner Project Final Report for Showcase Evaluation #1 Prepared by Eli Cuelho, Research Engineer & Audrey Kalinowski, Research Assistant of the Western Transportation Institute College of Engineering Montana State University – Bozeman for the State of California Department of Transportation New Technology and Research Program and the State of Oregon Department of Transportation Traffic Management Section in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration April 2004 Disclaimer The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the California Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Transportation or the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Alternative accessible formats of this document will be provided upon request. Persons with disabilities who need an alternative accessible format of this information, or who require some other reasonable accommodation to participate, should contact Kate Heidkamp, Western Transportation Institute, PO Box 174250, Montana State University – Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59717-4250, telephone: (406) 994-6114, fax: (406) 994-1697. For the hearing impaired, call (406) 994-4331. Western Transportation Institute Page i Acknowledgements WTI would like to give special thanks to so many who took time out of their busy schedules to assist with the Siskiyou Pass Project. Without their help, the results of this project would not have been nearly as positive. Due to the long list, we extend our apologies in advance if we inadvertently missed your name. Clyde Aker Coco Briseño Ed Cox Frank Herman Dino Johnson California Department of Jeff Kiser Transportation Phil Potts Steve Rogers Myrlane Wederbrook Russ Wenham Everett Carroll Larry McKinley Galen McGill Oregon Department of Robert Sechler Transportation Michael Spaeth Robert Tolman John Vial Nancy Braga John Cizin Ed Fincel California Highway Patrol Jon Lopey Ray Pierce Lance Wood Mike Buckman Dan Durbin Ralph Nelson Oregon State Police Brian Powers Gordon Renskers Terry Simons Kevin O’Lacklin Dan Speiss Nor Cal EMS Deana Stevenson Sandra Slattery Ashland Chamber of Commerce Western Transportation Institute Page ii Greg Case Ashland Fire and Rescue Rich Walsh Ashland Police Department George Edgerton California Trucking Association Randy Lecroy Motor Carriers Services – POE Susan Westfeldt Ken and Diane Twin View Towing Robertson Bill Ullom USF Reddaway Also, a special thanks to Amy Habets and Steve Albert for their work producing the Incident Management plan for this project. Western Transportation Institute Page iii Contents Table of Contents Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 1 Evaluation of Traveler Information ITS...................................................................................... 1 Development of Incident Management Plan and Winter Response Plan.................................... 2 Background..................................................................................................................................... 5 Description of Siskiyou Pass....................................................................................................... 5 Motivation ................................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 9 Incident Management ................................................................................................................ 10 Traveler Information Services................................................................................................... 10 Traveler Mobility....................................................................................................................... 10 Data Collection.......................................................................................................................... 11 Organization of Final Report..................................................................................................... 11 Section One: Evaluation of Traveler Information ITS ........................................................... 12 Traveler Surveys ........................................................................................................................... 13 Survey Design ........................................................................................................................... 13 Survey Design Evolution........................................................................................................... 13 Survey Administration............................................................................................................... 14 Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Comparative Analysis ............................................................................................................... 16 Demographic Characteristics........................................................................................................ 17 Residence................................................................................................................................... 17 Gender ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Age ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Vehicle Type ............................................................................................................................. 19 Trip Purpose .............................................................................................................................. 20 Trip Length................................................................................................................................ 20 Income ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Traveler Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 22 Frequency of Travel................................................................................................................... 22 Season of Travel ........................................................................................................................ 23 Road & Weather Information Resources Used ......................................................................... 24 Importance of Various Types of Information to Travelers........................................................ 24 Alternate Route.......................................................................................................................... 26 Response to Road Closure or Significant Delay ....................................................................... 26 Functional Measures ..................................................................................................................... 28 Changeable Message Signs ....................................................................................................... 28 Highway Advisory Radio.......................................................................................................... 29 Touch-Screen Information Kiosks ............................................................................................ 30 Road/Weather Information on the Internet................................................................................ 30 Western Transportation Institute Page iv Contents Siskiyou Pass Camera Images on the Internet........................................................................... 31 Summary of ITS Functionality.................................................................................................. 32 Evaluation Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 34 Section Two: Development of Incident Management Plan and Winter Response Plan....... 36 Incident Management Plan Development..................................................................................... 37 National Review of Similar Plans ............................................................................................. 38 Determine Incident Scenarios.................................................................................................... 39 Data Collection and Analysis........................................................................................................ 40 Frequency of Incidents .............................................................................................................. 40 Incident Response...................................................................................................................... 53 Operational Impacts................................................................................................................... 54 Factors Affecting Staging and Parking.....................................................................................