Cape Cod National Seashore intelligent transportation systems implementation plan: final report

Final; October 2008 - March 2011PDFResearch PaperDOT-VNTSC-NPS-11-07609/107186F4505087777National parksIntelligent transportation systemsAdvanced traveler information systemsParking facilitiesParkingEmergency transportationMassachusettsUnited States. National Park Service. Northeast RegionMiller, KennethFisher, Frances B.Hassol, JoshuaBartinique, IngridJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)AGR-PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDS-PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDSNTL-INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS-INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMSNTL-INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS-Traveler InformationNTL-INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS-Emergency ManagementVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterThe Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is providing technical support to the Cape Cod National Seashore in the planning of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). In collaboration with the Cape Cod Commission, National Seashore staff believe that ITS can improve the quality of visitor experience and help to ease congestion related to visitor traffic at the Seashore\u2019s six beaches. Such systems can also improve management of unplanned incidents and emergency events.This report includes an assessment of ITS technologies for parking management and traveler information. Based on this assessment, the report recommends that the National Seashore deploy magnetometer-based vehicle counting systems at its beaches. In addition, the report recommends deployment of Highway Advisory Radio to disseminate beach parking status information to travelers.An incremental implementation model is recommended, as well as a design-build contract vehicle. Deployment of the following ITS elements is recommended:1) Parking management information systems at the six federally-managed beaches within the National Seashore.2) A traveler information system to disseminate parking status information, utilizing Highway Advisory Radio.3) Purchase of a minimum of five portable DMS units, for use in emergencies as part of coordinated traffic management (e.g., hurricane evacuation), as well as during special events that create significant traffic congestion within the National Seashore.4) Competitively-bid procurement of ITS capital equipment and specialized engineering services, as well as project management, via a comprehensive design-build contract.5) Incremental implementation of the ITS components \u2013 first parking management, then traveler information.6) Coordination with local, county and state emergency-response agencies to establish the protocols and agreements that will be needed to allow the National Seashore\u2019s traveler information system to be used during regional emergencies