The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and its partners have been recognized by the Intelligent Transportation Society of Texas (ITS Texas) for implementing a variable speed limit (VSL) pilot program designed to ease congestion and save lives.
The Outstanding Project Award was presented to TTI, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Southwest Research Institute by the ITS Texas Board of Directors during the group’s annual meeting in November.
The pilot project was implemented in the Waco, Brownwood and San Antonio districts and studied the operational and safety impacts of lowered speed limits during times of inclement weather, congestion and road construction.
Researchers designed and procured the field equipment for the project and integrated the hardware and software systems that trigger lower speed limits along the VSL corridors.
The project was initiated after the 83rd Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2204, which instructed TxDOT to study the effectiveness of VSL.
As a result of the study by TTI and its partners, the legislature could give TxDOT the authority to create permanent speed limit management systems across the state.