COMMUTER FEEDBACK: AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF ONGOING INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS (ITS) DEPLOYMENT

In Orlando, Florida, a commuter survey was undertaken to not only assess the effectiveness of the I-4 Surveillance and Motorist Information System (SMIS) project completed in 1995, but also other planned Advanced Traffic Information Systems (ATIS) technologies. Funded as part of the Orlando EDP project, a telephone survey of tri-county (Orange, Seminole, Osceola) commuters was undertaken in 1996. The survey consisted of a variety of questions related to trip habits of commuters, reaction to changeable message sign (CMS) displays, decisions to divert under congested conditions, sources of traffic information, and willingness to pay for traffic information. A statistical analysis of 400 responses from the tri-county area provided interesting results. A majority of the respondents (51%) confirmed that traffic reports broadcast from local radio stations is the most important source even when compared against cable TV and a (hypothetical) Internet web site. The information displayed on CMSs along Interstate 4 was considered reasonably accurate (67%) and timely (58%). About 40% to 50% of the travelers on I-4 would divert to an alternate route if a CMS indicates a delay estimated to be about 10-15 minutes long. If commuters hear that the alternate route is also congested, over 40% would stay on I-4 even if the delay is expected to be 20 or more minutes. This paper presents much needed survey results comprised of commuter travel habits and perception of ATIS technologies. Results will be valuable to decision-makers involved with selecting ITS projects for deployment.