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

ensure successful traffic managementplan deployment, the traffic managementteam must adopt a formal managementprocess and establish an interagencycommunication structure and protocol tosupport day-of-event operations.• Other essential team management considerationsinvolve (1) the designation ofan Incident Commander for the plannedspecial event and (2) the set up of a temporary,multi-agency command post ator near the event venue.• Traffic management team officialsshould anticipate enacting modificationsto the traffic management plan duringthe rural event.• Surveillance information and performanceevaluation data define transportationoperation conditions and, thus, influencedecision-making at a day-ofeventbriefing. Given the typical lack oftransportation management centers in ruralareas, transportation system operatorsusually monitor system operations fromthe event command post using portableequipment (e.g., laptop computers, devicesusing radio/cellular/spread spectrumradio communication, etc.).• The collection and evaluation of transportationsystem performance dataproves valuable in guiding decisionmakingnot only on the day-of-event butalso for recurring rural events. Stakeholderscan archive raw data for use infuture feasibility studies, and variousevaluation measures can identify specificareas that require improvement for future,similar events.• The traffic management team must exercisegreat care in collecting performanceevaluation data in order to ensure dataquality and consistency.POST-EVENTACTIVITIESAll of the primary products of this phase(e.g., participant evaluation, post-event debriefing,and post-event report) have a highlevel of applicability to rural events. Giventhe infrequent occurrence of rural eventscoupled with the scarcity of travel forecastdata, post-event activity results represent akey resource in planning for future ruralevents in a region.Table 15-5 presents a checklist of post-eventactivities for rural events. The post-eventactivities section of this handbook providesdetailed information on common techniques,special considerations, and recommendedprotocol that facilitate the activities listed inthe table.Table 15-5Checklist of Post-Event Activities for Rural EventsHANDBOOKPAGEACTION10-2 • Review measures of effectiveness identified in event operations planning phase.10-3 • Compile agency measures of effectiveness.9-14 • Compile performance evaluation data.10-5 • Conduct stakeholder participant debriefing.10-6 • Conduct event patron survey.10-7 • Conduct public survey.10-7 • Conduct a post-event debriefing meeting.10-10 • Prepare a post-event report.APPLIES15-8