Ramp MeteringPilot Project

May 11th, 2010

E. Jason Sims, P.E.Kansas City Scout TMC Manager

“TOC” vs “TMC”

Project History And

Traffic Analysis

Kansas City Scout Ramp Metering History

• National experiences and issues• Why the I-435 corridor?

– Close interchange spacings– Unique interchange configurations

Project Map

Project Map

Ramp Meter Location

Ro

e A

ve

Sta

te L

ine

Rd

Ho

lmes

Rd

104th

St

Traffic Analysis

• Existing traffic volumes and speeds

• Levels of service

• Before crash patterns

• Future traffic volumes

• Microsimulation of before and after

Look and Feel of Kansas City Ramp Meters

Ramp Meters Across the U.S.

Ramp Meters Across the U.S.

One-Lane Ramp, One Vehicle Per Green

• Advance Warning– ‘Be Prepared to

Stop’ sign– Flashing yellow

indication– Located on both

sides of ramp– Clear Messages– Flashing beacons

dark when not in operation

• Loop Detection– Demand loops– Passage loop– Advance queue

detection loop– AQ loop impacts

meter rate– No backups onto

arterial street

• Ramp Meter Control– ‘One Vehicle Per

Green’ sign

– Two red/green indications

– ‘Stop Here on Red’ sign

– ‘One Vehicle Per Green’ sticker on bottom indication

– All located on left side of ramp

Real World Look…

Real World Look…

Dual-Lane Ramp Meter, alternating One Vehicle per green light per lane. Westbound State Line Road is a potential location.

How It Works

• Some locations will allow two vehicles per green light. Signs will indicate the number of cars permitted per green.

Single-Lane, Two Vehicles per Green

Dual-Lane, Two Vehicles per Green

Customer Satisfaction

• Operational Observations

• Focus On Safety

• 1 Year Pre-Planned Public Relations Campaign

Public Relations

Reach Targeted Audiences

Audience Thematic Outreach Materials

Technical staff and local officials

Technical content with emphasis on facts, benefits, and experiences of other communities

Local public officialsLess technical content with accent on ramp metering benefits and safety

Law enforcement (highway patrol)

Focuses on ramp metering operation and enforcement

General publicHighly graphic, non-technical, and focuses on the need for ramp metering

After Study

• One year study

• Scout will release a six month update

• Rush hour accident reductions are the primary goal

• Improved mobility (reductions in travel time) are secondary

Summary and Conclusion

• Why do KDOT and MoDOT want to implement ramp metering?

• City concerns and government education

• Law enforcement• Customer inquiries

• E. Jason Sims TMC Manager

• Phone: 816.622.0528

• Email: ervin.sims@modot.mo.gov