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New Jersey DOT unveils travel time information signs

Capitalising on its investment in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is to install permanent dynamic message signs (DMS) along New Jersey’s interstate highways. The signs display major waypoints, such as intersecting highways or significant roadway features, and indicate how many minutes it will take to reach that waypoint. The DOT has completed the testing phase on fifteen DMS on I-287 and I-195 and is planning further signs on other major
January 21, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Capitalising on its investment in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology, 7104 New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is to install permanent dynamic message signs (DMS) along New Jersey’s interstate highways. The signs display major waypoints, such as intersecting highways or significant roadway features, and indicate how many minutes it will take to reach that waypoint.

The DOT has completed the testing phase on fifteen DMS on I-287 and I-195 and is planning further signs on other major highways in the state; in total, about fifty signs will provide travel time information.  The plan is to initially provide trip times only during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

Trip-time information is continuously re-calculated for accuracy based on information gathered automatically by vehicle progress data gathered by roadside devices or by GPS devices that owners choose to be probed.

Announcing the initiative, NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said, “This initiative alerts motorists to traffic conditions miles down the road, equipping them with information they can use to make decisions about possibly altering the route to their destination,” Commissioner Simpson said. “At the very least, trip-time information confirms that traffic is flowing well or warns motorists about congestion ahead and helps them approach in a safe manner.”

The travel-time messages supplement traffic information available on a variety of platforms, including %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.511nj.org www.511nj.org false http://www.511nj.org/ false false%>, broadcast traffic reports and personalised text alerts available for free at 511nj.org.

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