Knowledge Resources

In Finland, approximately 350 km of roadway have been equipped with variable speed limits—most of them are weather-controlled. This study estimated the benefits and costs of expanding the system. Three different size networks were modeled to establish parameters for the cost-effective expansion of the system. Evaluation data collected from previous studies were projected onto the models which ranged in size from 2100 to 4300 km. Each model represented a contiguous network of variable speed limit signs (LED signs) that were controlled automatically by information produced by road-weather sensing stations. The road sections belonging to each network were selected based on set traffic safety and traffic volume criteria. The speed limits displayed were determined according to a control policy formulated by the Finnish Road Administration.

The benefit-cost analysis covered a period of 20 years and assumed a two percent annual increase in traffic and a five percent decrease in personal injury accidents. Ancillary impacts on pollution and noise costs were assumed marginal and were not included in the analysis. The system costs data input into the analysis included construction and maintenance costs derived from recently built systems.

The implementation plan was designed to accommodate two types of facilities: motorways and dual carriageways (divided highways), and single carriageways (roadway with no physical separation). The following data excerpted from table 2 of the report show the combinations of technologies deployed.

Road type	Speed limit signs	Combined information and warning signs	Traffic monitoring stations	Road weather stations	Traffic monitoring cameras
Motorways and dual carriageways	6 units /graded intersection if the spacing between intersections is longer than 5km speed limit repeater signs are required (4 units)	One for each carriageway for each intersection spacing	Every graded intersection spacing has one traffic monitoring station	One for every 15km	One for each graded intersection
Single carriageways	4 units /intersection if the spacing between intersections is longer than 5km speed limit repeater signs are required (2 units)	One for every other intersection spacing	One for each 20km	One for each 15km	One for each 20km

The results of the benefit-cost analysis were favorable for deployments along highly trafficked road segments. Starting (low-end) benefit-to-cost ratios ranged from 1.1:1 to 1.9:1. Ratios increased for scenarios where higher safety benefits were assumed and control policies allowed for higher speed limits.

System Costs

Construction and annual maintenance costs were evaluated at the 2004 level. The data below excerpted from table 3 of the report estimated average implementation costs, 20 year maintenance costs, and the cost distribution for construction costs.

Road type	System implementation (construction costs)	20 year system maintenance and replacement costs	Construction cost distribution
			Signals	Cabling	Monitoring systems (traffic and cameras)
Motorways and dual carriageways	80,000 €/km	3,500 €/km/year	31%	60%	9%
Single Carriageways	36,000 €/km	1 000 €/km/year	44%	50%	6%

The estimates above show that the average cost to equip a dual carriageway was about double that of a single carriageway. Most of the construction costs were attributed to cabling.