Roads/Highways

Commercial Vehicle Parking in California: Exploratory Evaluation of the Problem and Solutions

Rodier, Caroline J., PhD
Shaheen, Susan A., PhD
Allen, Denise M.
Dix, Brenda
2010

California is home to major international ports in Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland, as well as the second largest border crossing between Mexico and the U.S. California’s highways are critical commercial links from these ports of entry to the nation and carry more commercial vehicle truck traffic than any other state in the U.S. Given the high volume of truck travel in California, it is not surprising that there is a serious shortage of truck parking in the state. This shortage negatively impacts economic productivity, roadway safety, air quality, and public health. This report begins...

Improving Transit Performance With Advanced Public Transportation System Technologies

Hansen, Mark
Qureshi, Mohammad
Rydzewski, Daniel
1994

This report identifies opportunities to improve transit performance using Advanced Public Transportation System (APTS) Technologies, assesses transit operator viewpoints on and experiences with APTS technologies, and proposes how current adoption and utilization practices might be improved so that these technologies are used in a more efficient and effective manner. The study focuses on the attitudes and experiences of individual transit agency management, staff, and line personnel that are likely to determine their future choices with regard to APTS adoption and utilization. The research...

Field Experiment of Variable Speed Advisory (VSA) Final Report

Lu, Xiao-Yun
Spring, John
Wu, Cheng-Ju
Nelson, David
Kan, Yuheng
2019

This report documents the field test of Variable Speed Advisory (VSA) which is an Active Traffic Management strategy. The test site for the VSA is on State Route 78 Eastbound (SR-78E) from Vista Village Drive (in the City of Vista) to the freeway interchange point of SR-78E and U.S. Route 15 (in the city of Escondido). This test segment is a three-lane freeway with a posted speed limit of 65 mph and it has 10 on-ramps and 10 off-ramps. The project was funded by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Research Innovation and System Information (DRISI) under...

Evaluation of Magnetic Markers as a Position Reference System for Ground Vehicle Guidance and Control

Chan, Ching-Yao
Tan, Han-Shue
2003

This report contains an evaluation of the sensing techniques and implementation issues of magnetic sensing as a position reference system. The field patterns of sample magnetic markers were first measured to illustrate the basic characteristics of such systems. Several sensing approaches were explained and compared with regard to their functioning principles and sensitivity to measurement variations. Three particular algorithms were discussed with illustrations of respective mapping methods. Robustness and sensitivity of the sensing methods, when subject to signal noises and parameter...

Commercially-off-the-Shelf (COTS) and Emerging Technologies Sensor Testing and Evaluation

Sharafsaleh, Ashkan
2006

This report addresses Task S of the Intersection Decision Support (IDS) project funded by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Caltrans. The objective of Task S is to evaluate and select Commercially-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and emerging technology products that could eventually be deployed at intersections as part of the IDS system. Many sensors were considered and every plausible detection technology was reviewed for this task. The emphasis was on finding sensors that detect and track vehicle movements.This effort started with establishing a background and general guidelines for what...

An Evaluation of the Consequences and Effectiveness of Using Highway Changeable Message Signs for Safety Campaigns

Rodier, Caroline, PhD
Finson, Rachel S.
Lidicker, Jeffrey
Shaheen, Susan A., PhD
2010

Changeable Message Signs (CMSs), which are also called dynamic or variable message signs, are programmable signs used on highways worldwide to provide drivers with real-time information, such as traffic updates, roadwork warnings, and other traffic and safety-related information. CMSs allow motorists to take immediate action in response to information—to slow down or change routes, for example, which leads to safer driving conditions and less congestion. More recently, in California and throughout the U.S., CMSs have been used as part of public campaigns to promote roadway safety by...

Fuzzy Logic Traction Controllers And Their Effect On Longitudinal Vehicle Platoon Systems

Bauer, M.
Tomizuka, M.
1995

This paper presents fuzzy logic traction controllers and their effect on longitudinal vehicle platoon systems. A fuzzy logic approach is appealing for traction control because of the non-linearities and time-varying uncertainties in traction control systems. One fuzzy controller estimates the "peak slip" corresponding to the maximum tire-road adhesion coefficient and regulates wheel slip at that value. The other fuzzy logic controller regulates wheel slip at any desired value. The controllers' performance and robustness against changing road conditions and time- varying uncertainty is...

Small Cars In Neighborhoods

Bosselmann, Peter C.
Cullinane, Daniel
Garrison, William L.
Maxey, Carl M.
1993

Focusing on neighborhood travel, this study first reviews the development of vehicles and roads suited to such travel. It then considers community development trends that might encourage or thwart the adoption and use of such vehicles. Demands for vehicles and travel patterns are then treated, followed by discussions of safety and regulation topics and cost benefit issues.

Davis Smart Mobility Model Project: Initial Scoping and Planning Study

Shaheen, Susan A.
Finson, Rachel S.
2003

The goal of the Davis Smart Mobility Model project is to optimize individual mobility options through improved connectivity among modes, enhanced techniques to link land-use planning and transportation system design, advanced information technologies, and clean-fuel vehicles. The California PATH/Caltrans partnership with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) started when campus planners expressed interest in learning how innovative mobility services and technologies (such as carsharing and smart parking management) might help to alleviate the transportation impacts of a campus...

Nonlinear Longitudinal Controller Development and Real-time Implementation

Lu, Xiao-Yun
Tan, Han-Shue
Empey, Dan
Shladover, Steven E.
Hedrick, J. Karl
2000

Keywords longitudinal control, car platooning, back-stepping control, multi-surface dynamic sliding mode control, integral filters, realtime control code This report presents the development of nonlinear longitudinal controllers and their realtime implementation for Automated Highway Systems (AHS) at PATH, U. C. Berkeley supported by the project MOU 331. The demo'97 realtime code was first reconstructed for further development. Based on the new framework, the implementation and comparison of nonlinear controllers in the longitudinal control for cars platooning and other maneuvers have been...