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

modation tactic that the traffic managementteam may employ in conjunction with otherpreviously discussed tactics. Bus operationssupervisors or other traffic managementteam personnel, stationed at the TMC orevent command post, monitor roadway surveillancesources (e.g., CCTV and field observers)in order to identify areas of congestionbefore a bus encounters it. When supervisorsverify a traffic bottleneck affectinga bus route, they immediately notify bus operatorsand work to divert buses around thecongested area.Plan SpecificationsThe traffic flow plan serves stakeholdersmanaging the planned special event in additionto event patrons and participants. Theproduct of strategic route planning involvesinforming event patrons of best accessroutes to and from the planned special event.Stakeholders can communicate preferredroute directions via: (1) event patron ticketmailings, (2) media public information campaigns,and (3) event, venue, or traffic informationwebsites.Table 6-30 contains a traffic flow plan developmentchecklist.Appendix I contains example traffic flowmaps prepared for various planned specialevents. (15)Traffic flow plans should emphasize availableexpress, charter, and shuttle bus servicesfrom regional park and ride lots and/orsatellite parking areas. Driving directionsshould be accompanied by useful travel tipsthat coincide with the day-of-event operationof recommended traffic flow routes.Travel tips include accessing en-route travelerinformation and adhering to traffic controltactics.TRAFFIC CONTROLPLANOverviewFreeways represent corridor flow routesserving event patrons and participants destinedto/from a planned special event fromvarious parts of a region and beyond. Thesecorridor flow routes connect to local, streetlevelflow routes that, in turn, serve eventvenue parking areas. A freeway interchangemarks the point of connection, or targetpoint, between corridor flow routes and localflow routes. Together, the three entitiescomprise the roadway system servicing aplanned special event. The scope of trafficcontrol expands and contracts, proportionallyto system performance, during eventingress and egress.The keys to successful transportation systemmanagement, including traffic and transit,during planned special events include:• Real-time surveillance• Open communications• Planned response• Rapid implementationPlanned response requires a detailed trafficcontrol plan that facilitates a proactive trafficmanagement team response to systemdeficiencies and unexpected events. Theother keys depend on technology applications,such as remote surveillance and automatedcontrol of traveler information andtraffic control devices, in addition to interjurisdictionalcoordination and collaboration.6EVENT PROFILE POST-EVENT ACTIVITIES DAY-OF-EVENT ACTIVITIES ADVANCE PLANNINGOVERVIEW6-47