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

modate planned special events. This categoryincludes sporting and concert events atstadiums, arenas, and amphitheaters in urbanand metropolitan areas. Table 3-4 lists keycharacteristics of a discrete/recurring eventat a permanent venue.Table 3-2Event Operation CharacteristicsCHARACTERISTIC• Event time of occurrence• Event time and duration• Event location• Area type• Event market area• Expected attendance• Audience accommodation• Event typeTable 3-3Categories of Planned Special EventsSPECIAL EVENT CATEGORIES• Discrete/recurring event at a permanent venue• Continuous event• Street use event• Regional/multi-venue event• Rural eventTable 3-4Distinguishing Operating Characteristics ofa Discrete/Recurring Event ata Permanent VenueCHARACTERISTIC• Specific starting and predictable ending times• Known venue capacity• Advance ticket sales• Weekday event occurrencesContinuous EventA continuous event includes fairs, festivals,conventions, and air/automobile shows inurban and metropolitan areas. Aside fromconventions and state/county fairs, manycontinuous events take place at a temporaryvenue, a park, or other large open space.These venues host planned special events ona less frequent basis than permanent multiusevenues, and planned special event permittingtypically governs whether a temporaryvenue can adequately handle the transportationimpact of a particular continuousevent. Table 3-5 lists key characteristics ofa continuous event.Table 3-5Distinguishing Operating Characteristicsof a 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 venuesStreet Use EventA street use event occurs on a street requiringtemporary closure. Events classifiedunder this category include parades, streetraces, and motorcycle rallies occurring inrural, urban, and metropolitan areas. Theseevents generally occur in a city or downtowncentral business district; however, raceevents or motorcycle rallies may necessitatetemporary closure of arterial streets or limited-accesshighways. Planned special eventpermitting guidelines and restrictions typically(1) influence event operations characteristics(e.g., location, street use eventroute, time of occurrence, etc.) and (2) governwhether a traffic management plan canmitigate the transportation impact of a particularstreet use event. Table 3-6 lists keycharacteristics of a street use event.Table 3-6Distinguishing Operating Characteristicsof a Street Use EventCHARACTERISTIC• Occurrence on a roadway requiring temporaryclosure• Specific starting and predictable ending times• Capacity of spectator viewing area not known• Spectators not charged or ticketed• Dedicated parking facilities not available3-10