THREE DECADES OF PROGRESS: FREEWAY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN ILLINOIS

The Illinois Department of Transportation has operated a freeway traffic management (FTM) program in the Chicago area for 3 decades. The program, which is a blend of basic operational strategies and advanced technology applications, helps promote mobility and safety for more than 2 million daily vehicle trips on more than 100 highway miles in the Chicago area. The FTM not only assists stranded motorists but also provides travel information. It has several components: freeway traffic surveillance and control system, emergency traffic patrol, motorist assistance cellular phone service, highway advisory radio, and a telephone hotline. The paper describes details of each of these components. The FTM program goals are stated and discussed. The obstacles to the program are noted and include funding and personnel. Program results and policy impacts are also discussed.