WTI

An Evaluation of Montana’s State Truck Activities Reporting System (Addendum)

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

1. An Evaluation of Montana's STARS Addendum (FY 04-05)
   1. Jerry Stephens and Jodi Carson
   2. 4W0285_STARS_First_Addendum.pdf
2. Follow-on Evaluation of the Montana Department of Transportation State Truck Activities Reporting System
   1. Jerry Stephens and Jodi Carson
   2. 4W0285_STARS_Second_ Addendum.pdf

Project Objective

To refine and improve the way that data from Montana’s State Truck Activities Reporting System (STARS) is processed to make it a more effective tool for planning weight enforcement activities by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT).

Project Abstract

Since its deployment and activation five years ago, STARS has provided valuable information to MDT on commercial vehicle activity on the state’s highways. Using this system, data on vehicle weight and configuration is continuously being collected around the state using sensors embedded in the roads. This data is processed to assist MDT with a variety of functions such as vehicle weight enforcement, road design, and transportation planning. This addendum to the STARS evaluation will address issues that MDT has determined will make STARS even more effective in its weight enforcement role. These issues include: 1) refining the data collection methods to identify permitted overweight vehicles; 2) determining how infrastructure damage attributed to overweight vehicles can be quantified to account for changes in traffic volume; 3) investigating how level of enforcement effort can be factored into the STARS database; and 4) exploring how STARS-based data on overweight vehicle activity can become a part of the federal weight enforcement plan and certification process.

Task Descriptions

1. 1. Add a routine to normalize the excess Equivalent Single Axel Loads (ESALs) from overweight vehicles at a site.
2. 1. Review the extent to which the highway system is influenced by activity at each STARS site.
3. 1. Analyze historical STARS data during enforcement events to develop correction factors for permitted overweight vehicle travel.
4. 1. Correlate level of enforcement effort at each STARS site with enforcement outcomes.
5. 1. Review the various metrics calculated by STARS on overweight vehicle activity relative to their possible use in the federal plan and certification process.

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

True

Relationship to Other Research Projects

False

Technology Transfer Activities

True

Transportation Research Board Keywords

STARS, MEARS, overweight vehicles

Partners

Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services Division