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

• Traffic control is to be provided at variouslocations, such as, narrow roadsegments, intersections, and starting orending points.• Only properly trained or certificatedpersonnel (by a training program approvedby the Commissioner of the CaliforniaHighway Patrol) are to handle thetraffic control responsibilities.• Traffic controllers shall wear orangevests and utilize a "Stop/Slow" paddle.• Advance warning signs shall be placed,well in advance of any personnel and theevent, to alert oncoming vehicles of thesupplemental traffic control and theevent.• Traffic controllers will avoid delays orback up of traffic onto primary Countyroadways such that "grid-lock" does nothappen; waits of more than two minutesare excessive and will not be allowed.• Adjacent driveways to neighboring businessesand residences will not beblocked.FundingPublic agencies recover costs incurred inproviding services during the event operationsplanning phase and resources on theday-of-event through event organizer feesand other funding mechanisms. Table 4-12lists special event permit application fees fora select number of jurisdictions across thecountry. Table 4-13 describes five differentapproaches used by jurisdictions to obtaincost reimbursement for staff and equipmentrental.After an August 2002 Grateful Dead concertattracted 35,000 spectators at an amphitheaterin rural Walworth County, WI, and eventstakeholders prepared to turn away thousandsof expected ticketless spectators,county officials passed an innovative ordinance,Recovery of Expenses Incurred forProviding Extraordinary Governmental Services.Appendix A contains a copy of thecited ordinance, Section 10-28 of the WalworthCounty Code.The social and economic benefits yielded byplanned special events, in addition to thepurpose of select events, result in jurisdictionsperiodically waiving cost reimbursementrequirements even for privately sponsoredspecial events. Table 4-14 lists criteriathat planned special events in Louisville,KY must meet for City provision of freeservices for event operation and management.INFRASTRUCTURESUPPORTTechnology ApplicationsWhile the most critical aspect of managingtravel for planned special events is the coordinationof the many stakeholders involved,technology lends an assisting hand to theeffort. Technology is fast becoming a mainstayin every aspect of transportation, fromroad maintenance and snow removal to incidentmanagement and emergency evacuation.Special event management is no differentin this regard. The variety of technologiesand their application serve to assistmanagers in both informing travelers of anupcoming event as well as monitoring andmanaging the event in real-time.Most technology applications, as they relateto travel management, fall under the categoryof Intelligent Transportation Systems(ITS). ITS is comprised of a number oftechnologies, including information processing,communications, control, and electronics.These technologies are comprised oftools that can be deployed permanently foruses other than planned special events or4-24