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Agencies use changeable message signs over ETC dedicated, automatic (i.e., ACM and ATIM) and manual lanes. The survey data indicates the percentage usage of CMS in each of these lane types as follows:
Lane Type |
CMS Percentage Usage |
ETC Dedicated Lanes |
24% |
Automatic Lanes |
33.3% |
Manual Lanes |
26.7% |
The level of sophistication of the CMS installed at conventional plazas varies considerably. Signs capable of from 1 to 3 lines of text are being used to display a lane’s collection mode. The majority of CMS implementations use a character height of 10 or 12 inches, making the signs visible from a distance of at least 500 feet. The results of the survey data indicates that only half of the agencies are changing the lane collection mode messages displayed above the toll lane. This may be partly attributable to the physical characteristics of the toll lane or a consistent user demand throughout the day for a particular collection mode.
Some agencies have combined variable display modules with fixed, static signs to provide the capability to change a very limited portion of the complete sign message. This approach is typically used by agencies that have implemented or are contemplating the implementation of time of day pricing, whereby the variable toll amount for a passenger car and possibly other vehicle classifications shown on the fixed, static portion of the sign is displayed. With many regions of the country experiencing high traffic congestion, toll agencies and state departments of transportation are responding to the congestion and, in the case of existing toll facilities, the associated conventional plaza delays by planning and implementing variable priced express lanes for their facilities. To expand participation in the ETC Program, various discounts and incentives such as time of day pricing may be offered only to ETC users. Depending on the method an agency chooses to convey pricing information, fixed static signs with variable display modules may be needed to display the current toll in effect to the ETC customers.
| Q0111 Is a sign mounted above each dedicated ETC lane? “and” Q0112 If yes, is the sign: |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
Fixed Panel |
13 |
62% |
Changeable (CMS, VMS, DMS) |
5 |
24% |
Other |
3 |
14% |
| Q0113 If changeable, what is the maximum number of lines supported? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
2 |
4 |
57% |
3 |
3 |
43% |
| Q0114 What is the height of each character? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
10 |
4 |
57% |
12 |
3 |
43% |
| Q0115 For a CMS/VMS, is more than one message displayed above the dedicated ETC lane? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
Yes |
4 |
50% |
No |
4 |
50% |
| Q0183 Is a sign mounted above each ACM/ATIM lane? “and” Q0184 If yes, is the sign: |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
Fixed Panel |
4 |
66.7% |
Changeable (CMS, VMS, DMS) |
2 |
33.3% |
Other |
0 |
0.0% |
| Q0185 If changeable, what is the maximum number of lines supported? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
No Lines |
2 |
50% |
2 |
1 |
25% |
3 |
1 |
25% |
| Q0186 What is the height of each character? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
12" |
4 |
100% |
| Q0187 For CMS, is more than one message displayed above the ACM/ATIM lane? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
Yes |
2 |
50% |
No |
2 |
50% |
| Q0248 Is a sign mounted above each manual lane? “and” Q0249 If yes, is the sign: |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
Fixed Panel |
11 |
73.3% |
Changeable (CMS, VMS, DMS) |
4 |
26.7% |
Other |
0 |
0.0% |
| Q0250 If changeable, what is the maximum number of lines supported? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
No Lines |
1 |
25% |
1 |
1 |
25% |
2 |
1 |
25% |
3 |
1 |
25% |
| Q0251 What is the height of each charachter? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
10 |
4 |
50% |
12 |
3 |
37.5% |
13.65 |
1 |
12.5% |
| Q0252 For CMS, is more than one message displayed above the manual lane? |
Choices |
Number of Responses |
Percentage of all Responses |
Yes |
4 |
50% |
No |
4 |
50% |
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