A Benefit-Cost Analysis of a Freeway Service Patrol Program in Chicago

A Benefit-Cost Analysis of a Freeway Service Patrol Program in ChicagoBy: Pranav Koshiya

Committee MemberHuaguo Zhou, PhD1CE 491

http://www.dot.state.il.us/landacq/idotmapdistrict.gifTopicsBackgroundFreeway Service PatrolEmergency Traffic Patrol program (ETP)MethodologyData Collection and AssumptionsAnticipated Results2CE 491BackgroundHighway congestion costs travelers more than $87 billion, 2.5 billion gallons of fuel and 4 billion hours annually (Urban Mobility Report, 2009)

Two types of congestionRecurring: Congestion during peak periods of travel (commute hours)Non-recurring: Congestion caused due to random events like, flat tires, crashes, disabled vehicles, etc..that cause reduction in freeway capacity60% of congestion on freeway

SolutionRecurring: TDM, TCM, Access Management, ITSNon-recurring: Freeway Service Patrol3CE 491Freeway Service Patrol (FSP)Fleet of vehicles that rove the freeway

They provide a low tech incident detection, response and removal system

Funding:DOTs fundDOTs contract it out to local agenciesPartial funding from DOT and Local Business (CVS Pharmacy)4CE 491Emergency Traffic Patrol (ETP)The ETP Mission: Detect and quickly remove the incident from freewayConsists of total 54 vehicles and covers over 1137 lane miles

Hours of operation and Charge24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a yearFree to public

Types of TruckTotal NumberSupervisor 4x411Patrol truck39Heavy duty truck45CE 491Patrol Vehicles

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Supervisor Truck Heavy Duty TruckPatrol TruckEmergency Traffic Patrol (ETP)One of the oldest FSP programStarted in 1961Total motor assisted from 1961 to 2004: 3,389,6557CE 491ETP Service Area for District 1Edens (I-94)Kennedy (I-90/94)Eisenhower (I-290)Stevenson (I-55)Dan Ryan (I-90/94)I-57Bishop-Ford (I-90/94)I-80/94 to State line8CE 491

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8Benefits of ETP ProgramVehicular delay savings

Lesser fuel consumption

Environmental Benefits

Reduction in secondary accidents

Increased security for road users9CE 491MethodologyExtensive field data collectionUse loop detectors

Freeway Service Patrol Evaluation Version 12.1 (FSPE)Developed by University of California at BerkeleyUses MS-Excel for all inputs and outputsUser friendly and convenient to use10CE 491Loop detectors were used to find exact speed, volume, and headway distance. More time consuming and labor work.10FSPE InputsInputsCost of ETP

Freeway segment characteristics

Traffic Volumes

Incidents11CE 491Costs of ETPDepends on Number of patrolling trucksService hoursCoverage miles

Capital, Administrative and Operating

Cost per truck hour is between $22 to $8812CE 491Freeway segment characteristicsBeat Design

Length (Miles)

Number of Lanes

AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic

Directional Factors

Hourly traffic volumesFreewayAB13CE 491Incidents Divide into three categories

Accident

BreakdownFlat tires, Fuel, Jump start, and Minor repairs

DebrisIncident% IncidentsTypes/LocationAccident Right ShoulderXX % Lt Shldr (Median)XX % 1-LaneXX %Breakdown Right ShoulderXX % Lt Shldr (Median)XX % 1-LaneXX %Debris Right ShoulderXX % Lt Shldr (Median)XX % 1-LaneXX %14CE 491AssumptionsDefault freeway capacity: 2,100 pcphplFree flow speed: 55 mphResponse times without ETP: 30 minutesAverage speed of patrolling trucks: 30 mphAverage fuel cost in 2009: $2.32 per gallon (AAA)Estimated $15.47 per hour of person travel and $102.12 per hour of truck time (Urban Mobility Report, 2009)15CE 491Capacity ReductionIncident TypeLocationNo. of Freeway Lanes/Direction (REMAINING CAPACITY)2345+Accident Rt. Shldr81.0083.0085.0087.00Median81.0083.0085.0087.001-Lane35.0049.0058.0065.00BreakdownRt. Shldr95.0098.0098.0098.00Median95.0098.0098.0098.001-Lane35.0049.0058.0065.00DebrisRt. Shldr95.0098.0098.0098.00Median95.0098.0098.0098.001-Lane35.0049.0058.0065.0016CE 491Beat One: Edens (I-94) ResultAnnual delay savings: 72,829 veh-hours

Annual fuel savings: 109,857 gallons

B/C Ratio: 20.26:117CE 491Anticipated ResultsAnnual delay savings (veh-hours)

Annual fuel savings (gallons)

Overall B/C Ratio

18CE 491Questions

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