managing travel for planned special events - FHWA Operations ...

and their staffs. An MPO can also be expectedto play a major role in meeting theselong-term needs since they will approveFederal funding and will be able to viewthese needs in the context of all transportationneeds for the region.Relationship to FHWA TrafficIncident ManagementSelf-Assessment GuideThe FHWA maintains a Traffic IncidentManagement (TIM) Self-Assessment Guideintended for use by state and regional TIMprogram managers to assess their achievementof a successful multi-agency programto manage traffic incidents effectively andsafely. (2) Managers may also utilize the toolto evaluate gaps and needs in existing multiagencyregional and statewide efforts tomitigate congestion and safety impactscaused by traffic incidents. The TIM Self-Assessment tool consists of a series of questionsdesigned to allow those with trafficincident management responsibilities to ratetheir performance, by assigning a scoreranging from 0 (no progress) to 4 (outstandingefforts), in specific organizationaland procedural categories.Planned special events often represent a majorelement of a traffic incident managementor freeway management and operations program.Such programs may spawn a committeeon planned special events for the purposeof managing all planned special events inthe program’s region. The TIM Self-Assessment tool contains a TIM administrativeteam assessment question on plannedspecial events. Question 4.1.2.5 states: Doesthe assessed TIM program conduct planningfor “special events” including sportingevents/concerts/conventions, etc.? This toolalso includes several assessment questionsapplicable to measuring a program’s progressregarding the advance planning andmanagement of travel for planned specialevents.Table 4-2 lists pertinent assessment questionscategorized by the five defined phasesof managing travel for planned specialevents. This technical reference providesguidance on the topics identified in the assessmentquestions from the perspective ofplanned special event planning, operations,and evaluation.LOCAL LEVELOverview of Planned Special EventPermittingThe development of a formal planned specialevent permit program marks a key programplanning initiative to facilitate stakeholdercoordination, compliance with communityneeds and requirements, and efficientevent operations planning. Backed byguidelines and regulations specified in municipalordinances, the program outlines adefined planning framework and schedulefor event organizers and participating reviewagencies to follow. It represents an agreementbetween participating public agencies(e.g., transportation, law enforcement, publicsafety, etc.) to ensure, through planningactivities or review, that all planned specialevents meet a set of mutually agreed uponrequirements for day-of-event travel management.A municipal permit representsapproval, or agreement between a jurisdictionand event organizer, to operate aplanned special event, and it includes provisionsoutside of travel management. LarimerCounty, WY defines the purpose of aplanned special event permit as follows:4-10