Life in the Fast (and SAFE!) Lane - ibtta.org · PDF fileLife in the Fast (and SAFE!) Lane Lessons Learned in Planning, Opening, and Operating Atlanta’s First Reversible Express

Life in the Fast (and SAFE!) LaneLessons Learned in Planning, Opening, and Operating Atlanta’s First Reversible Express Lanes Project

September 12, 2017

Annie Gillespie, PEDirector of Engineering, SRTA

Mark Demidovich, PEAssistant State Traffic Engineer, GDOT

I-75 South Express Lanes

• Located southeast of Atlanta• 12 miles long• 2-lane typical section• Barrier-separated and reversible• Registered facility

• No trucks, no trailers• No occupancy requirements

I-75 South Express Lanes (2)

• Design/Build contract• 1 year for design• 2.5 years for construction• $226M total project budget

• Opened to traffic – January 28, 2017• Opened to tolling – February 12,

2017

Photo: CW Matthews, 2015

I-75 South Weekday Average Trips

4190

5740

3680 40

10 4640 51

80 5580 60

00 6350

4770

6150 6340

6420 69

20 7380

7380

8970

7210 76

80 7950 82

00 8430

5260

8200

7810

7780

7920

8030

7980

8030

8870

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

30-Ja

n - 5

-Feb

6-Fe

b - 1

2-Fe

b

13-F

eb -

19-F

eb

20-F

eb -

26-F

eb

27-F

eb -

5-M

ar

6-M

ar -

12-M

ar

13-M

ar -

19-M

ar

20-M

ar -

26-M

ar

27-M

ar -

2-Ap

r

3-Ap

r - 9

-Apr

10-A

pr -

16-A

pr

17-A

pr -

23-A

pr

24-A

pr -

30-A

pr

1-M

ay -

7-M

ay

8-M

ay -

14-M

ay

15-M

ay -

21-M

ay

22-M

ay -

28-M

ay

29-M

ay -

4-Ju

n

5-Ju

n - 1

1-Ju

n

12-Ju

n - 1

8-Ju

n

19-Ju

n - 2

5-Ju

n

26-Ju

n - 2

-Jul

3-Ju

l - 9

-Jul

10-Ju

l - 1

6-Ju

l

17-Ju

l - 2

3-Ju

l

24-Ju

l - 3

0-Ju

l

31-Ju

l - 6

-Aug

7-Au

g - 1

3-Au

g

14-A

ug -

20-A

ug

21-A

ug -

27-A

ug

28-A

ug -

3-Se

p

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Aver

age

# of

Trip

s

Toll System - Northbound

NORTH

Toll System - Southbound

NORTH

Toll System - Equipment

• Dual gantries• Neology Lane System and

Operational Back Office• Antennas on Toll Rate signs

and over GP lanes• Dynamically priced

Photo: SRTA, 2016

Roadway Access Control System (RACS)

• Multiple warning gates • One barrier gate• Multiple CMS with

distance/closed messaging

Photo: SRTA, 2017

Phot

o: S

RTA,

201

7

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

• SRTA• Toll integration• Dynamic pricing• Toll collection

• GDOT• Construction of facility• Operation of RACS • Incident response• HERO patrol

Photo: CW Matthews, 2017

Photo: GDOT, 2016

Highway Emergency Response Operator

• HERO program began in 1994• Now includes over 100 Operators• Patrol ATL interstates 24/7/365• Primary responsibilities

• Incident Response• Traffic Control• Moving vehicles• Cleaning up debris

System Redundancy

• Natural gas generators• Mobile generator

• Hub-to-hub failover

Photo: SRTA, 2016

Software Redundancy

• Primary reversal software is RACS

• Built into GDOTs ATMS software

• Communicates directly with SRTA’s toll system

Screenshot: Parsons Transportation Group – iNet software, 2017

Software Redundancy (2)

• Backup reversal software

• Does not communicate with SRTA’s system

• Provided by Design/Build team

Screenshot: Flir– Cameleon software, 2017

Software Redundancy (3)

• HMI located in roadside cabinets near access points

• HEROs can operate gates using drills or hand cranks

Photo: GDOT, 2017

Operations PlanningGDOT RACS/TMC STAFF GATES GDOT SIGNS SRTA ITS TR SIGNS TFH

Northbound-Southbound

SELECT NB to SB REVERSAL

SEND TOLL CHECK

SEND Toll START

toll_check

toll_response (requested changes completed)

toll_start (south)

SET ACS 1 SIGNS TO CLOSE CLOSECMS-701CMS-703CMS-704CMS-705


SET TP1 TR SIGN TO CLOSED

CLOSE75A-215.6-CMS-CMS01

toll_sign (I75-TP1)(close signs)

CLOSE GATES @ ACS 1


CLOSE WG - 101

CLOSE BG - 106

CLOSE WG - 102

OPEN WG - 103

CLOSE WG - 104

CLOSE WG - 105

CLOSE WG - 107

CLOSE WG - 108

CLOSE WG - 110

CLOSE WG - 109

CLOSE WG - 111

OPEN U-TURN GATES @ ACS 1

SET ACS 2 SIGNS TO CLOSECLOSECMS-706CMS-708CMS-709CMS-707CMS-710CMS-711

SET TP1 TO SB SET TP1 TO SOUTHtoll-control-command(SOUTH)

ws_response (requested changes completed)

tollcontrol_request(I75-TP1)(S)

tollcontrol_response(request changes completed)

SET TP2 TR SIGN TO CLOSED toll_sign (I75-TP2)(close signs)


CLOSE GATES @ ACS 2

CLOSE WG - 201

CLOSE BG - 206

CLOSE WG - 202

CLOSE WG - 203

CLOSE WG - 204

CLOSE WG - 207

CLOSE WG - 208

CLOSE WG - 211

CLOSE WG - 210

CLOSE WG - 209

OPEN WG - 205OPEN U-TURN GATES @ ACS 2

CONDUCT CAMERA SWEEP

SET ACS 1 SPEED SIGNS TO CLOSE CLOSE

CMS-702

pingpong

toll_startws_response (requested changes completed)

“CLOSED” to override

message queue

post “CLOSED”

toll_sign (CLOSE SIGNS)ws_response (requested changes completed)



message queue

post “CLOSED”


OPEN WG 205 ACS 2





SET ACS 3 SIGNS TO CLOSEClose CMS-712CMS-715CMS-719CMS-716CMS-720




SET SIGNAL @ JBO TO SB SIGNAL

CLOSE GATES @ ACS 3 CLOSE WG - 305

CLOSE WG - 304

CLOSE BG - 302

CLOSE WG- 301










OPEN GATES @ ACS 4

OPEN WG - 401

OPEN WG - 402

OPEN WG - 403

OPEN BG - 404

OPEN GATES @ ACS 7

OPEN WG - 705

OPEN WG - 701

OPEN WG - 702

OPEN WG - 703

OPEN WG - 704

OPEN WG - 706

OPEN WG - 707

OPEN WG - 709

OPEN WG - 708

SET TP5 TR SIGN TO OPEN toll_sign (I75-TP5)(open signs)

SET ACS 7 SIGNS TO OPEN OpenCMS-723CMS-724CMS-726CMS-725CMS-727CMS-728CMS-729

CLOSE WG - 405CLOSE U-TURN GATES @ ACS 4

CLOSE GATES @ ACS 5

CLOSE WG - 502




SET RAMP SIGNAL & BEACON TO SB SIGNAL


SET ACS 3 SPEED SIGNS TO CLOSE Close

CMS-713CMS-717

CLOSE75A-JBO-CMS-CMS31 75A-JBO-CMS-CMS11 75A-JBO-CMS-CMS01


message queue

post “CLOSED”


OPEN75A-228.1-CMS-CMS2175A-228.6-CMS-CMS21

Remove override message queue

post <toll-rate>

toll_sign (OPEN SIGNS)ws_response (requested changes completed)

*

*

CLOSE GATES @ ACS 5

CLOSE WG - 504

CLOSE WG - 503

CLOSE WG - 502

CLOSE BG - 501

CLOSE U-TURN GATES @ ACS 6 CLOSE WG-603

OPEN GATES @ ACS 6

OPEN WG - 606

OPEN WG - 601

OPEN WG - 602

OPEN WG - 604

OPEN BG - 605

OPEN WG - 607

OPEN WG - 608

SET TP6 TR SIGN TO OPEN toll_sign (I75-TP6)(open signs)

SET ACS 6 SIGNS TO OPENOPENCMS-730CMS-731CMS-732CMS-734

SEND TOLL ENDtoll_end(South)



SET ACS 6 SPEED SIGNS TO OPEN OPEN

CMS-733

OPEN75A-001.5-CMS-CMS21


post <toll-rate>

toll_sign (CLOSE SIGNS)ws_response (requested changes completed

toll_endws_response (requested changes completed

Toll rates are continuously sent by DPS and being placed into the toll-rate message queue- posted to sign

only if no override

for each sign (in sequence)when closing – sets “CLOSED” message in software override queue, updates phys when opening – removes the message in software override queue, updates physi

*

Operations Planning (2)

Operations Planning (3)GDOT RACS/TMC STAFF GATES GDOT SIGNS SRTA ITS TR SIGNS TFH

Northbound-Southbound

SELECT NB to SB REVERSAL

SEND TOLL CHECK

SEND Toll START

toll_check


toll_start (south)

SET ACS 1 SIGNS TO CLOSE CLOSECMS-701CMS-703CMS-704CMS-705





CLOSE GATES @ ACS 1


CLOSE WG - 101

CLOSE BG - 106

CLOSE WG - 102

OPEN WG - 103

CLOSE WG - 104

CLOSE WG - 105

CLOSE WG - 107

CLOSE WG - 108

CLOSE WG - 110

CLOSE WG - 109

CLOSE WG - 111

OPEN U-TURN GATES @ ACS 1

SET ACS 2 SIGNS TO CLOSE CLOSECMS-706CMS-708CMS-709CMS-707CMS-710CMS-711





SET TP2 TR SIGN TO CLOSED toll_sign (I75-TP2)(close signs)


CLOSE GATES @ ACS 2

CLOSE WG - 201

CLOSE BG - 206

CLOSE WG - 202

CLOSE WG - 203

CLOSE WG - 204

CLOSE WG - 207

CLOSE WG - 208

CLOSE WG - 211

CLOSE WG - 210

CLOSE WG - 209

OPEN WG - 205OPEN U-TURN GATES @ ACS 2





SET ACS 3 SIGNS TO CLOSEClose CMS-712CMS-715CMS-719CMS-716CMS-720




SET SIGNAL @ JBO TO SB SIGNAL

CLOSE GATES @ ACS 3 CLOSE WG - 305

CLOSE WG - 304

CLOSE BG - 302

CLOSE WG- 301










OPEN GATES @ ACS 4

OPEN WG - 401

OPEN WG - 402

OPEN WG - 403

OPEN BG - 404

OPEN GATES @ ACS 7

OPEN WG - 705

OPEN WG - 701

OPEN WG - 702

OPEN WG - 703

OPEN WG - 704

OPEN WG - 706

OPEN WG - 707

OPEN WG - 709

OPEN WG - 708



CONDUCT CAMERA SWEEP

SET RAMP SIGNAL & BEACON TO SB SIGNAL


SET ACS 3 SPEED SIGNS TO CLOSE Close

CMS-713CMS-717

SET ACS 1 SPEED SIGNS TO CLOSE CLOSE

CMS-702

pingpong

toll_startws_response (requested changes completed)


message queue

post “CLOSED”




message queue

post “CLOSED”


CLOSE75A-JBO-CMS-CMS31 75A-JBO-CMS-CMS11 75A-JBO-CMS-CMS01


message queue

post “CLOSED”



*

Wait in position

Assist with ACS 1 if necessary

HERO

ACS 1 Looking at Gates

In GP lanes NB Prior to CMS

set #1

At ACS 1 in GP lanes SB near

SR 155 exit ramp

123

Observe NB gates close and

U-turn gate open

Confirm TMC via radio

Observe NB gates close and

open u-turn gate


Drive northward to

just before ACS 2

Verify TMC left turn lane is

clear

Observe NB gates close.

Confirm TMC via radio.

Tell HERO 1&2 last vehicle coming

Drive North to JBO Enterance

Merge area

Drive North to JBO Enterance

Merge area

Receive Info from HERO 3

Receive Info from HERO 3

Resume non-Express

patrolling

Drive N @ 30mph to I-75/

675 split

Drive N @ 30mph to I-75/

675 split

Observe SB gate open

Drive North on Express Ramp to I-675 past

gate set 5

Drive North on EL and position just past WG-

405

Enter ACS 2. Stage at end of

split ramp.

Ride NB on GP, and exit at JBO. Position at exit

lane on JBO ramp

Confirm TMC location via

radio

Confirm TMC location via

radio

Observe SB gate open


Travel 75 N GP to 675 NB GP. Exit at SR 138,

re-enter 675 SB GP. Stage at

salt barn cross over near ACS

6

Take SR 138 across to I-75 SB. Assist with

gate set 7 if necessary

*TP must be set AFTER HERO confirms last

vehicle left the EL

*TP must be set AFTER HERO confirms last

vehicle left the EL

Operations Planning (4)

• Plans• Workflows• HERO placement

diagrams• In-field verification

Photo: CW Matthews, 2017Phot

o: G

DOT,

201

7

HERO Program Expansion

• Created a Master Operator position specifically for Express Lanes

• Hired from existing pool of HEROs, and backfilled with new hires

• Currently have 20 Master Operators

• Extensive training• Classroom• In-field

Photo: GDOT, 2017

HERO Express Lane Duties

• Support reversals• Sweep lanes before reversals• Provide manual backup for

reversals • Operate emergency access

gates• Clearing debris• Incident response• Traffic control

HERO training, 2016

Emergency Responders

• Coordination with many agencies• Henry Co Fire and police• Clayton Co Fire and police• Sheriff’s office• Georgia State Patrol• Department of Public Safety

• Presentations & table top exercises

• Concerns about accessing facility during incidents, concerns about wrong way vehicles

Wrong Way Vehicles

• System-generated alerts• Operator protocol• Entering in correct

direction and making U-turns

• WWV’s are rare

Wrong Way Vehicles

• System-generated alerts• Operator protocol• Entering in correct

direction and making U-turns

• WWV’s are rare

Wrong Way Vehicles (2)

Photo: Neology, 2017

Wrong Way Vehicles (3)

Photo: Google maps, 2017

NB Express Entrance

NB GP Entrance

SB GP Entrance

Other Incidents


• Luckily no major incidents so far

Northwest Corridor


• 3X the size• 3X the emergency

responders to coordinate• 2X as many toll points• 3X the O-D pair

combinations• 5X the anticipated trip

volumes

Photo: Northwest Express Roadbuilders, 2017

Annie Gillespie, PEDirector of [email protected]

Mark Demidovich, PEAssistant State Traffic Engineer

[email protected]

Thank you for your time.

Documents

Life in the Fast (and SAFE!) Lane - ibtta.org · PDF fileLife in the Fast (and SAFE!) Lane Lessons Learned in Planning, Opening, and Operating Atlanta’s First Reversible Express