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

messages should appear a few days beforethe event, including one weekday to informcommuters that use periodically the freewaycorridor on weekends. This strategy alsoinforms visiting event patrons that arrive tothe host city prior to the day-of-event.Table 6-31Highway Advisory Radio Pre-EventMessage ConsiderationsCONSIDERATION• Planned special event(s) date, time, and location• Road closure(s) location• Road closure(s) date and time• Access to event parking areas• Traffic and parking restrictions• Alternate routes and modes of travelTable 6-32 indicates some day-of-eventmessage considerations.Table 6-32Highway Advisory Radio Day-of-EventMessage ConsiderationsCONSIDERATION• Directions to local traffic flow routes servingtraffic destined to a venue• Road closure details• Event traffic and parking restrictionsTable 6-33 provides a range of CMS messagetemplates for planned special events.To obtain specific and detailed guidance onthe operation of and/or message design forlarge permanent CMSs or portable CMSs,practitioners should consult the FHWA reportGuidelines for Changeable MessageSign Messages. (16) For example, Figure 6-38shows a message displayed on a portableCMS positioned upstream of a freeway interchangeserving event patron traffic.Day-of-event HAR messages include directionson accessing local flow routes to avenue, road closure details, and event trafficand parking restrictions. Activation of HARsign beacons should occur on the day-ofeventonly. By taking into considerationtravel speed and HAR signal range, formatHAR messages so that motorists can listento each message at least twice. Ensure portableHAR coverage areas do not overlapwith adjacent HAR signals.Table 6-33Changeable Message Sign MessageTemplateMESSAGE SET DISPLAYSingle Phase – All Freeway Users• First line: traffic problem• Second line: problem location• Third line: recommended actionSingle Phase – Specific User Group• First/second line: user group (e.g., event patrons)• Second/third line: recommended actionTwo Phases – Specific User Group• First phase: user group• First/second phase: recommended action• Second phase: additional information sources(e.g., HAR)Figure 6-38Portable Changeable Message Sign (Photocourtesy of the Wisconsin DOT.)Interchange OperationsManagement of freeway interchange operationsfor planned special events involvesmaximizing ramp capacity and preventingfreeway mainline congestion. Interchangeramps adjoining a freeway and modified localevent traffic flow route may represent asystem bottleneck if operators fail to im-6-50