Changeable Message Sign Displays During Non-Incident, Non-Roadwork Periods (2008)

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52 APPENDIX A Questionnaire: Changeable Message Sign Messages During Non-Incident/Non-Roadwork Periods TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD NCHRP PROJECT 20-05, SYNTHESIS TOPIC 38-11 A1. Agency: _________________________________________________________________________________ A2. Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address of person(s) completing survey: A3. Does your agency operate permanent changeable message signs (CMSs)? ____Yes Go directly to question A4. ____ No Thank you for responding to this NCHRP survey. Send this form to Dr. Conrad Dudek at the address shown at the end of the questionnaire. A4. Number of traffic management centers (TMCs) operated by your agency: ______ A5. Location of TMC for which the response to this survey applies. A6. Name, telephone number, and e-mail address of TMC manager/supervisor to contact for more information (if different from item A2 above). A7. Number of changeable message signs (CMSs) operated by your TMC: ____urban areas ____rural areas A8. Days and hours of operation of your TMC: CURRENT CMS MESSAGE APPLICATIONS Mark whether you currently display messages for each type of application. Also mark whether the messages are displayed on CMSs located in urban areas, rural areas, or both urban and rural. B1. Current types of CMS messages and locations of the CMSs (i.e., urban and/or rural) a. Traffic management and diversion for the following events: CMS Location ____Incidents (e.g., crashes, stalled vehicles, vehicle fires, spilled loads) ____Urban ____Rural ____Work zones ____Urban ____Rural ____Special high-volume traffic (e.g., weekend holiday traffic, recreational traffic) ____Urban ____Rural ____Planned special events (e.g., sport events, parades, state fairs, bicycle races) ____Urban ____Rural ____Evacuations during major catastrophes ____Hurricanes ____Urban ____Rural ____Terrorist attacks ____Urban ____Rural ____Chemical spills ____Urban ____Rural ____Wildfires ____Urban ____Rural ____Other (specify): _______________________________________________________ ____Urban ____Rural Note: This survey addresses messages displayed on large permanent changeable message signs (CMSs). These signs are defined in the MUTCD as changeable message signs; some agencies refer to the signs as dynamic message signs or variable message signs. Portable changeable message signs (PCMSs) ARE NOT included in the survey. Off-peak periods in this survey refer to hours other than the peak traffic periods on Monday through Friday. Off-peak periods also include both day and night periods on Saturday and Sunday.

53 b. Warning of adverse conditions: Adverse road conditions: ____Ice ____Urban ____Rural ____Snow ____Urban ____Rural ____Flood ____Urban ____Rural ____High water but passable ____Urban ____Rural ____Other (specify):_____________________________________________________ ____Urban ____Rural Adverse weather and environmental conditions: ____Fog ____Urban ____Rural ____Rain ____Urban ____Rural ____Snow ____Urban ____Rural ____Sand/dust ____Urban ____Rural ____Wind ____Urban ____Rural ____Smog/ozone ____Urban ____Rural ____Other (specify):_____________________________________________________ ____Urban ____Rural c. Control at crossings: ____Bridge control ____Urban ____Rural ____Tunnel control ____Urban ____Rural ____Mountain-pass control ____Urban ____Rural ____International border crossing control ____Urban ____Rural ____Highway/railroad crossing control ____Urban ____Rural ____Highway/light rail transit crossing control____Urban ____Rural d. Special-use lane and roadway control: ____HOV lanes ____Urban ____Rural ____Contra-flow lanes ____Urban ____Rural ____Exclusive lanes ____Urban ____Rural ____Reversible lanes____Urban ____Rural ____Mixed-flow managed lanes ____Urban ____Rural e. Special applications: ____Advance parking systems ____Urban ____Rural ____Advance notice of events that may impact traffic operations ____Upcoming roadwork ____Urban ____Rural ____Upcoming planned special events ____Urban ____Rural ____Upcoming holiday or recreational traffic ____Urban ____Rural ____Other (specify):_____________________________________________________ ____Urban ____Rural ____AMBER alert ____Urban ____Rural ____Homeland security ____Urban ____Rural ____Inter-modal information (e.g., ferry schedules, Amtrak/HOV parking, etc.) ____Urban ____Rural ____Truck restrictions ____Urban ____Rural ____Hazardous cargo ____Urban ____Rural ____Support of highway advisory radio ____Urban ____Rural f. Other applications (specify):_______________________________________________ ____Urban ____Rural POLICY AND MESSAGE PRIORITIES C1. Do you have a written policy governing the design and/or display of CMS messages? ____Yes ____No C2. Situations arise when two or more events are present simultaneously. For example, a crash may occur on the freeway during a planned special event. Do you have a policy concerning a priority for displaying CMS message types when two or more events occur? ____Written policy ____Unwritten policy ____No policy

54 Additional co mme nts: C3. If a policy exists, list the priority order of message types starting with the highest priority. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. STATUS OF CMSs DURING NON-INCIDENT/NON-ROADWORK MESSAGES D1. What is the status of the CMSs during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak period ____Leave the CMS blank, or display a single lamp, set of lamps, symbol, etc. ____Routinely display messages other than those marked in B1. O ff-peak perio d ____Leave the CMS blank, or display a single lamp, set of lamps, symbol, etc. ____Routinely display messages other than those marked in B1. If you leave the CMS blank, or display a single lamp, set of lamps, symbol, etc.. either during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO E1 BELOW. If you routinely display messages other than those marked in B1 during both the peak and off-peak period, SKIP TO F1. MESSAGES ARE NOT DISPLAYED DURING NON-INCIDENT/NON-ROADWORK PERIODS E1. What is the status of the CMSs when messages are not displayed during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? ____Blank CMSs ____Single lamp is illuminated ____Set of lamps is illuminated (specify in comments below) ____Symbol is displayed (specify in comments below) ____Other (specify in comments below) Comments: E2. What are the reasons for leaving the CMSs in the status shown in question E1? E3. The decision to leave the CMSs in the status shown in question E1 is based on (mark all that apply): ____Agency administrative/upper-management preference ____TMC manager/supervisor preference ____Feedback from focus groups ____Feedback from telephone calls ____Feedback from newspapers ____Feedback from television ____Feedback from radio ____Research/surveys conducted by the agency ____Research conducted by others (specify):______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ______Other specify):________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ E4. What has been the public’s reaction to leaving the CMSs in the status shown in question E1? E5. What have been your experiences with leaving the CMSs in the status shown in question E1?

55 E6. What lessons have you learned from leaving the CMSs in the status shown in question E1? E7. Do you plan to change your policy in the near future? ____Yes ____No Please provide comments. If you display other types of messages during the peak or off peak period but not both periods, CONTINUE TO F1 BELOW. If you do not display messages during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO 35. MESSAGES DURING NON-INCIDENT/NON-ROADWORK PERIODS F1. If messages are routinely displayed during non-incident/non-roadwork periods, what are the reasons for displaying messages rather than leaving the CMSs blank? F2. The decision to display messages during non-incident, non-roadwork periods is based on (mark all that apply): ____Agency administrative/upper-management preference ____TMC manager/supervisor preference ____Feedback from focus groups ____Feedback from telephone calls ____Feedback from newspapers ____Feedback from television ____Feedback from radio ____Research/surveys conducted by the agency ____Research conducted by others (specify):____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______Other (specify):____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ F3. What has been the public’s reaction to displaying messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? F4. What have been your experiences with displaying messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? F5. What lessons have you learned from displaying messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? F6. Do you plan to change your policy concerning displaying messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods in the near future? ____Yes ____No Please provide comments. TRAVEL-TIME MESSAGES G1. Do you display travel times during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display travel time during the peak or off-peak period, SKIP TO G3. If you do not display travel time during both the peak and off-peak periods, CONTINUE TO G2 BELOW. G2. Give reasons why travel time is not displayed during either the peak or off-peak period as indicated in G1.

56 G3. Display of travel-time messages: Travel time is displayed Travel time is displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak G4. What has been the public’s reaction to travel-time messages? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction G5. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying travel-time messages? G6. What lessons have you learned from displaying travel times? G7. Give two or more examples of typical travel-time messages. SPEED MESSAGES H1. Do you display speed messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display speed messages during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO H2 BELOW. If you do not display speed messages during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO I1.

57 H2. Display of speed messages: Speed messages are displayed Speed messages are displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak H3. What has been the public’s reaction to displaying speed messages? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction H4. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying speed messages? H5. What lessons have you learned from displaying speed messages? H6. Give two or more examples of typical speed messages. CONGESTION MESSAGES I1. Do you display congestion messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display congestion messages during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO I2 BELOW. If you do not display speed messages during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO J1.

58 I2. Display of congestion messages: Congestion messages are displayed Congestion messages are displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak I3. What has been the public’s reaction to congestion messages? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction I4. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying congestion messages? I5. What lessons have you learned from displaying congestion messages? I6. Give two or more examples of typical congestion messages. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS J1. Do you display public service announcements (PSAs) (e.g., VOTE TODAY) during non- incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display PSAs during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO J2 BELOW. If you do not display PSAs during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO K1.

59 J2. Display of PSAs: PSAs are displayed PSAs are displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak J3. What has been the public’s reaction to displaying PSAs? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction J4. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying PSAs? J5. What lessons have you learned from displaying PSAs? J6. Give two or more examples of typical PSA messages. SAFETY CAMPAIGN MESSAGES K1. Do you display safety campaign messages (e.g., BUCKLE SEAT BELTS) during non- incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display safety campaign messages during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO K2 BELOW. If you do not display safety campaign messages during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO L1.

60 K2. Display of safety campaign messages: Safety campaign messages are displayed Safety campaign messages are displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak K3. What has been the public’s reaction to displaying safety campaign messages? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction K4. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying safety campaign messages? K5. What lessons have you learned from displaying safety campaign messages? K6. Give two or more examples of typical safety campaign messages. TRAFFIC LAW AND/OR ORDINANCE MESSAGES L1. Do you display traffic laws and ordinances messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display traffic laws and ordinances messages during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO L2 BELOW. If you do not display traffic laws and ordinances messages during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO M1.

61 L2. Display of traffic laws and ordinances messages: Traffic laws and ordinances messages are displayed Traffic laws and ordinances messages are displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak L3. What has been the public’s reaction to displaying traffic laws and ordinances messages? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction L4. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying traffic laws and ordinances messages? L5. What lessons have you learned from displaying traffic laws and ordinances messages? L6. Give two or more examples of typical traffic laws and ordinances messages. OTHER TYPES OF MESSAGES M1. Excluding the types of messages mentioned earlier and the current messages you previously marked in question B1, do you display other types of messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods? Peak Period ____Yes ____No Off-Peak Period ____Yes ____No If you display other types of messages during the peak or off-peak period, CONTINUE TO M2 BELOW. If you do not display speed messages during both the peak and off-peak periods, SKIP TO N1. M2. Specifically, what other types of messages are displayed during non-incident/non-roadwork periods?

62 M3. Display of other types of messages: Other types of messages are displayed Other types of messages are displayed on Period R eg ul ar ly O fte n O cc as io na lly R ar el y A ll C M Ss M os t C M Ss A bo ut 5 0% o f C M Ss So m e C M Ss V er y fe w C M Ss Peak Off-peak M4. What has been the public’s reaction to displaying other types of messages? (Mark only one.) ____Very favorable ____Favorable ____Somewhat favorable ____Neutral ____Somewhat unfavorable ____Unfavorable ____Very unfavorable ____We have insufficient information to judge the public’s reaction M5. What have been your experiences, concerns, and challenges with displaying other types of messages? M6. What lessons have you learned from displaying other types of messages? M7. Give two or more examples of other types of messages. CMS MESSAGE DISPLAY DECISIONS AND RESOURCES N1. The decisions to display messages during non-incident/non-roadwork periods are based on public feedback obtained from (mark all that apply; mark “NOT DISPLAYED” if the specific message is not displayed): CMS Message Type Source A ge nc y ad m in ist ra tiv e/ up pe r- m a n a ge m en t p re fe re nc e TM C m an ag er /su pe rv iso r pr ef er en ce Fo cu s g ro up s Te le ph on e ca lls N ew sp ap er s Te le vi sio n R ad io R es ea rc h/ su rv ey s c on du ct ed by th e ag en cy R es ea rc h co nd uc te d by o th er s (sp ec ify in co mm en ts) O th er (s pe cif y i n c om me nt s) N O T D IS PL A Y ED Travel time Speed messages Congestion messages

63 Public service announcements Safety campaign messages Traffic laws and ordinances Others (specify below) Comments: N2. Details of public feedback about CMS me ssages can be obtained from the agency’s: Source CMS Message Type Survey reports Focus group reports Other (specify below) Blank CMSs Travel time Speed messages Congestion messages Public service announcements Safety campaign messages Traffic laws & ordinances Others (specify below) Comments: AMBER ALERT MESSAGES O1. Do you display AMBER alert messages? ____Yes, CONTINUE TO O2 BELOW ____No, SKIP TO E1 O2. AMBER alert messages contain (mark all that apply): ____Vehicle make ____Vehicle model ____Vehicle color ____License plate number ____Telephone number ____Radio station O3. What has been the public’s reaction to AMBER alert messages? O4. What have been your concerns, experiences, and challenges with displaying AMBER alert messages? O5. What lessons have you learned from displaying AMBER alert messages? O6. Give two or more examples of typical AMBER alert messages that include the descriptors identified in question O2 above.

64 Thank you for your response to this NCHRP survey. Please send the following information: 1. This completed survey, 2. Copy of CMS message design and display policy, and 3. Library of CMS messages to: Conrad L. Dudek Professor Emeritus Texas A&M University 2301 Oxford St. (979) 823-5106 Bryan, TX 77802 cdudek22@verizon.net