MARK YOUR 

CALENDARS

July 15-17

Automated Vehicles 

Symposium 

San Francisco, CA

August 10-13

ITE Annual Meeting

Seattle, WA

September 7-11

ITS World Congress

Detroit, MI

HRDO Begins Data Collection on I-66 for Speed Harmonization 

Field Experiment 

On April 27, 2014, FHWA’s Office of Operations Research and Development (HRDO) 

deployed four microwave radar detection trailers on Interstate 66 (I-66), eastbound 

between Route 7 and Fairfax Drive. The goal of the study is to begin preliminary data 

collection and algorithm testing for FHWA’s Office of Research and Development’s speed 

harmonization field experiment. Speed harmonization is a method by which speeds of 

vehicles approaching a bottleneck are slightly decreased in order to smooth traffic flow, 

reduce stop and go traffic, and slow the onset of major congestion. 

Researchers will calculate an optimal speed and use a remote server at TurnerFairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) to broadcast it to three vehicles in live 

traffic on I-66 eastbound during the evening peak period. The vehicles are equipped with 

connected and automated vehicle technologies. The experiment is scheduled to take place 

over six days during a test window from May 20 

to July 18, 2014. 

During data collection, the project team 

has been conducting test runs with the three 

equipped vehicles and up to three “probe 

vehicles” to measure the impact of adjusted 

speeds on traffic, both upstream and downstream. 

As a result, researchers are testing variations of 

the algorithm to measure performance under 

different operational conditions. Preliminary 

results demonstrate viable communication 

between infrastructure and vehicle to achieve 

speed harmonization. To learn more, contact Joe 

Bared at joe.bared@dot.gov, or Dan Dailey at 

dan.dailey.ctr@dot.gov . 

In this Issue:

Speed Harmonization Data Collection P.1

Draft Report on I-66 ATM P.2

Accessible Transportation Research P.3

National Connected Vehicle Field 

Infrastructure Footprint Analysis P.4

TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS 

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 

June 2014

UPDATE

OPERATIONS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 

At right: Drivers review the 

appropriate vehicle 

formation for collecting data 

for a speed harmonization 

test drive. Test drives 

involve three equipped 

vehicles and up to three 

probe vehicles.

These equipped vehicles are prepped for a 

speed harmonization test drive.
HRDO Prepares Guidance on Bottleneck Treatments

In coordination with FHWA’s Office of Operations (HOP), HRDO is developing a draft report on 

defining and identifying congestion and bottlenecks and screening bottleneck countermeasures. 

The report, which is geared toward States and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), will 

include an analysis of the causes of congestion in order to refine the existing “congestion pie 

chart.” In addition, the report will analyze the effects of five bottleneck solutions: increased 

acceleration lane lengths in merge sections; dynamic junction control on freeways; dynamic lane 

use groupings at signalized intersections; dynamic hard shoulder running for improved merge 

performance between interchange terminals; and reducing lane widths to add a travel lane in 

multilane freeway sections. The analysis tools being developed under this project will help 

agencies identify congestion and bottlenecks on their roadways, understand the causal 

composition of congestion, and predict short-term occurrences of bottlenecks. For more 

information, contact Joe Bared at joe.bared@dot.gov, or Neil Spiller at neil.spiller@dot.gov.

HRDO Develops Draft Report on Active Traffic Management on 

I-66 for the Virginia Department of Transportation

In coordination with HOP staff and Kris Milster of the Florida Division Office, HRDO has 

completed a draft report detailing the application of the new Highway Capacity Manual 

methodology for operational analysis of the I-66 Active Traffic Management (ATM) application. 

The draft report includes details of data collection and calibration efforts as well as an analysis of 

eastbound operations on I-66 for comparing current conditions to projected post-implementation 

conditions. Preliminary estimates of the impact of the queue warning system indicate average 

travel time and vehicle-hours delay reductions of up to 7 percent. The project team used the 

FREEVAL-ATDM tool to conduct the analysis. For more information, contact Michael Maness at 

michael.maness.ctr@dot.gov, or Joe Bared at joe.bared@dot.gov. 

HRDO Kicks off Project to Demonstrate Automated EcoGlidePath

HRDO recently kicked off a project that will improve upon a “GlidePath” proof-of-concept 

application that was developed in 2012 under the Applications for the Environment: Real-Time 

Information Synthesis (AERIS) Program by the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Saxton 

Laboratory staff supported the proof of 

concept testing, which was conducted at 

TFHRC’s Intelligent Intersection.

The UCR-developed algorithm 

processes signal phase and timing 

information from a traffic signal 

controller to calculate optimal speed 

trajectories for a research vehicle 

approaching a signalized intersection. 

Proof of concept tests evaluated the 

algorithm’s performance. The speed 

guidance was transmitted over-the-air 

and displayed in the vehicle (as shown on 

the right) to allow the driver to minimize 

fuel consumption. Using this application, the tests conducted at TFHRC reduced fuel consumption 

in research vehicles by up to 18 percent. This promising outcome has encouraged FHWA to 

pursue additional research, which began in mid-June 2014.

Under the new project, the proof of concept algorithm will be adapted for use in a research 

vehicle equipped with systems to control the brake and throttle modules, enabling full-range speed 

control, independent of the vehicle’s cruise control system. This will allow for automated 

longitudinal vehicle control below 25 miles per hour, which will enable the research team to test 

the hypothesis that automating the application will reduce the burden on the driver and minimize 

driver distraction. A demonstration of the application is scheduled for spring 2015. For more 

information, contact Osman Altan at osman.altan@dot.gov. 

HRDO Director 

Presents at IEEE 

Intelligent Vehicles 

Symposium

On June 10, 2014, HRDO 

Director Joe Peters 

delivered a plenary session 

presentation at the 

Institute of Electrical and 

Electronics Engineers 

(IEEE) Intelligent Vehicles 

Symposium in Dearborn, 

Michigan. Peters’ 

presentation, “Pathways 

to Automation: The Role 

of Vehicles and 

Infrastructure in a Future 

Transportation 

Environment,” focused on 

the role connected 

automation plays in 

advancing mobility, safety, 

and environmental 

benefits to the 

transportation system and 

travelers, beyond what 

automation alone can 

provide.

Peters discussed 

ongoing HRDO research 

and development efforts 

related to connected 

automation, including 

projects focused on speed 

harmonization, automated 

“Eco-GlidePaths” at 

intersections, and truck 

platooning. Over 300 

participants attended the 

session from the public 

and private sectors and 

academia. For more 

information, contact Joe 

Peters at 

joe.peters@dot.gov. 

OPERATIONS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 

For the 2012 Eco-GlidePath proof of concept demonstration, drivers adjusted their speed to stay within the “green” 

zone (shown on the left). The current project will automate 

this process.
USDOT Coordinates with Department of Education on 

Accessible Transportation Research 

On May 19, 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) met with the U.S. 

Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

(NIDRR). The purpose of the meeting was to brief John Tschida, the new NIDRR Director 

and Interagency Committee on Disability Research Chairman, on USDOT’s Accessible 

Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) and to discuss collaborative plans 

between the two agencies over the next couple of years. The ATTRI is a collaborative effort 

involving FHWA, the Federal Transit Administration, the Intelligent Transportation Systems 

(ITS) Joint Program Office (JPO), NIDRR, and other Federal agencies. For more information 

about the ATTRI, contact Mohammed Yousuf at mohammed.yousuf@dot.gov. 

ATTRI Launches Online National Dialogue 

From May 15 to June 6, 2014, USDOT’s ATTRI launched a national online dialogue to seek 

feedback from stakeholders regarding accessible 

transportation technology research trends and 

activities, specifically “mobility and transportation 

technology preferences and needs from riders who 

have disabilities.” The dialogue was facilitated 

through a Web page that allowed various users to 

submit comments. For example, one user noted a 

need for better information on “availability of known 

surface and street parking spaces, including 

accessibility information and barriers for those with 

disabilities, for communication to mobile 

applications.”

The information gathered during the dialogue 

will be analyzed by Easter Seals and presented to an 

expert panel or focus group, which will review the 

results and provide further feedback to the ATTRI team. The draft report on the national 

online dialogue will be available in June or July 2014. For more information about ATTRI, 

contact Mohammed Yousuf at mohammed.yousuf@dot.gov, or visit the National Online 

Dialogue Web site at http://nationalonlinedialoguetadt.ideascale.com/. 

HRDO Upgrades the Saxton Lab SMART Garage 

HRDO is in the process of upgrading the high-bay SMART garage at the Saxton 

Transportation Operations Laboratory, located at TFHRC. To date, upgrades have included 

six bench work spaces with touchscreen monitors; dedicated, striped spaces for the 

connected automation research vehicle fleet; 

easily accessible, ceiling-mounted power; and 

an industrial grate to cover the vehicle pit area. 

Additional upgrades underway include a FumeA-Vent exhaust system to support conducting 

experiments in the garage with idling vehicles, 

Wireless Fidelity connectivity to support vehicle 

system access, and a Global Positioning System 

repeater for indoor localized testing. These 

upgrades will enhance the testing activities that 

can be conducted in the garage. HRDO is 

targeting the official opening of the enhanced 

SMART garage for late 2014. For more 

information, contact Taylor Lochrane at 

taylor.lochrane@dot.gov. 

OPERATIONS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 

HRDO Hosts DOE 

and AASHTO at 

TFHRC

On March 18, 2014, leaders 

from the Department of 

Energy (DOE) visited TFHRC 

to learn more about how 

connected automation can 

improve fuel economy and 

reduce emissions. HRDO 

Director Joe Peters gave an 

overview of connected 

automation and ITS JPO 

Director Ken Leonard 

introduced USDOT’s 

Automation Program. The 

HRDO Team then led a tour 

of the Saxton Laboratory and 

gave presentations on recent 

research accomplishments 

and current connected 

automation projects, 

including two Exploratory 

Advanced Research Program 

truck platooning projects.

On March 27, 2014, 

members of AASHTO’s 

Standing Committee on 

Research (SCOR) visited the 

Saxton Laboratory to learn 

about ongoing research 

projects. The HRDO Team 

discussed projects such as 

guidance for alternative 

intersections and bottleneck 

treatments, speed 

harmonization, the virtual 

data access framework, and 

partial automation for truck 

platooning.

The visits from DOE and 

SCOR are part of HRDO’s 

ongoing efforts to engage 

Federal and State partners in 

operations research efforts.

ATTRI explores how connectivity can 

assist disabled travelers through mobile 

applications, such as those that help blind 

pedestrians safely cross streets. 

Upgrades to the garage include new work 

benches and striped vehicle spaces.
FHWA and AASHTO Present on the National Connected Vehicle 

Field Infrastructure Footprint Analysis

FHWA and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 

(AASHTO) recently delivered presentations on the National Connected Vehicle Footprint 

Analysis at three events:

 The AASHTO Subcommittee on Systems Operations and Management Annual Meeting 

in Nashville, TN on May 6, 2014.

 The T3 Webinar on the National Connected Vehicle Field Infrastructure Footprint 

Analysis on May 22, 2014.

 The Cooperative Transportation Systems Pooled Fund Study and AASHTO Connected 

Vehicle Working Group Meeting on May 29, 2014.

The Footprint Analysis is a joint effort between FHWA and AASHTO intended to 

develop a deployment footprint and plan that will describe the need for connected vehicle 

infrastructure, the form that the infrastructure should take, where and when the infrastructure 

should be deployed, and the cost, organizational, and institutional implications of deploying 

the infrastructure. The analysis will result in a policy foundation for a connected vehicle 

environment.

The presentations were aimed at raising awareness about the Footprint Analysis 

among stakeholders and gathering their feedback. Each event was well-received and brought 

together about 50 to 100 participants. Participants included representatives from State DOTs, 

counties, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Input and comments received from 

stakeholders will be incorporated in the Footprint Analysis final report, which will be 

published this summer. For more information about the National Connected Vehicle Field 

Infrastructure Footprint Analysis, contact Ben McKeever at ben.mckeever@dot.gov. 

HRDO Welcomes Professional Development Program 

Researcher 

On July 7, 2014, Christopher Melson will start a 4 to 5 month 

assignment at HRDO under FHWA’s Professional Development 

Program (PDP). Mr. Melson will work on two research projects. 

The first is a study and technical paper on one-sided 

interchanges. As part of this effort, Mr. Melson will conduct a 

simulation to determine optimum lengths of speed change lanes 

for exceptional left-side and on- and off-ramps for one-sided 

interchanges. This innovative type of directional interchange 

will reduce lane requirements and can be built on one side of a 

freeway crossing. The second project, which will be determined jointly by HRDO and HOP, 

may focus on dynamic traffic assignment (DTA). Mr. Melson, who is currently working at 

the Madison Wisconsin Division, completed a thesis on DTA. For more information, contact 

Joe Bared at joe.bared@dot.gov. 

Publication No.: FHWA-HRT-14-085

HRDO-1/06-14(Web)

OPERATIONS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Automated Vehicles 

Symposium

San Francisco, CA

July 15-17, 2014

Sponsored by the 

Transportation Research Board 

(TRB) and the Association for 

Unmanned Vehicle Systems 

International (AUVSI), the 

Automated Vehicles 

Symposium is scheduled from 

July 15 to July 17, 2014 and will 

include 10 breakout sessions. In 

addition to partnering in the 

organization of the entire 

symposium, HRDO is playing a 

leadership role in the 

development and organization 

of the breakout session, “NearTerm Connected/Automated 

Technology Deployment 

Opportunities.”

This session will consist of 

three panel discussions. 

HRDO’s Bob Ferlis will 

moderate the first panel, which 

will focus on near-term 

connected vehicle and 

infrastructure technologies. 

The second panel, moderated 

by Texas Transportation 

Institute’s Ginger Goodin, will 

focus on innovators who might 

be best situated to champion 

the early deployment of 

automated vehicle-highway 

technologies. HRDO Director 

Joe Peters will moderate the 

final panel, focused on the 

value proposition for early 

deployment. After the panels, 

Bob Ferlis will facilitate a 

closing, large group discussion 

that summarizes findings and 

conclusions. 

For more information, visit 

the symposium Web site: 

www.automatedvehiclessymp

osium.org. 

The figure to the left above depicts a traditional “clover leaf” interchange design. This figure can be 

compared to the figure on the right, a one-sided interchange design.