FIELD EVALUATION OF MESSAGES FOR REAL-TIME DIVERSION OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

This paper presents the results of special-event route-diversion studies conducted in Dallas to evaluate 14 primary-candidate real-time messages that had resulted from extensive human-factors laboratory studies. The messages were displayed on matrix signs located on the freeway. The results of the study showed that all messages tested were effective in diverting freeway traffic to an arterial alternative route. The messages were equally effective before events that had fixed starting times (e.g., football games). Before events for which the arrival times were not set but spread over long periods of time (e.g., state fairs), some of the messages produced higher diversion rates than others, although all the messages resulted in high diversion rates. /Authors/