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

developed a comprehensive public informationand promotion campaign. Thecampaign, entitled “Tackle Traffic,” includeda full range of television, radio,and print media promotions. Fans wereadvised of the free fare transit servicethrough the campaign. The campaignalso informed event patrons that thetransit service provided faster traveltimes than driving to the game due to thepriority routes and loading locations assignedto buses before and after thegame.• The Regional Transportation District ofDenver, Colorado provides an expressbus service for Denver Broncos footballgames known as BroncosRide. Thisservice provides transportation from 30free park and ride lots in the surroundingarea. A fee of $6 roundtrip is charged toeach event patron for the bus service orspectators can also purchase a seasonpass. In addition, after the game, the expressbus stations exist directly outsideof the stadium.• Milwaukee, Wisconsin hosts the annual,multi-day Summerfest music festivalwhere special express bus service, providedby the Milwaukee County TransitSystem and other private companies, operatesthroughout the event. The expressservice utilizes existing park and ride facilitiesin the area. Certain buses areprovided free of charge, while service onother express routes cost $5 for a roundtripticket with tickets available only atthe point of origin.• The Downtown Shuttle Service also operatesin the Milwaukee downtown area.A list of parking lots and structures locatednear the shuttle route is disseminatedon the event website. These parkingfacilities offer a special parking rateof $5 or less when event patrons enterafter 5 P.M. on weekdays and all weekend.The Downtown Shuttle Serviceprovides 5 to 10 minute headways duringthe event and stops at designated stationsalong the route serving the event.The cost of this service is $2 roundtrip.Charter ServiceCharter service represents a contract servicethat provides transportation directly to theevent venue from outlying areas (e.g., otherneighborhoods and cities). Users often canpurchase tickets in advance and generally inconjunction with the event ticket. This servicecan include both charter bus operationsas well as charter rail operations. The charterservice configuration usually involvesproviding direct service to the event venue.However, service may also connect to anexisting transit station or park and ride lot(e.g., express bus transfer).Advantages of charter operations include:• Provides the opportunity for residents ofoutlying areas to use mass transportation.This represents the main focus ofcharter service.• Allows people who would not normallyhave access to public transportation for aparticular event to use the service.• Results in a reduction in traffic in thevicinity of an event site as well as onmajor corridor flow routes serving thesite.• May include free parking in the outlyingarea to help promote the service.• Allows operators to offer special seasonpasses at a discount rate to attract ridersfor recurring events (e.g., footballgames).One key aspect of charter bus service concernsthe need to provide emergency transportationfor riders should the need arise.For example, charter service travel times7-12