Abstract
Highway advisory radio (HAR) is an older traffic information source that is not typically used by most travelers. However, it is still valuable as a regional traveler information and communication tool, especially in emergencies. To understand the benefits of HAR to professional agencies, two online surveys were conducted with state department of transportation officials throughout the United States and with Florida emergency management departments. The 28 completed state department of transportation surveys indicated that HAR was a valuable regional communication tool to reach more travelers and provided more detailed information than other technologies. Florida emergency management professionals stated that HAR was useful as a redundant technology if the phone and Internet-based technologies that they used to provide emergency alerts failed. In addition to these surveys, a detailed benefit–cost analysis that used the results of customer surveys was performed on the HAR system of the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, which consisted of 16 HAR units throughout Florida. This analysis quantified the regional travel time benefits to passenger vehicle occupants and commercial truck drivers who diverted because of HAR congestion messages and compared these benefits with the capital and operational costs of the system. Assuming that 5% to 20% of HAR congestion messages cause diversion, the estimated range of the HAR benefit–cost ratio was 4.02 to 16.08. These benefits would be even greater if use of HAR in emergencies, fuel savings, and emissions reductions were considered.