Ramp meter project to begin soon in Eugene

 

January 4, 2013                                                     For more information: Rick Little (541) 726-2442

01-01-R2                                                             email at: mailto:richard.little@odot.state.or.us  

                                                                            

 

Construction to begin on Beltline ramp meter project

 

EUGENE— Construction will begin this month on an Intelligent Transportation System project to address congestion and safety on OR 569 (Randy Papé Beltline).

 

Adaptive ramp meters will be installed at four locations on Beltline as a short-term, low cost solution to reduce traffic delays, improve safety, and decrease fuel consumption and air pollution during peak morning and afternoon travel times.

 

Construction is scheduled to begin on January 7, 2013. The ramp meters are expected to become operational at the completion of the project, June 30, 2013.

 

Ramp meters to be located at four locations

 

The four locations where ramp meters will be installed are:

• River Road  on-ramp to eastbound Randy Papé Beltline
• River Avenue  on-ramp to eastbound Randy Papé Beltline
• Green Acres Road  on-ramp to westbound Randy Papé Beltline
• Coburg Road  on-ramp to westbound Randy Pape Beltline

 

Operation of the ramp meters will be triggered by congestion levels. However, the eastbound ramp meters are expected to operate primarily during the weekday morning peak travel period of 6:30-9:30 a.m. The westbound ramp meters are expected to operate primarily between the weekday afternoon peak travel period of 3:00-6:45 p.m. Additional metering may occur during other periods of congestion, such as during traffic incidents or during events.

 

Ramp meters are new to Eugene but not elsewhere

 

Ramp meters have been used in the Portland Metro area since 1981. There are 155 ramp meters in operation there.

 

Because ramp meters will be a new addition to the Eugene area transportation system, here are some Frequently Asked Questions that will help inform motorists.

 

What is an adaptive ramp meter? It’s a traffic signal that, as part of a coordinated system, controls the rate at which vehicles enter a highway. The signal has only two colors: green for go and red for stop. The metering rate adjusts as traffic conditions change along the freeway corridor. With heavy traffic on Beltline, the metering rate slows down to let fewer cars merge. With lighter traffic, the rate increases to allow more vehicles to merge.

How does it work? The signals can be set for different stop and go ranges to optimize traffic flow and minimize congestion. Regulating the timing of vehicles entering a highway avoids large groups of vehicles joining traffic all at once, which causes traffic flow to slow down on the highway behind the merge point. Signal timing will be adjusted for more effective results based on real-time data from mainline loop detectors.

Do they work? Yes! Ramp metering has increased traffic flow by 30 percent and increased peak period speeds by 60 percent at other sites. The time and length of congestion along the Beltline Highway will be reduced through ramp metering treatments.

Why do they work? The system responds to actual traffic conditions and regulates the number of cars and truck that enter a highway at one time. As a result, traffic flow is smoother and more vehicles can actually go through a corridor in less time than if a ramp meter was not present.

When there is less traffic on a highway, metering rates are increased to let more cars merge onto the roadway.

 

More information is available

• The Beltline ITS project is funded by the Oregon Jobs and Transportation Act. To learn more about the project, visit: http://oregonjta.org/region2/?p=beltline-delta&expandable=0
• To see comparison videos of how Beltline would function with and without ramp meters, visit: http://video_comparison.kaiproject.com/index.html
• To learn more about ramp meters in Oregon, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/docs/rampmeters.pdf

 

Project construction will create minor impacts on motorists

 

Once construction begins, motorists should anticipate single night ramp closures, lane closures, and shoulder closures, flaggers controlling traffic, and construction vehicles entering and leaving the roadway at the four ramp meter locations. Motorists are encouraged to travel safely through the areas and respect the direction given by flaggers.

 

The low-bid contract of $829,346.70 was awarded to Lantz Electric, Inc. of Eugene.

 

 

Know Before You Go

 

To get an update on current road conditions, visit: www.tripcheck.com

 

 

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