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

Table 5-8 summarizes four types of policiesand agreements involving stakeholders responsiblefor event operations planningand/or day-of-event operations.Interagency AgreementInteragency agreements include a joint operationspolicy, memorandum ofunderstanding, or mutual-aid agreementbetween two or more stakeholders. Table 5-9 lists components of interagencyagreements. Appendix C contains anIllinois and Washington State joint operationspolicy, between state DOT and statepolice, that covers special event planning.(9,10) Stakeholders may also strike aninteragency agreement, during the eventoperations planning phase, applicable to aspecific planned special event.Standard Street Use Event RoutesThe development and use of standard streetuse event routes reduces the level and complexityof event operations planning tasksand overall planning time. In establishingsuch standard routes for parades and/orstreet races, stakeholders simplify planningtasks, thus creating a more efficient eventoperations planning process. The routesspecify appropriate event starting and endingpoints coupled with staging areas forparticipant assembly and disbanding.Use of a standard street use event route offersthe following advantages:• Allows reuse of traffic management andoperations plans, with minor modificationsas necessary.• Realizes a cost savings for stakeholders.• Allows for the development of standardsigns, specific to the event route and associatedalternate routes for backgroundtraffic, that may be reused for futurestreet use events.• Allows event patrons and non-attendeeroad users to become familiar with trafficpatterns during recurring street useevents, thus minimizing potential trafficproblems on the day-of-event.Toll Facility Congestion PolicySuspension of toll collections on turnpikesand other toll facilities during periods ofheavy congestion represents a new policyconcept aimed at reducing congestion andthe occurrence of traffic incidents at toll plazas.A toll facility congestion policy representsa congestion mitigation strategy applicableto planned special events. Both WestVirginia and Maryland have experience withthis policy:Table 5-8Summary of Policies and Agreements Applicable to Managing Planned Special EventsITEMEXAMPLE APPLICATIONInteragency agreement • Joint operations policy between stakeholders that establishes a shared roleregarding event operations planning and day-of-event travel management.• Memorandum of understanding defining stakeholder roles and responsibilities.• Mutual-aid agreement facilitating resource sharing and/or reimbursementfor services.Standard street use event routes • Routes established under the program planning phase for recurring streetuse events such as parades and races.Toll facility congestion policy • Suspension of tolls during periods of heavy congestion.Public-private towing agreement • On-call towing and recovery services during a special event.5EVENT PROFILE POST-EVENT ACTIVITIES DAY-OF-EVENT ACTIVITIES ADVANCE PLANNINGOVERVIEW5-15