Criteria for Portable ATIS in Work Zones

The purpose of the study was to determine the best practice for the temporary deployment of advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) in highway work zones. ATISs can be as complex as devices that provide real-time information about delays or alternate routes or as simple as devices that activate radar detectors within vehicles. This study comprehensively compares and contrasts 16 different devices in 27 separate deployments throughout the United States. Particular attention is paid to system configuration, message content, media, information processing, and real-time data collection methods. Systems are compared for their effectiveness for warning drivers, promoting smother traffic flow, improving safety, calming traffic, and reducing delay. The study recommends an 11 step procedure whereby traffic engineers can choose the most appropriate ATIS configuration for any given work zone.