Agency TRANSPORTATION DEPT

Contractor University of Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number 68347

Project Name Evaluation of the Effectiveness of ATM Messages Us

Project Number (if applicable) 99008W98

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: MnDOT has been in the forefront of Active Traffic Management (ATM) first with the I-35W system deployment in 2010 and on I-94 in 2012. The ATM system in both sites has several functions all aimed in actively influencing driver behavior to generate safer more optimal traffic conditions. Current and ongoing research is trying to evaluate the different aspects of the ATM infrastructure first focusing on the Variable Speed Limit (VSL) system and the MnPASS lane design. Incident management is perhaps the most important function that hasn’t been scrutinized yet. Although the I-35W implementation has been in operation for a while and overall experience has been positive, the low number of incidents and the fact that they are spread over the entire length of the roadway is not conducive to an investigation of the driver's compliance to the Intelligent Lane Control Signs (ILCS) which are at the heart of the ATM incident management function. The introduction of the ATM on I-94 and specifically in one of the highest crash frequency locations in the system opens a unique opportunity. This project proposes to expand the currently ongoing investigation of the safety effect of the VSL to collect observations and evaluate the effectiveness of the ILCS in influencing driver behavior. This project also aims in improving the ILCS deployment strategies to achieve the optimal response from the road users and minimize non-recurrent congestion as well as secondary incidents.
The project will capitalize on the ongoing data collection effort by the Minnesota Traffic Observatory to collect observations that will allow the comparison between incident management effectiveness in the traditional non-ATM way with the new strategies based on the ILCS.

Project Duration

Start Date Thu, 09/12/2013 - 00:00

Original end date Sun, 02/28/2016 - 00:00

Actual end date Sun, 02/28/2016 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $147280.00

Amendments {Empty}

Contract total $147280.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? FEDERAL

Is this a sole source contract? No

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) {Empty}

Evaluator Name Deb Fick

Evaluator Email Address deb.fick@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness GOOD

Evaluate the contractor's quality GOOD

Evaluate the contractor's cost The cost was appropriate for the work

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance The study provided some valuable information that will help MnDOT determine the future of the ATM System.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): {Empty}

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 4 - satisfied