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Provision of real time traffic and travel information (RTTI)

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.7 / Subcat-No.7.3-2


General Information

Title

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.7 / Subcat-No.7.3-2

Category

7. Research and innovation

Subcategory

7.3 Technology: transport information systems, management & services

Transport policy measure (TPM)

Provision of real time traffic and travel information (RTTI)

Description of TPM

Traffic participants are more and more confronted with traffic problems like congestion, delays, road works and accidents. The mobility of people and goods is growing and the rising demand cannot be fully supported by transport infrastructure investments. Furthermore, road works, traffic accidents and congestion hamper traffic flows cause delays which lead to significant extra costs for transport operators and society. In order to meet future mobility demands it will be crucial to find new ways to improve the current traffic network. Increase efficiency, by distributing traffic participants on the basis of real time mobility network loads, can fulfil traffic participants in their need to travel, without substantial investments in new transport infrastructure. This TPM, on the provision of real time traffic and travel information (RTTI), is designed to do so. [4]
Currently, transport users and transport operators do not have the ability of making truly informed decisions before and during their journey. This TPM focuses on decision making just before and during a journey. This means, that e.g. the purchase of a vehicle will not be taken into account. The availability of real time traffic and travel information will not solely lead to changes (in travel behaviour); furthermore user behaviour plays a determing role in the success or failure of RTTI [1] [5] [6] [7] [9].
Basically, there are two kinds of RTTI:
1. Informing transport users before making their journey. This so-called pre-trip information will help traffic participants to choose between different transport modes (or combinations of transport modes) and avoid possible delays (and therefore be able to better predict travel times). Whether traffic participants will switch between transport modes is doubtful and requires significant changes in behaviour and preferences [7].
2. Provide information during a journey. On-trip information informs traffic participants on the latest traffic conditions (accidents, congestion, weather, departure times, etc.). A fully functional on-trip information system demands a flexible attitude of traffic participants. Real time information will lead to less delays, but this can only be achieved by last-minute switching of routes and transport modes [1] [4].

Implementation examples

- The National Data Warehouse for Traffic Information (NDW) is a partnership between several Dutch authorities (mostly local governments), which are working closely together to develop a traffic database and aim to effectively use this data for traffic management and traffic information [2].
- DATEX II aims to provide a standardised way of communicating and exchanging traffic information between service providers, traffic centres, traffic operators and media partners [3].

Objectives of TPM

The main objectives of the TPM are:
- Promote environmental friendly behaviour under transport users. Information on carbon- and environmental footprint of transport services and journeys enables passengers and transport operators to make more environmental friendly choices.
- Meet future mobility demands without huge investments in additional transport infrastructure. When the entire mobility network is being used more efficiently by distributing traffic between different modes and routes, mobility demands can be fulfilled without major investments on traditional (road) infrastructure.
- Promote multimodality by increasing the awareness on the availability of alternative modes and possible combinations of modes for single routes.
- Increase safety by allocating traffic to less loaded parts of the network. Congestion and overloaded roads increase the possibility of accidents which can be reduced by distributing traffic flows. [1]

Choice of transport mode / Multimodality

Multimodal transport will become more attractive, but is uncertain whether this will encourage people to switch between transport modes [6] [7] [9].

Origin and/or destination of trip

Trip frequency

Choice of route

Will be more flexible and can be changed last-minute due to RTTI.

Timing (day, hour)

No key changes. Pre-trip information will not lead to different (daily) timing, but can generate changes in hourly timing.

Occupancy rate / Loading factor

Energy efficiency / Energy usage

Indirect impact: Energy efficient modes of transport will become more visible and energy use of transportation will be transparant for all users and operators.

Main source

[1] European Commission (2011): Commission Staff Working document . Accompanying the White Paper - Roadmap to a single European transport area. SEC(2011)391. Brussels
[2] National Data Warehouse for Traffic Information (2012): The database – explained, Utrecht: NDW
[3] European Commission (2011): DATEX II - CEN TS 16157 - The key to successful information exchange, Brussels
[4] SafetyForum (2007): Report of the eSafety Working Group on Real-Time Traffic and Travel Information (RTTI), Brussels
[5] Gärtner, A. (2005): Study on the effectiveness of Directive 1999/94/EC relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars, München: ADAC e.V.
[6] Steg, L., Gifford, R. (2005): Sustainable transportation and quality of life, Journal of Transport Geography 13: 59–69
[7] Litman, T. (2011): Mobility As A Positional Good - Implications for Transport Policy and Planning, Victoria Transport Policy Institute
[8] European Commission (2008): Action Plan for the Deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe, SEC(2008) 3083, Brussels
[9] Steg, L. (2005): Car Use: Lust And Must. Instrumental, Symbolic And Affective Motives For Car Use, Transportation Research A, Vol. 39

Traffic Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Travel or transport time

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Risk of congestion

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Vehicle mileage

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Service and comfort

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

-Frustration or disappointment under traffic participants due to possible technological failures during implementation phase.

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

- Travel or transport time will become more predictable but not necessarily shorter. Due to RTTI it will be possible to plan your time of arrival without choosing a fixed route or mode of transport. RTTI will tell you before and during your journey which route or mode an traffic participant should take to reach the destination in time. Without additional infrastructure investments (objective of TPM), RTTI mainly will improve efficiency by distributing traffic participants all over the network. This will lead to smoother, well distributed traffic flows. This distribution (based on RTTI) is designed to prevent congestion and delays, not to shorten existing travel time (measured without congestion). Transport and travelling will not become faster (compared to a current situation without congestion or delays), but smoother and more predictable [8].
- Risk of congestion will clearly decrease due to RTTI. Traffic participants will be warned when certain parts of the transport network are nearly overloaded and forecasted to get congested. This information and information on alternative routes or modes, will provide enough options for traffic participants to anticipate, and therefore decrease the chance on congestion [1] [4].
- Vehicle mileage will increase for road transport (RTTI will lead to a different routing and hence increase the vehicle mileage) and rise in rail transport and slow modes. RTTI promotes multimodality and offers a smooth transport chain covering all modes of transport. This will increase the attractiveness of public transport and slow modes [1].
- RTTI is designed to improve service and comfort for all traffic participants [1].

Quantification of impacts

- up to 25 % reduction in travel time/congestion [8].

Economic Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Transport costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Private income / commercial turn over

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Revenues in the transport sector

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sectoral competitiveness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spatial competitiveness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Housing expenditures

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Insurance costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Health service costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Public authorities & adm. burdens on businesses

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Public income (e.g.: taxes, charges)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Third countries and international relations

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

- A reduction in transport time will lead to reducing transport costs. This effect will be strongest for road transport due to less congestion on motorways.
- RTTI enables traffic participants to switch easier between different modes of transport. The problem of public transport used to be that it failed to provide a fully frictionless 'end-to-end' journey. With the help of RTTI this will no longer be a major disadvantage of public transport. A a result, public transport will become more competitive compared to road transport. However, RTTI will also be beneficial for road transport (more predictable and less congestion). The success or failure will mainly depend on the number of traffic participants which will switch modes [1].
- Public bodies will have to invest in RTTI in order to install, maintain and operate traffic information systems and data centers. However, expenses on traditional infrastructure (mainly new roads) will decrease (assuming that traffic will be shifted to other modes). In the long run, RTTI will probably save public income. Still, the net effect of savings is unclear at this time [2].

Quantification of impacts


Social Impacts
Environmental Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Air pollutants

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Noise emissions

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visual quality of the landscape

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Land use

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Climate

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Renewable or non-renewable resources

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

- Although different modes of transport will become more attractive, it is questionable whether more information will encourage people to switch from car to public transport. For example, to optimise travel costs, a combination of walking, cycling, public transit and rented cars is favorable. Instead, motorised inidividual mobility by car is favored by society, not at least because of its status. In other words, people do not decide rational when its comes to choosing between transport modes [6] [7] [9].
- Commuters: The decision to drive rather than use other modes is based more on symbolic than on functional motives [9].
- Air pollutants, noise emissions and greenhouse gases emissions (like CO2 emissions) will decrease in highly congested regions (through traffic management) and will increase in other areas.
- Promote awareness of the availability of alternatives to individual transport and information on carbon- and environmental footprints of transport modes. This information will raise transparancy, but will not be a reason to switch modes. An study (ADAC) shows that labelling does not influence buying preferences for private vehicles [1] [5].

Quantification of impacts


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