Clarus Use Case #4 Multi-State Control Strategy Tool (MSCST) Evaluation

completed

This report provides the results of an independent evaluation of the Clarus Use Case #4 Multi-State Control Strategy Tool (MSCST). This tool, developed for the Road Weather Management Program of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by a private contractor under a separate contract, allows state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to proactively manage traffic and coordinate their responses to developing significant weather events. The tool allows users to monitor weather conditions, receive alerts when weather conditions deteriorate beyond established thresholds, and communicate response decisions to other state and local agencies that may be impacted either by the weather conditions or the traffic management strategy. The tool was demonstrated in two states (Iowa and Illinois) as part of the Clarus Multistate Regional Demonstration Program. The evaluation consisted of deploying the tool for three months in each of these agencies and collecting statistics on how agencies used the tool to improve and coordinate responses during significant weather events, specifically potential frost conditions, precipitation on cold pavement events, slick road events, and blowing snow events. The study found that while agencies felt the concept of the MSCST was valid, the current tool needs significant expansion of its current utilities and sophistication before widespread acceptance and deployment can be expected.