Citation

Ballard L. Transp. Res. Circular 2004; (E-C063): 190-207.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A road weather information system (RWIS)--a network of weather stations, forecasting services, and the supporting infrastructure--has been used widely in the United States and Canada since the late 1980s. Through separate projects with Montana Department of Transportation (DOT) and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Western Transportation Institute (WTI) collected information from road weather information users through surveys and interviews. Montana DOT's survey, completed in September 2000, received responses from 89 Montana DOT maintenance personnel. WTI conducted the Caltrans study in January 2002, and received responses from maintenance and traffic operations staff representing 11 of the 12 districts. Although not identical, the surveys included questions in similar categories, including training; current use, methods, and data; station siting; and accuracy. This paper summarizes the RWIS operations and user opinions in California and Montana and compares them with those reported by Wyoming DOT in 1998. Specifically, this analysis discusses: RWIS user profiles; station siting and networking; weather information improvement ideas; perceived current and potential usefulness; training; and traffic operations and maintenance usage. The objective of this analysis is to identify nationally applicable RWIS trends or improvements. The information in this paper will be of interest and benefit to transportation officials who wish to gain a better understanding of users' perspectives on RWIS, identify areas of improvement for a state's RWIS, and learn about related experiences from other states.