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

Public agencies can enhance the image oftheir area by adopting a planned, coordinated,and integrated approach toward managingtravel for planned special events thatminimizes traffic congestion, maintainstransportation system reliability, and exceedsthe customer service expectations ofall road users. These users include eventpatrons, commuters, truckers, and emergencyservice providers.Table 1-5 presents the overall benefits thatcan be realized through managing travel forplanned special events.Table 1-5Overall Benefits (4)BENEFIT• Reduced delay for motorists attending theplanned special event through more active informationdissemination, traffic management,and alternate mode use.• Reduced delay for motorists not attending thespecial event through active promotion of alternateroutes or modes.• Reduced overall traffic demand at or near thespecial event site through active promotion ofalternate routes or modes or dissemination ofinformation, resulting in the cancellation ordelay of unnecessary trips.• Improved safety through more active trafficmanagement and reduced motorist frustration.Table 1-6Benefits to Transportation Stakeholders andSystem OperationsBENEFIT• Deployment of new technologies for trafficcontrol and monitoring.• Incorporation of new procedures and tacticsinto everyday traffic/incident managementtasks.• Upgrade of transportation system infrastructure.• Improvement in stakeholder productivity.• Promotion of interagency sharing of personneland equipment resources.• Leverage of public support for newly deployedtraffic management and transit initiatives.• Attraction of new regular transit users andcarpoolers.• Development of new interagency relationshipscrossing jurisdictional boundaries.• Improvement in communication and trustbetween stakeholders.• Coordination of and participation in regionalorganizations to influence policy and improveactivities for all planned specialevents.• Dissemination of lessons learned and solutionsto technical problems that other jurisdictionsmay encounter in the future.• Promotion of stakeholder efforts in the media,as illustrated in Figure 1-3.The proactive and coordinated managementof travel for planned special events alsoyields numerous benefits to transportationstakeholders and transportation system operations,as indicated in Table 1-6.A successful planned special event also satisfiescommunity residents and businessespossessing no direct interest in the event.Table 1-7 specifies community benefits.Table 1-7Community BenefitsBENEFIT• Better community recognition.• Increased pride and community spirit.• Increased awareness of the community as atravel destination.• Increased knowledge of potential for investmentand commercial activity in the community.• Increased potential to attract other specialevents.1-6