Chapter 13 - Traffic Forecasting and Analysis Concepts

13.2. Freeway Traffic Analysis and Design

13.2.1. ITS Technology

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) strategies aim to increase the safety and performance of roadway facilities. For freeway and other uninterrupted-flow highways, ITS may achieve some decrease in headways, which would increase the capacity of these facilities. In addition, even with no decrease in headways, level of service might improve if vehicle guidance systems offered drivers a greater level of comfort than they currently experience in conditions with close spacing between vehicles. “Many of the ITS improvements, such as incident response and driver information systems, occur at the system level. Although ITS features will benefit the overall roadway system, they will not have an impact on the methods to calculate capacity and level of service for individual roadways" (TRB, 2000 p. 2-6).