Implementation Efforts Pertaining to a Statewide Traffic Monitoring Equipment Evaluation and Demonstration Facility (5-4664-01-1)

The Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) Division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) routinely tests a wide variety of devices for counting axles or vehicles; measuring vehicle speed, headway, and gap; classifying vehicles by length and/or axle spacing; and weighing vehicles in motion. However, TPP needs a traffic monitoring equipment evaluation facility to enhance its capabilities in conducting these tests, in facilitating training, and in allowing vendor comparisons and demonstrations. A previous study, 0-4664, investigated funding sources, design options, and viable locations for this traffic monitoring equipment evaluation facility. This report summarizes the implementation project that followed, to provide ongoing technical support to TPP as construction of the equipment evaluation facility in Bell County got underway. Researchers monitored or repaired equipment including weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors, nonintrusive detectors, and motorcycle detectors.