Webinar Description:
The use of route guidance/navigation apps has increased significantly over the past several years. The Manifest, a research and data analysis company, prepared a study, “The Popularity of Google Maps: Trends in Navigation Apps in 2018” in which they surveyed 500 smart phone owners to understand how people are relying on navigation apps to navigate roadways. Their findings showed that over three-fourths (77%) of smartphone owners regularly use navigation apps, and that 87% use them for driving directions. As a result of this popularity, traffic operations engineers have had to adapt to this new technology in how they manage traffic, specifically for large construction projects and large events.

Mapping applications provide dynamic routing options through a transportation system based on current real-time data obtained from users. However, roadway modifications, such as revising a roadway from two-way to one-way, may take an extended period of time to updated in basemapping. This can result in vehicles going the one-way the wrong way, despite adequate traffic control measures. There is an opportunity as agency traffic operations engineers to share planned roadway lane configuration modifications and construction activities with apps in advance of these activities. This would reduce the need to rely on app user data to trigger routing adjustments as these activities take place. These activities can be scheduled and can route users around congested areas, instead of through them.

Mapping apps can route traffic to local roadways not designed to carry large volumes of traffic. As a result, many communities are looking to prohibit non-local traffic on some of their roads as a result of diverted trips avoiding traffic congestion. Local agencies, transportation professionals, and navigation app developers must work together to enable effective and responsible use of route navigation apps.

This webinar will also touch on how cities and some providers are partnering to ensure safe riding of e-scooters and how cities are re-designing streets to provide safe places to ride e-scooters. The presenter will cover policy, data and street design trends for e-scooter safety, and how to consider e-scooter safety in a Vision Zero program.

Learning Objectives: 

• Compare and contrast popular mapping apps including existing communication methods and routing methodologies.
• Learn what specific transportation system information mapping apps need to in order to apply a change to their product.
• Learn why we, as ITE members and transportation professionals, should proactively communicate the latest information about the transportation systems we manage with mapping apps.
• Understand the current problems and limitations that result in less than optimal route guidance decisions