California, United States
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) added software, at a cost of $50,000, to display travel times on dynamic message signs (DMS) in Orange County. The information comes from a system of 5,500 sensors embedded in freeway lanes to measure the number of cars and their speeds. A computer calculates that information and updates travel times on the overhead freeway signs about every three minutes to give Orange County motorists an estimate of how long their drives will take to reach major interchanges.
The information is displayed on existing DMS that already provided information about traffic incidents and Amber alerts. The sensors have been used for years to monitor traffic and post information on Caltrans' Web site; but Caltrans only recently began posting travel time information on DMS in Los Angeles and other counties in California.
Motorists go both ways on signs
System Software: $50,000