Traveler Information for Rural Maryland

Disseminating traveler information in rural Maryland has long been challenging due to the limited deployment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) devices, such as dynamic message signs (DMS) and highway advisory radios (HARs). This challenge becomes particularly acute during major events, such as hurricanes or large-scale evacuations, when clear and accessible communication is critical. HARs, which operate on AM radio frequencies, have been a key tool for disseminating detailed information, but their reliance on outdated technology has made maintenance costly and increasingly unfeasible as spare parts become unavailable. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) has already retired half of its HARs and faces difficulty maintaining the remaining units, which are still vital in certain areas.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $152,446.00
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR25B4C

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
• Managing Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
• Project Managers:

  Wyatt, Steve

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Maryland, College Park

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  College Park, MD  United States  20742
• Principal Investigators:

  Yang, Xianfeng “Terry”

  Gong, Yaobang

• Start Date: 20250525
• Expected Completion Date: 20260930
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Human Factors

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driver information systems; Radio equipment; Rural highways; Traveler information and communication systems
• Geographic Terms: Maryland
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01989116
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
• Contract Numbers: SPR25B4C
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 13 2026 9:12AM