The Use of Average Traffic Speeds to Indicate Level of Roadway Snow and Ice Control Operations

A method for the use of the average traffic speeds to indicate the level of snow and ice control operations during a winter storm event is proposed. The winter roadway snow and ice control decision making process is conventionally based on subjective field observations made by the winter maintenance personnel. Almost half of the about 170 RWIS stations deployed in Ohio have pavement sensors which measure the average traffic speeds and the traffic counts in addition to the standard road weather parameters. Driver’s were surveyed during winter storm events and the results were used to relate the level of snow and ice control operations to the traffic speeds expressed as a percentage of the average speed during dry conditions in winter as measured by the RWIS pavement sensors. Recommendations relating the percentage ranges of the average RWIS dry surface winter speeds to the level of snow and ice control operations are proposed. Average RWIS traffic speeds can be used to establish a more uniform and consistent level of winter maintenance decisions on an almost real time basis. It will also help to make winter maintenance activity evaluations more comparable across the state of Ohio.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Zwahlen, Helmut T
  • Suravaram, Kiran
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Highway operations; Operations; Real time information; Road weather information systems; Snow; Snow and ice control; Snow removal; Snowstorms; Traffic speed; Winter maintenance
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049626
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-1483
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 21 2007 1:18PM