The Los Angeles Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) Evaluation: Study Methodology and Preliminary Findings

This paper presents and discusses a methodology to evaluate the effectiveness, in terms of benefit-to-cost ratio, of the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) in a Los Angeles freeway section.  The methodology addresses the process of estimating incident delay using probe vehicles, and the lack of "before" field data.  The difficulties that these problems present are discussed.  Also, some preliminary findings are reported.