Tampa Bay Area Integrated Transportation Information System, Final Report

NHTSA · 1993 · ROSA P / United States. Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation Systems

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Summary

This 1993 report, prepared by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida for the Florida Department of Transportation, addresses the need for an integrated, real-time traffic information system for the Tampa Bay Area. Motivated by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 and the Federal Highway Administration’s selection of Tampa Bay as an "early deployment" site for Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS), the study aims to improve traffic safety and reduce congestion through advanced traveler information systems. The project sought to unify fragmented local traffic data into a single regional source, addressing public dissatisfaction with the accuracy and timeliness of existing free traffic reports. The research methodology involved a comprehensive review of existing infrastructure and technologies, supplemented by public engagement. CUTR analyzed various information collection techniques, including inductance detectors, piezoelectric sensors, roadside radar, video surveillance, fleet vehicle probes, aerial surveillance, and citizen call-ins. The study also evaluated dissemination methods such as broadcast media, variable message signs, and telephone services. To ensure the proposed system met local needs, the researchers conducted focus group sessions with commuters and commercial operators and formed an advisory committee comprising stakeholders from police departments, transit authorities, and media outlets. These groups provided input on system design, identified major congestion areas, and assessed the viability of user fees. The report recommends the establishment of a "Traffic Vision Center" (TVC) to serve as a regional hub for traffic data. The TVC would integrate inputs from existing city and county traffic control centers, the Florida Highway Patrol, and private providers like Metro Traffic Control. It would process this data to generate a color-coded video map of congestion and a database of incidents. The recommended system architecture utilizes personal computers linked by a Wide Area Network, with narrow-band transmission for data and wide-band for video maps. The TVC would disseminate information to cable TV, radio, telephone services, and highway advisory signs. Operationally, the center would cover Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, operating during peak hours and weekends as needed. Significantly, the report concludes that the TVC should be operated by a private vendor under contract with a public agency, such as the Florida Department of Transportation, to ensure accountability and accuracy. While focus groups indicated a market for the service, they rejected direct user fees; thus, the report recommends initial funding through a mix of federal, state, and private sources for a two-year demonstration period, during which the vendor must prove revenue-generation capability. The study provides an order-of-magnitude cost estimate and a five-stage implementation plan, positioning the Tampa Bay Area as a model for integrated traffic management and traveler information systems in the United States.

Key finding

The study recommends implementing a privately operated, regionally integrated Traffic Vision Center that aggregates real-time data from multiple sources to disseminate accurate congestion maps via radio, television, and telephone services.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Provenance

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• automated enforcement cameras