I-95 Ramp Metering System
Project Description: Ramp metering will be implemented at ramps on I–95 between Mile Marker 143 and Mile Marker 177. This area of I–95 is characterized by significant recurring and non–recurring congestion. It is also prone to a high number of incidents resulting in high person hours of delay. The ramp metering will enable mobility and safety benefits without negatively impacting operations on arterials. The I–95 Ramp Metering System includes a traffic signal — along with detectors and an advanced traffic signal controller — that are implemented in the field to regulate the flow of traffic entering the freeway according to current traffic conditions. Algorithms installed at the signal controller and in the advanced traffic management system (ATMS) provide the logic to manage the rate of vehicles entering the freeway and to coordinate ramp metering operations between adjacent ramps.
Project Status: Planned
Project Stakeholders:
Interconnect and Flow
Diagrams
:
Project Information Flows:
Project Functional Requirements (Element - Functional Object):
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC CCTV Cameras - Roadway Basic Surveillance
-
1: The field element shall collect, process, digitize, and send traffic sensor data (speed, volume, and occupancy) to the center for further analysis and storage, under center control.
-
4: The field element shall return sensor and CCTV system operational status to the controlling center.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC CCTV Cameras - Roadway Traffic Information Dissemination
-
1: The field element shall include dynamic message signs for dissemination of traffic and other information to drivers, under center control; the DMS may be either those that display variable text messages, or those that have fixed format display(s) (e.g. vehicle restrictions, or lane open/close).
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC CCTV Cameras - Roadway Traffic Metering
-
1: The field element shall regulate the flow of traffic on ramps, interchanges, and the mainline, under center control.
-
2: The field element shall monitor operation of ramp, interchange, and mainline meters and report to the center any conflicts between received control plans and current system operation.
-
3: The field element shall return ramp, interchange, and mainline meter operational status to the controlling center.
-
4: The field element shall provide indications to the driver that the metering system is active and provide safe transitions between active and inactive status.
-
5: The field element shall return ramp, interchange, and mainline meter fault data to the maintenance center for repair.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC Ramp Meters - Roadway Basic Surveillance
-
1: The field element shall collect, process, digitize, and send traffic sensor data (speed, volume, and occupancy) to the center for further analysis and storage, under center control.
-
2: The field element shall collect, process, and send traffic images to the center for further analysis and distribution.
-
4: The field element shall return sensor and CCTV system operational status to the controlling center.
-
5: The field element shall return sensor and CCTV system fault data to the controlling center for repair.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC Ramp Meters - Roadway Traffic Information Dissemination
-
1: The field element shall include dynamic message signs for dissemination of traffic and other information to drivers, under center control; the DMS may be either those that display variable text messages, or those that have fixed format display(s) (e.g. vehicle restrictions, or lane open/close).
-
3: The field element shall provide operational status for the driver information systems equipment (DMS, HAR, etc.) to the center.
-
4: The field element shall provide fault data for the driver information systems equipment (DMS, HAR, etc.) to the center for repair.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC Ramp Meters - Roadway Traffic Metering
-
1: The field element shall regulate the flow of traffic on ramps, interchanges, and the mainline, under center control.
-
2: The field element shall monitor operation of ramp, interchange, and mainline meters and report to the center any conflicts between received control plans and current system operation.
-
3: The field element shall return ramp, interchange, and mainline meter operational status to the controlling center.
-
4: The field element shall provide indications to the driver that the metering system is active and provide safe transitions between active and inactive status.
-
5: The field element shall return ramp, interchange, and mainline meter fault data to the maintenance center for repair.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC/ATMS - TMC Basic Surveillance
-
1: The center shall monitor, analyze, and store traffic sensor data (speed, volume, occupancy) collected from field elements under remote control of the center.
-
10: The center shall support an interface with a map update provider, or other appropriate data sources, through which updates of digitized map data can be obtained and used as a background for traffic data.
-
2: The center shall monitor, analyze, and distribute traffic images from CCTV systems under remote control of the center.
-
4: The center shall distribute road network conditions data (raw or processed) based on collected and analyzed traffic sensor and surveillance data to other centers.
-
5: The center shall respond to control data from center personnel regarding sensor and surveillance data collection, analysis, storage, and distribution.
-
6: The center shall maintain a database of surveillance equipment and sensors and associated data (including the roadway on which they are located, the type of data collected, and the ownership of each).
-
7: The center shall remotely control devices to detect traffic.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC/ATMS - TMC Roadway Equipment Monitoring
-
1: The center shall collect and store sensor (traffic, pedestrian, multimodal crossing) operational status.
-
2: The center shall collect and store CCTV surveillance system (traffic, pedestrian) operational status.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC/ATMS - TMC Traffic Information Dissemination
-
5: The center shall retrieve locally stored traffic information, including current and forecasted traffic information, road and weather conditions, traffic incident information, information on diversions and alternate routes, closures, and special traffic restrictions (lane/shoulder use, weight restrictions, width restrictions, HOV requirements), and the definition of the road network itself.
-
VDOT NOVA MPSTOC - TOC/ATMS - TMC Traffic Metering
-
1: The center shall remotely control systems to manage use of the freeways, including ramp, interchange, and mainline metering.
-
2: The center shall collect operational status from ramp meters, interchange meters, and mainline meters and compare against the control information sent by the center.
-
3: The center shall collect fault data from ramp meters, interchange meters, and mainline meters.
-
4: The center shall implement control strategies, under control of center personnel, on some or all of the freeway network devices (e.g. ramp meters, interchange meters, and mainline meters), based on data from sensors monitoring traffic conditions upstream, downstream, and queue data on the approaches to the meters.
Standards:
Project Operational Concepts:
Last Updated 5/29/2026
