COST EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION OF FREEWAY COURTESY PATROLS IN HOUSTON

Incidents, whether due to accidents or stalled vehicles, are a major cause of congestion on urban freeways. Besides causing inconvenience to motorists, incidents also create safety hazards on the freeway. To increase safety and to provide assistance and security to motorists District 12 of the Texas Highway Department has been operating a motorist courtesy patrol on some of Houston's freeways. A questionnaire study and a cost-effectiveness analysis were used to evaluate the operation of the patrol. The questionnaire study indicated that motorists aided by the patrol were overwhelmingly in favor of continuation of the program. The cost-effectiveness analysis showed the patrol to have a benefit-cost ratio of 2 to 1. Several additional benefits that could not be quantified are also discussed. The patrol performs beneficial services and should be continued. /FHWA/

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/tti/165-16.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/42G1022
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research conducted with the cooperation of DOT, FHWA. Study Title: "Development of Urban Traffic Management and Control Systems".
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011
• Authors:
  • Fambro, D B
• Publication Date: 1974-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 46 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Freeway operations; Motorist aid systems; Questionnaires; Traffic congestion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Patrol
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097794
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• ISBN: 42G1022
• Report/Paper Numbers: Intrm Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: 2-18-72-165
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 10 1975 12:00AM