COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND ENERGY BENEFITS OF DYNAMIC LANE ASSIGNMENT SIGNS

This research report documents the procedure adopted to identify the most cost-effective Dynamic Lane Assignment Signs (DALAS) system for various freeway design and operations problems. This procedure involves evaluation of the operational effectiveness of the two DALAS systems now operating in Texas cities, estimation of true construction and maintenance costs, performance of cost-effectiveness analysis of the two systems, recommendation of optimal strategies for various typical applications, and estimation of potential energy savings for all designs. Chapter One provides background information, discusses the need to identify the most cost-effective DALAS system for various applications, and outlines the objectives of the research program. Chapter Two and Chapter Three discuss the operational effectiveness of the advanced version of DALAS system being used in Houston and the basic version of DALAS system being used in Dallas, respectively. Chapter Four explains the cost-effectiveness methodology used. Chapter Five provides estimates of the capital costs of the two signage systems. Chapter Six discusses the potential energy savings associated with the use of the DALAS system as compared to the static lane assignment system (the basic system). Chapter Seven documents the conclusions and recommendations of the research.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Supported by a grant from the Office of the Governor of the State of Texas, Energy Office.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Southwest Region University Transportation Center

  Texas A&M University
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Authors:
  • Messer, C J
  • Prabhakar, D
  • Morris, V A
• Publication Date: 1994-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 87 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Capital costs; Cost effectiveness; Freeway operations; Recommendations
• Old TRIS Terms: Dynamic lane assignment signs; Energy savings
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Research; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00664251
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SWUTC/94/60038-1
• Contract Numbers: 0079
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 2 1994 12:00AM