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

Transportation system management typicallyinvolves state DOT operating freewaysand county/local agencies operating streetsand intersections along local flow routes.Planned special events place a premium oninformation sharing (e.g., CCTV feeds, trafficconditions, traffic incidents, etc.) betweenthese agencies, through local/regionalTMC operators and/or agency supervisors atthe event command post. This information,and subsequent traffic management teamcollaboration, drives stakeholder selectionand implementation of traffic control techniques.Freeway Traffic ControlThe main objective of freeway managementduring planned special events involvesminimizing freeway mainline congestion.Freeway traffic control tactics implementedin response to local traffic flow or ramp operationdegradation preserve freewaymainline operations. Freeway traffic controland management strategies for planned specialevents include traveler information disseminationand interchange operations.Traveler InformationTraveler information disseminated upstreamof freeway interchanges serving an eventvenue effectively: (1) introduces all freewayusers to critical traffic management plancomponents affecting traffic flow in the vicinityof the event venue and (2) facilitatesfreeway lane management as motorists learnof temporary freeway ramp control tacticsand/or downstream lane closures that warranta lane-change. Under lane management,freeway operators strive to reduce turbulenceat ramp junctions, weaving areas,and lane drops by alerting motorists to makenecessary mainline lane-changes as soon aspossible. This also reduces the level of uncertaintyand potential indecision by driversdestined to the planned special event.Common freeway operator methods of disseminatingen-route traveler information tofreeway users include use of:• Changeable message signs• Highway advisory radio• Telephone information systems (e.g.,511 service)The event planning team should developCMS and HAR message sets specific toplanned traffic management and control,during event ingress and egress, on the dayof-event.Supplemental planned messagesets should exist for all special event contingencyscenarios considered. The trafficmanagement team can reference messageboilerplates for other unexpected eventssuch as traffic incidents. If stakeholdersutilize 511 for planned special event travelmanagement, then the event planning teamshould establish protocol for updating 511recordings. This may involve coordinatingwith an agency office (e.g., state DOT headquarters)outside the region where theplanned special event takes place. Theoverall advance planning effort improvestraveler information accuracy and timelinesson the day-of-event.En-route traveler information consists eitherof pre-event or day-of-event information.Prior to the event, permanent and portableCMSs located on freeways serving aplanned special event can indicate that anupcoming planned special event may affectcorridor travel or cite planned freeway rampclosures. In addition, CMS message setscan advise motorists to tune to an HAR frequencyfor a message containing additional,detailed information. Table 6-31 lists someHAR pre-event message considerations.These roadside traveler information device6EVENT PROFILE POST-EVENT ACTIVITIES DAY-OF-EVENT ACTIVITIES ADVANCE PLANNINGOVERVIEW6-49