Evaluation of Electronic Speed Limit Signs for Unified Consolidated School on US 30, Eastbound and Westbound

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

START DATE

10/01/07

END DATE

09/06/11

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE
SPONSORS

Iowa Department of Transportation
Midwest Transportation Consortium

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Shauna Hallmark

Director, InTrans

Student Researcher(s)
Nicole Oneyear

About the research

This study documents the speed reduction impacts of two dynamic, electronic school zone speed limit signs at United Community Schools between Ames and Boone, Iowa. The school facility is situated along US Highway 30, a rural four-lane divided expressway.

Due to concerns about high speeds in the area, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) decided to replace the original static school zone speed limit signs, which had flashing beacons during school start and dismissal times, with electronic speed signs that only display the reduced school speed limit of 55 mph during school arrival and dismissal times.

The Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) at Iowa State University (ISU) conducted a speed evaluation of the area one week before and then 1 month, 7 months, and 14 or 15 months after the new signs were installed.

Overall, the new dynamic school zone speed limit signs were more effective in reducing speeds than the original static signs with flashing beacons in the 1 month after period. During the 7 and 14 month after period, speeds increased slightly for the eastbound direction of traffic. However, the increases were consistent with overall speed increases that occurred independent of the signs.

The dynamic, electronic signs were effective for the westbound direction of traffic for all time periods and for both start and dismissal times. Even though only modest changes in mean and 85th percentile speeds occurred, with the speed decreases, the number of vehicles exceeding the school speed limit decreased significantly, indicating the signs had a significant impact on high-end speeders.

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