Objective

1. Develop a method to quantify the contributions of different causes of productivity decline during congestion, and to gauge the potential increases in productivity through ramp metering, incident management, and traveler in formation; and
2. Apply this method to one freeway corridor, using freeway data from PeMS, augmented with arterial data, data about incidents from CHP, TASAS, and FSP, and other data (weather, special events, lane closures) if available.

Methodology

Two steps are involved. The first step is to specify statistical models for (1) causes of congestion, (2) productivity, and (3) productivity gains from congestion mitigation strategies. The models have to be validated.

The second step is to use these models for a particular freeway corridor. The corridor will be selected based on availability of data and Caltrans interest.

Throughout the research close contact with Caltrans monitors will be maintained to ensure utility of the research product.