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

traffic management team supervisory position,while agency field-level personnel mayimplement traffic management plan specificationsand details. An implementation planinstructs field-level personnel, some ofwhom have little or no direct experience inmanaging travel for planned special events,on the what, when, and where aspects oftheir assignment in relation to traffic managementplan requirements. On a management-level,an implementation plan specifiesan action plan for activating, changing, anddeactivating various traffic managementplan provisions.Review and testing allows the traffic managementteam to identify potential limitationsof the traffic management plan prior tothe day-of-event. With stakeholder agenciesrepresenting various jurisdictions and disciplines,review and testing promotes trafficmanagement team coordination and increasesstakeholder familiarity of the duties,responsibilities, and capabilities of otherstakeholders. Activities range from tabletopexercises that examine how different agenciesreact to various scenarios to “hands-on”applications that can involve a full simulationor deploying a traffic management planfor smaller planned special events as a test.In developing the traffic management plan,stakeholders design transportation controland management strategies to satisfactorilymitigate the impacts of event-generatedtravel demand. The level of response requiredto implement planned mitigationmeasures may place significant strain onagency and contractor personnel availableon the day-of-event. The recruitment oftemporary staff and volunteers expands trafficmanagement team capabilities and elevatesits operations efficiency. Practitionerscan capitalize on the benefits of having additionalpersonnel resources by recognizingvolunteer limitations and applying proventraining methods.IMPLEMENTATIONPLANOverviewAn implementation plan details the actionsrequired to put a traffic management planinto effect on the day-of-event. Its purposeis to: (1) define personnel assignments thatindicate the roles and responsibilities of individualtraffic management team personnelon the day-of-event, (2) describe a scenariobased,operations game plan at the management-level,and (3) communicate instructionsand organize personnel at the fieldlevel.It is intended for use by individualtraffic management team personnel at thecommand post and in the field. While thetraffic management plan indicates how traffic,parking, and pedestrian operations willbe managed, the implementation plan describesthe what, when, and where in termsof personnel and equipment resource deploymentneeded to execute traffic managementplan provisions. Traffic managementplan revisions made on the day-ofeventmandate corresponding implementationplan modifications. Field personnelmay lack familiarity with a traffic managementplan developed by mid-level and senior-levelagency representatives, and an implementationplan ensures a coordinated andconsistent traffic management team effortand prevents field personnel from having tomake independent decisions. Table 8-1 listsgeneral field-level operations guidelines.Table 8-1General Field-Level Operations GuidelinesACTION• Follow assignment detail, unless revised by a supervisor(via command post).• Review traffic control at adjacent locations.• Review event permits and passes to minimize confusionand traffic flow disruption.• Maintain radio communication with pertinent supervisorsand/or command post.• Expect temporary changes in operations detail.8-2