4 Roadway Conditions
4.1.2 Route 17 Automated Anti-Icing System – New York
Impetus for the Activity
The problems that sparked New York State DOT (NYSDOT) to consider a technological treatment were a high crash location; a spectacular fatality involving a State Trooper; and difficulty in maintaining the highway in a remote, shaded, steep, winding location. NYSDOT considered a technological treatment over a conventional treatment due to the remote location and the need for a capability for electronic sensing of pavement and weather conditions.
The expected results of deployment of the system are reduced crash rates and more efficient snow and ice treatment.
Criteria for System Selection (Hardware and Software)
The system was at the planning stage and was not yet under design at the time this report was prepared.
Description of the System
The objective of the system is to advise motorists of adverse weather and/or pavement conditions and to automatically deploy anti-icing materials. The system is planned for deployment on Route 17 in Sullivan County, on a remote, shaded, steep, winding section of the highway.
The system will cover about 8 km. Atmospheric and in-pavement sensors will measure temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, pavement temperature, and salinity. Between two and four VMSs will be installed, as will feeds to the Visitor Information Center. The pavement and weather data will be used to activate the VMSs and the automatic anti-icing system. Drivers will view the advisory messages on the VMSs and at a kiosk in the Visitor Information Center.
Perceived “Hot Spots” for Rural ITS Deployment
Two “Hot Spots” for rural ITS deployment aimed at improving safety were noted. They included:
- Remote areas where automated systems could be faster and more efficient than traditional maintenance crews – especially on bridges and other locations prone to rapidly changing conditions (black ice, etc.);
- Places where technology might be applied to reduce head-on, run-off-the-road, wet road, and nighttime crashes.
Obstacles and Lessons Learned
It was noted that the biggest obstacles were funding related and were based on institutional issues unique to NYSDOT in dealing with first-instancing the Federal earmark received a number of years ago to advance this project.