The development of VMS strategies

Abstract

One aim of the ROMANSE project, based at Southampton, England, is to improve the operating efficiency of the road network by providing traffic and travel information and associated traffic control. To achieve such time and accurate travel information, it is necessary to have comprehensive network monitoring, information dissemination facilities, and an urban traffic control system (UTC) able to manage an integrated strategy. This paper describes the activities which are coordinated in the ROMANSE Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) in Southampton. One of the most important parts of the TTIC is the Travel Terminal, which allows the collation of information distributed to police, motoring organisations, and broadcasters. Within ROMANSE, several variable message signs (VMS) have been installed, or will very soon be installed, to provide car park or route guidance; mobile VMS are used for roadworks or special events. The ROMANSE modelling work is based on a CONTRAM traffic assignment model of the Southampton road network, which simulates the road network in normal conditions to obtain the base traffic assignment. The paper discusses the modelling results, the VMS messages, the development of off-line strategies, system operation, and the two-stage process of evaluating the system. For the covering abstract, see IRRD E100187.