Traffic management plans (VMP) – a key instrument for ... - Brintex

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft
Confédération suisse
Confederazione Svizzera
Confederaziun svizra
Federal Roads Office FEDRO
Traffic management plans (VMP) – a key instrument
for regulating traffic
Traffic management plans lay down in advance for
certain stretches of road the measures and competences
needed to deal with undesirable and dangerous
traffic situations or special occurrences.
This fact sheet indicates the different types of traffic
management plans, how they are structured and
how they are applied in practice.
n What are traffic management plans (VMP)?
As a general rule, traffic management requires the application
of a whole series of measures. These must be carefully
selected and harmonised with each other. In addition, the
various actors in the Confederation and the cantons need
to know what must be done in certain traffic situations.
To this end, so-called traffic management plans (VMP) are
drawn up for particular sections of road. The plans specify
for predetermined traffic situations and events the measures
to be taken and the best ways of ensuring traffic flows
and road safety.
n What types of VMPs are there?
VMP for national roads: In accordance with the Road
Traffic Act (SVG Art. 57c, SR 741.01), traffic management
on the national roads and the corresponding traffic
management plans fall within the sphere of competence
of the Confederation. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO)
as the competent body consults the cantons concerned
when VMPs are being drawn up and takes their concerns
into consideration in the drafting. In each case, the VMPs
relate to individual sections of the national road network.
They lay down the measures that the Confederation and
the cantons must take in order to manage the national
roads in certain situations and events frequently having a
supra-regional impact on the Confederation and the cantons.
International VMPs: FEDRO also has competence for
international VMPs. They deal with situations and events
which also affect traffic abroad and require coordination
with neighbouring countries. FEDRO agrees the relevant
VMPs with the competent authorities abroad.
VMPs for the rest of the road network: In principle,
VMPs for sections of road outside the national road network
fall within the sphere of competence of the cantons.
However, in accordance with the Road Traffic Act (SVG
Art. 57d, SR 741.01), the cantons are required to draw
up VMPs to manage particular situations and events on a
whole series of individually designated roads. These roads
3
were listed by the Federal Council in the National Roads
Order (NSV Art. 52 and Schedule 3, SR 725.111). In drawing
up their VMPs, the cantons must take into consideration
the instructions issued by FEDRO. Before the VMPs
come into force on the designated roads, they must be
submitted to FEDRO for approval.
Temporary VMPs: When the need arises, temporary VMPs
may be drawn up for roadworks on the national roads or
for major occasions. In each case, the traffic management
centre (VMZ-CH) will decide whether a temporary VMP is
necessary. The local FEDRO offices will draw up the temporary
VMPs for work sites and will submit them for approval
to the FEDRO headquarters in Ittigen.
n Structure and application of a VMP
Each VMP is drawn up in a standard format, containing
five steps for application, namely «Detection», «Event»,
«Scenario», «Measure» and «Action».
(1) Detection: Identify the traffic situation
Effective traffic management depends on obtaining the
relevant information. To this end, when drawing up a
VMP, it is necessary to determine the main traffic data
for the stretch of road concerned (e.g. daily traffic rates
and profiles) and to document the detection equipment in
place. This includes on-line traffic counters to determine
the frequency and speed of passing traffic, as well as live
video pictures to provide complementary verification. The
detectors supply the raw data for the automatic representation
of the traffic situation and for the constant monitoring
of traffic on the whole national road network. In this
way, the road operators are at all times able to compare
the actual traffic situation («demand») with the capacity
of the particular section of road under normal conditions
(«supply»).
(2) Event: identify an overload or an event
The next step is for the VMP to identify typical recurring
situations and events in terms of their effects on the traffic
situations. This is relevant for traffic management whenever
the traffic load exceeds the available capacity, such
that traffic jams can be expected or have already appeared.
The detection equipment referred to above and the computer
systems also serve in practice for the reporting of
events (e.g. accidents) by the traffic police or the traffic
information centre (VIZ-CH).
(3) Scenario: Evaluate traffic situation and select
scenario
A VMP contains a total of six pre-defined scenarios with a
number of escalation steps (depending on the seriousness

of the effects). They relate to the forecast or actual overloads
of total traffic or HGV traffic, to the reduction in the
number of lanes or to road blocks
Each VMP specifies the scenarios, pre-defining the
threshold values, the geographical extent, the duration of
the event and resulting delays. In addition, the scenarios
contain possible alternative routes.
When a VMP is implemented, the road operators select one
of the six pre-defined scenarios, taking into consideration
the actual traffic situation and the default thresholds.
(4) Measures: Ordering measures to be taken
For each scenario, the VMP lays down in advance the appropriate
measures to be taken to deal with the particular
event. The allocation of the measures depends on the
duration of the event (e.g. time taken to clear the scene
of an accident), the extent (e.g. the length of the traffic
jam), the location of the event and possible deviation and
bypass routes. Traffic management measures within the
national road network can be taken by the operators at
the VMZ-CH at their own initiative. If the measures will affect
the cantonal traffic police and/or the subsidiary road
network, the cantons concerned must be consulted to
obtain their approval. If the planned measures will affect
the foreign road network, prior consultation will again be
needed with the foreign authorities concerned. The activation
of a cantonal VMP that will impact on the flow of
traffic on the national roads requires the prior approval of
the VMZ-CH.
(5) Action: Implement individual actions
The VMP lists all of the actions needed to implement a
preselected measure. In addition, the plan regulates the
competences for the implementation of the actions. In
a transitional phase, the traffic operators in the cantonal
traffic management centres initiate the action in accordance
with the measures instructed by the VMZ-CH.
This includes the use of variable message signs, variable
direction signs and variable traffic signals. The dissemination
of the relevant traffic information also proceeds on
the instructions of the VMZ-CH by the staff of the national
traffic information centre (VIZ-CH).
Quantify the traffic
situation
Actions to be
taken and
accompanying
actions
Activate
switches
Figure: Structure of a traffic management plan
n What happens if there is no VMP available?
VMPs are available for many events that can be foreseen
and prepared for. However, not every traffic situation can
be foreseen and planned for. If no VMP is available, the
competent authorities take so-called «ad hoc» measures.
The competences described above apply for the drawing
up and implementation of such measures.
n Road map for drawing up the VMP
The drawing up the VMP proceeded in stages. Initially,
FEDRO prepared the main VMPs for the north-south and
the west-east axes and agreed them with the cantons concerned.
As the VMPs represent new territory for Switzerland,
FEDRO and the cantons will be submitting them to
a test phase with effect from the beginning of 2008. On
the basis of the results of the test phase, the competent
authorities will optimise and, where applicable, further
develop the VMPs. There will then be a public consultation
in the cantons, as required by law.
In parallel, FEDRO will proceed during a second phase to
draw up VMPs for the other sections of the national road
network and will agree them with the competent authorities
at home and abroad. At the same time, the cantons
will need to draw up the VMPs stipulated by law for «the
rest of the road network» (see above).
However, that will not be end of the story. The VMPs will
still need to be constantly revised and brought into line
with the latest technical and organisational requirements.
n Contact
Federal Roads Office (FEDRO)
CH-3003 Berne
Tel: 031 322 94 11
Fax: 031 323 23 03
info@astra.admin.ch
www.astra.admin.ch
March 2008
implement
monitor
Actions
Information / network mgmt /
branch mgmt / node mgmt as
object-specific, ad hoc or VMP
measures
www.astra.admin.ch
Measures
speed, numbers,
HGVs, etc
Detection
allocate
identify
Event
Scenario
assess
Initiate package of
measures appropriate
for the scenario
Deviations from
normal condition
or congestion
Extent in space and
time, predictability
Is traffic seriously
affected?
Check availability of alternative
routes. Assess likely delays.