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

Appendix M contains an example of a venuetransportation guide prepared for Ford Fieldin Detroit, Michigan.The Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pennsylvaniaproduces an informative venueguide each year that provides in-depth informationabout the raceway itself as well astravel options to the venue site. AppendixM contains the transportation section of theguide prepared for this venue. This guidecan be downloaded from the venue’s website.The opening sections of the guide providea venue overview and list importanttravel tips, including the use of recommendedroutes and the possibility of incurringdelay due to both traffic congestion andsecurity issues. Since ingress and egresstraffic patterns differ, both sets of directionsare communicated in the venue guide. Afacility map shows available amenities aswell as parking area locations (includingdisabled parking). In addition, the guideincludes a grandstand map and states parkingarea opening times in addition to parkingrules and regulations.Other Technology ApplicationsOther technology applications include:• Kiosks• Television• Roadside traveler information devicesKiosksKiosks are used extensively to provide multi-modaltransportation information to thetraveling public, such as:• Area maps• Route guidance information• Real-time travel condition information(e.g., speeds, traffic incidents, etc.)• Planned special event information• Road construction and road closure information• Public transit information• Weather information.Successful kiosk implementations includeinformation that can be displayed on a colorcodedmap and/or printed. This informationcan include such items as turn-by-turn routeplanning. The ideal location for a kiosk is inhigh pedestrian traffic areas, such as hotels,tourist attractions, businesses, schools anduniversities, military bases, shopping malls,rest areas, hospitals, and amusement parks.The kiosk concept is used extensively in theSan Antonio, Texas area which operates 4outdoor and 36 indoor interactive travelerinformation kiosks. (4) Before deployment ofthe kiosks in San Antonio, a focus groupwas established that randomly selected peoplein the area to try the kiosk software.This allowed designers to evaluate differenttypes of presentation layouts and informationand to base designs on user feedback.The design process proved successful in creatingdemand for the kiosks in the San Antonioarea.TelevisionA successful pre-trip information strategyincludes the use of local media outlets todisseminate information to the travelingpublic. During planned special events, televisionstations may show actual footage obtainedfrom CCTV cameras along roadwaysin order to communicate real-time trafficinformation. These CCTV camera linksoriginate from a transportation managementcenter (TMC), and the TMC can preventmedia access to certain cameras for securityor privacy reasons. In addition, a successfulinformation campaign includes the releaseof regular e-mail or voice recording updatesto various media outlets by TMC operators.The local media outlets, especially radio and7EVENT PROFILE POST-EVENT ACTIVITIES DAY-OF-EVENT ACTIVITIES ADVANCE PLANNINGOVERVIEW7-21