Final evaluation report for the greater Yellowstone regional traveler and weather information system (GYRTWIS)

Sanchez, Rebecca; Haas, R.; Mitchell, C. · 2003 · ROSA P / United States. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This report presents the final evaluation of the Greater Yellowstone Regional Traveler and Weather Information System (GYRTWIS), an Intelligent Transportation System deployed by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to improve road safety and maintenance efficiency in rural, mountainous regions. The evaluation, conducted by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), addresses three primary areas: the system impacts of the new 511 telephone service, the accuracy of the Pavement Thermal Model (PTM), and case studies regarding the business model, institutional lessons, and implementation challenges. The study was motivated by the need to assess whether the interactive 511 system, which replaced the previous non-interactive *ROAD service, improved traveler satisfaction and system usage, and to determine the viability of using thermal models for anti-icing decisions. The evaluation methodology involved comparing baseline data from the 2000–2002 winter seasons with post-deployment data from the 2002–2003 season. System impacts were assessed through call volume analysis and customer satisfaction surveys. The PTM accuracy was evaluated by comparing forecasted pavement temperatures against actual measured values. Case studies utilized qualitative reviews of the project’s business model, institutional coordination, and technical implementation hurdles. Results indicated that the 511 system significantly increased traveler engagement. Total calls rose to 198,068 in the 2002–2003 season, compared to 163,411 and 132,861 in the two preceding baseline seasons. Calls per storm event were statistically significantly higher, increasing by approximately 16% to 53% depending on the comparison year. Customer satisfaction also improved markedly; 81% of travelers reported being satisfied with the accuracy of road condition information, up from 62% satisfaction with the previous service. However, maintenance personnel did not utilize the GYRTWIS data for anti-icing decisions, opting instead for "just-in-time" treatments based on real-time camera views and weather forecasts. The Pavement Thermal Model demonstrated feasibility but lacked the precision required for direct operational decision-making. Typical differences between forecasted and measured pavement temperatures were approximately 5°C, primarily due to inaccuracies in small-scale, long-term weather forecasts. When measured weather data was used instead of forecasts, the error margin reduced to 2.5°C. Consequently, the report concludes that the PTM is not yet accurate enough to serve as the primary basis for anti-icing decisions, though it may assist in estimating relative icing risks. The case studies revealed that the GYRTWIS business model prioritized public safety and information accuracy over revenue generation. Marketing relied on low-cost grassroots efforts, such as employee outreach at county fairs. Institutional lessons highlighted challenges in coordination and documentation, which were mitigated by formalizing communication protocols and leveraging state experts to negotiate with telephone providers. A major implementation hurdle was securing participation from cellular providers, which was resolved through state-level agreements. The report concludes that while the 511 system successfully enhanced traveler information access, the integration of thermal modeling for maintenance requires further refinement of weather forecasting inputs.

Key finding

Travelers utilized the GYRTWIS 511-telephone system significantly more than previous services, with call volumes increasing by approximately 16 to 53 percent per storm event, while the Pavement Thermal Model's accuracy was limited by weather forecast errors, preventing its use for primary anti-icing decisions.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Provenance

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