Traffic Information Dissemination Media

Media matched to message type, length and timing

• TV (full time versus conventional news cast)
  • Easy access to traffic hotspots on UW2.TV
  • Channel 76 on digital cable
  • Low cost to public (user)
  • Higher cost to disseminator
  • Short duration message
  • Misses details, some geographic areas
  • Only for pre-trip information
  • Generally not available on  demand
• Radio
  • Low cost to public (user)
  • Short duration message
  • Misses details, some geographic areas
  • Pre-trip or en-route information
  • Generally not available on demand
  • Timeliness/accuracy of reports often questioned

• Variable/changeable message sign (VMS / CMS)
  • Good for en-route information
  • Only at locations where they can be seen (geographically constrained)
  • Short duration message
  • Messages need to be current or will be ignored
  • Location is important
  • Prior to decision point
• Highway Advisory Radio (HAR)
  • Limited power/range makes this a en-route technology
  • Longer message about a specific geographic area
  • Can you keep the message up to date?
  • Questions about how many people will turn their radios to the proper channel
• Web
  • Pre-trip information (becoming en-route with wireless web)
  • Ability to provide very detailed, very specific information (if that information is available)
  • Wide geographic area coverage is possible
  • Allows interaction with the customer
  • Not everyone has an internet connection (social equity?)
  • How accessible is it at home?
• Specialty devices (route guidance devices)

Other media

• E-mail
  • Pre-trip information delivery
  • Can be tuned to specific routes / times
  • Requires timely e-mail delivery
  • Useful for “routine” trips
  • Not useful for “unusual” trips
  • Requires e-mail to be accessible
  • Can provide extensive information (routing instructions)
• Mail
  • Pre-trip Information
  • Wide geographic area
  • Wide variety of information
  • Relatively low cost
  • Not real time
  • Does it get read?
• Telephone (hotline – cell phone / conventional phone)
  • Automated system allows user to pick and choose information desired
  • Hard to develop such a system
  • Can user access phone line when information is needed and is wanted?
  • 511

• Kiosks
  • Good stand-alone application
  • Hard to keep operational (high upkeep cost)
  • Requires connection to the data source
  • Allows information display in locations devoid of electronics
  • Accessible to all
  • Multi-function kiosk? (something besides transportation information)

Attributes of Dissemination technologies

• • Availability to the public
  • Timeliness
  • Geographic coverage of message
  • Length of message
  • Cost to produce message
  • Cost to operate / maintain the delivery device
    • User cost
    • Producer cost
  • Who controls the device? (public / private)