Enhancing TSM&O Strategies through User Cost Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment
Project Title
Enhancing TSM&O Strategies through User Cost Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment
University
Syracuse University
Principal Investigator
Ossama (Sam) Salem, Ph.D.
Yabroudi Chair Professor of Sustainable Civil Infrastructures at Syracuse University, Syracuse University
PI Contact Information
Funding Sources and Amounts Provided
US Department of Transportation/TranLIVE — $240,000
Syracuse University — $240,000
Total Project Cost
$480,000
Agency ID or Contract Number
DTRT12GUTC17; KLK900-SB-004
Start Date
9/1/12
End Date
1/31/16
Description of Research Project
The primary objectives of Transportation Systems Management and Operation (TSM&O) strategies are to optimize the capacity of existing transportation infrastructure by reducing congestion. Over the past decades, agencies and researchers investigated the use of various strategies such as deployment of advanced traveler information systems, ramp metering, surveillance through closed circuit TV cameras, and synchronized signals to achieve this objective. Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of various alternative strategies has received particular attention to identify the strategy with the lowest cost. However, increasing concerns over the impacts of transportation systems on nearby communities as well as the environment are urging decision makers to consider the environmental impacts of various TSM&O strategies in addition to user costs.
Vehicle emissions are affected by various factors such as vehicle’s speed, idling time, and acceleration, which in turn depend on the traffic activities of other vehicles and level of congestion. Changes in highway capacity and pavement condition have an impact on the level of user costs incurred by commuters. There is a lack of decision support systems that would allow decision makers to simultaneously compare environmental, social and economic impacts of TSM&O strategies over their life cycle. The aim of this study is to address this gap in research.
Implementation of Research Outcomes
The research team developed a comprehensive Benefit/Cost (B/C) analysis framework to evaluate existing and anticipated intelligent transportation system (ITS) strategies, particularly, adaptive traffic control systems and ramp metering systems, in terms of the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability (i.e. social, economic, and environmental impacts). The B/C framework for each ITS category was divided into four main areas: Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Analysis of Benefits through Travel Time Savings, Analysis of Benefits through Reductions in Energy Consumption, and Analysis of Benefits through Safety Enhancements.
The life cycle cost analysis of an ITS deployment includes infrastructure costs, incremental costs, and O&M costs. The analysis of benefits through travel time savings was grouped into recurring travel time savings analysis and nonrecurring travel time savings analysis. The analysis of benefits through reductions in energy consumption was conducted using a newly-built microscopic scale top-down approach. Analysis of benefits through safety enhancements was mainly focused on fatal crashes. According to the results, the Benefit/Cost ratio (BCR) for a typical ATCS deployment may range between 6.52 and 13.04; whereas the BCR for a typical ramp metering deployment is expected to be around 6.44. We consider the results obtained from our B/C framework as conservative, which means that BCRs calculated in our study can be lower than specific ATCS and ramp metering deployments around the United States.
Impacts and Benefits of the Project
The hypothetical case studies demonstrate that the B/C ratio for ATCS applications may range between 6.5 and 13.0 and the B/C ratio for ramp meters may be approximately 6.4.
Presentation
- Salem, O., Chen, X., Salman, B., and Abdel-Rahim, A. (2014). “Life-Cycle Benefits & Cost Analysis Framework of Adaptive Traffic Control System Deployment.” International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering. Dubai, UAE.
Web Links
Final Report: SU_TranLIVE__FinalReport_Enhancing TSMO Strategies
Keywords
- transportation system management
- highway operations
- traffic congestion
- environmental impacts
- social impacts