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

tions planning, (2) implementation and dayof-eventactivities, (3) post-event activities,and (4) program planning. The final sectionon program planning highlights issues toconsider, that evolve from and/or pertain tocontinuous events, in planning for allplanned special events within a region orjurisdiction. By following each one of thesteps and procedures, the user will haveidentified and covered all the significant aspectsthat are necessary to result in successfulmanagement of travel for a planned specialevent with characteristics specific to acontinuous event.Table 12-1 indicates different types ofplanned special events classified as a continuousevent. This category includes eventsthat occur in urban and metropolitan areas,and the rural event category includes continuousevents that take place in rural areas.Aside from conventions and state/countyfairs, many continuous events take place at atemporary venue, a park, or other large openspace. These venues host planned specialevents on a less frequent basis than permanentmulti-use venues, and planned specialevent permitting typically governs whether atemporary venue can adequately handle thetransportation impact of a particular continuousevent. Table 12-2 lists key characteristicsof a continuous event.Table 12-1Types of Continuous EventsEVENT TYPE• Fairs• Festivals• Conventions and expos• Air and automobile showsTable 12-2Distinguishing Operating Characteristics ofa Continuous EventCHARACTERISTIC• Occurrence often over multiple days• Arrival and departure of event patronsthroughout the event day• Typically little or no advance ticket sales• Capacity of venue not always known• Occurrence sometimes at temporary venuesSpecial ConsiderationsIn light of the characteristics of a continuousevent, special considerations when planningsuch an event include:• Daily attendance, a key input in thetravel forecast analysis process, is oftendifficult to estimate, and day-of-eventweather conditions may significantly affectit.• The traffic generation characteristics andmarket area of different continuousevents may vary considerably, thus limitingthe transfer of historical data betweennon-identical special events.• Most events do not have an attendancecapacity or defined “sell-out.”• Venues may have limited access to transitstations and adjacent high-capacityarterial roadways and freeways.• High attendance events in downtownareas require extensive planning forparking and travel demand management.• Major continuous events typically generatetrips from a multi-county region.• Potential weather impacts require theconsideration of a wide range of contingencyplans relative to site access, parking,pedestrian access, traffic control,and traffic incident management.• Continuous events held at temporaryvenues may significantly impact nearbyneighborhood residents and businesses.12-2