Simulation Model for Evaluating and Improving Effectiveness of Freeway Service Patrol Programs

Abstract

Nonrecurrent congestion caused by highway incidents is a major concern for transportation agencies and millions of road users in most metropolitan areas in the United States. As a low-cost approach to incident management, freeway service patrol programs have gained wide popularity. Although there are many such programs in different parts of the country, there is not much effort to design such programs systematically so that better results can be obtained through efficient use of existing resources. A simulation model has been developed that can be used for designing a new freeway service patrol program configuration as well as improving operations of existing programs. The Hoosier Helper program in northwest Indiana is presented as an example of the model’s application. The information provided in this study would be useful for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of similar patrol programs in other metropolitan areas in Indiana and in other states.