CHICAGO AREA EXPRESSWAY SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL: FINAL REPORT

The Chicago area expressway network features the world's first and largest freeway traffic surveillance and control system. From pioneer experiments with detector/telemetry/computer monitoring of traffic flow, and the development of entrance ramp metering, the real-time system now covers 105 miles (169 km), with 1600 detector locations and 54 controlled ramps. This report describes the surveillance and control system and its basic components, documents the implementation and operational experience, evaluates ramp control effectiveness, assesses costs and benefits, and relates the use of electronic traffic aids to overall urban freeway traffic management efforts. The Chicago area case study illustrates successful progress towards reducing freeway congestion, improving flows, increasing safety, expediting emergency responses, and providing motorist aid and information.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Expressway Surveillance Report 27.
• Corporate Authors:

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Physical Research
  126 East Ash Street
  Springfield, IL  United States  62704-4766

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1979-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 180 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Computers; Detectors; Evaluation; Expressways; Freeways; Highway traffic control; Management; Measures of effectiveness; Monitoring; Ramps; Real time control; Surveillance; Systems engineering; Telemetry; Traffic congestion; Traffic control; Traffic engineering; Traffic flow; Traffic safety; Transportation operations; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Systems management; Transportation management
• Old TRIS Terms: Real time operation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00313180
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IL-ES-27
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 7 1980 12:00AM