A Method for Prioritizing and Expanding Incident Management Assistance Patrols

Abstract

Incident Management Assistance Patrols (IMAPs) enable smooth traffic flow by assisting stranded motorists and aiding in incident clearance. Currently, many large urban areas have IMAP services and the number of urban areas with IMAP programs continues to grow. The expansion of these programs is largely due to the successes of existing programs in the areas of traffic and incident management. However, the decision on where to expand the patrols is becoming ever more difficult as existing criteria typically suggest the high-priority areas that already have IMAP service; furthermore possible benefits of the service are often indistinguishable on lower-priority facilities. This project develops a new approach for identifying locations that can benefit from IMAP service in North Carolina through the use of expanded analyses criteria. Analysis of three incident/crash indices, desired IMAP coverage intensity, and delay estimations are combined to create a comprehensive methodology to evaluate and rank possible IMAP expansion sites. The results of this research were integrated into a decision-support software tool that allows easy assessment of candidate expansion site using planning and operational methods by comparing performance measures between sites, modeling the effects of IMAP on delay, and estimating potential benefits and costs impacts. Through the use of this tool, decision-makers can quickly and easily compare the needs of candidate sites to make an informed, cost-effective decision as to where to provide expanded IMAP service.