Effect of freeway corridor attributes upon motorist diversion responses to real-time travel time information

This report describes the results of laboratory experiments performed to assess whether certain freeway corridor attributes specified in a real-time motorist information display affect motorists' expected responses to travel time information. Specifically, the study was designed to determine whether (1) the recommended alternative route, (2) the location where motorists were told to divert from the freeway, or (3) the location of the reported onset of congestion relative to where motorists were told to divert, influenced motorist diversion threshold values to time saved travel time information. The procedures and results of the studies are described, and recommendations are presented for application of the results to the design and operation of freeway corridor motorist information displays.