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

Table 6-35 lists disadvantages of alternatelane operations on divided highways.Figure 6-43Daily Contraflow OperationThe application of alternative lane operationsto streets during a planned specialevent creates an express route between anevent venue and high-capacity freeway/arterialcorridors. For instance, Figure6-44 shows contraflow operation used duringevent traffic egress to facilitate rapidclearance of venue parking areas. An alternativelane operation for freeways involvesdesignating an “express lane(s)” for throughtraffic. Median crossovers at section terminipermit access to designated reversible lanes.In order to avoid congestion at the downstreammerge point, right-lane traffic divertsupstream of the merge via an exit ramp toanother freeway or arterial. Though rare,stakeholders may consider alternative laneoperations for freeways or other dividedhighways in rural areas only.Figure 6-44Contraflow Operation during Event TrafficEgressTable 6-35Disadvantages of Divided HighwayAlternative Lane Operations (17)CONSIDERATION• Signs, pavement markings, and safety featureswill not necessarily be visible to drivers travelingin the opposite direction.• Safety appurtenances such as guide rail transitions,crash attenuators, and post support baseshave not been designed to provide adequateprotection at hazardous locations from the oppositedirection of travel.• Outbound contraflow operation prohibits inboundemergency vehicle access.• Drivers will likely find operation confusing.• Nighttime operation is difficult to manage.• Cost to plan, design, and deploy operation isextensive.Three key elements in developing an alternativelane operations plan include lane balance,markings, and enforcement. Key considerationsregarding lane balance include:• The success of any plan stems fromachieving lane balance at the downstreamterminus of a reversible lane orcontraflow section. The number of lanesexiting an alternative lane section shouldnot exceed the number of available receivinglanes at the end of the section.Otherwise, congestion will occur as a resultof traffic merging at the section end.• An alternative lane street section eitherterminates at a freeway interchange orstreet intersection.• To effect lane balance, each lane in thealternative lane section must have adedicated receiving lane. As a result, selecttravel lanes may become an exclusiveturning lane at the end of the section.• Temporary signing must inform motoristsof lane destinations and restrictions6-54