R.I. 1 of 6 states to expand traffic data program

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rhode Island is one of six states to take part in a three-year expansion of the Vehicle Probe Project, a system that uses crowd-sourced traffic data and advanced analytics to turn billions of data points into real-time data.
The project, run by the University of Maryland, INRIX and the Interstate 95 Corridor Coalition, is funded by a 3.2 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration, under the Multistate Corridor Operations and Management Program.
Rhode Island, Maryland and the District of Columbia joined North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia with complete real-time coverage of freeways and select arterials statewide.
“Our ability to continue expanding this program is a direct result of the proven value the project delivers for member states in terms of improved operations, better planning and performance measurement,” George Schoener, executive director of the I-95 Corridor Coalition, said in a statement.
“By expanding coverage to four New England states for the first time, nearly every Coalition state is tapping the [Vehicle Probe Project] to meet their operational needs as well as the new performance measurement requirements of the recent federal legislation, MAP-21.”
The goal of the Project is to help member agencies meet real-time system management information program requirements for monitoring traffic flows along interstates and other major highways by late 2014.
The project currently covers nearly 8,000 miles of freeways and 32,000 additional miles of state highways and arterials in 14 states.
The project data provides real-time speeds and travel times for 65,000 road segments over the 40,000 centerline miles, data is updates every minute.
“Better information means improved operations, more precise planning and better performance measurement,” Rick Schuman, vice p and general manager of public sector for INRIX said in prepared remarks. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the Coalition and its member agencies to better serve the traveling public.”
The I-95 Corridor Coalition is a partnership of transportation agencies, toll authorities and related organizations.