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

Table 3-17Market Area Analysis MethodsMETHODDESCRIPTIONTravel time analysis • Determine population distribution within travel time threshold of event venue.Distance analysis • Determine population distribution within distance radius of event venue.Origin locationanalysis• Determine weighted distribution of known origins by place or zip code.Figure 3-9 presents a parking demand analysisprocess used to determine the adequacyof event venue (on-site) parking and theidentification of appropriate off-site parkingareas. The flowchart denotes an analysisconducted for a one-time interval. Practitionersshould perform an iterative parkingdemand analysis, over hourly time periodsas necessary, if considering parking areascharacterized by high background parkingturnover.Traffic Demand AnalysisA traffic demand analysis determines: (1) alocal area directional distribution and (2) theoverall assignment of event-generated traffic.This analysis references results obtainedthrough the travel forecast, market areaanalysis, and parking demand analysis.The local area directional distribution indicatesfreeway ramps and intersections, includingturning movements, traversed byevent-generated traffic arriving to or departingfrom a planned special event. The regionaldirectional distribution, as determinedin the market area analysis, quantifies thepercentage of event patron trips (e.g., origins)by regional freeway and arterial corridor,and the planned special event parkingareas, as determined in the parking demandanalysis, represent sink nodes or location oftrip destination.Traffic demand analysis includes developingcomposite background and event-generatedtraffic projections for all roadway systemfacilities serving the event venue. Compositetraffic volumes expressed as an hourly(or sub-hourly) rate meet roadway capacityanalysis input requirements. These ratesidentify the peak hour capacity analysis periodsduring event patron arrival and/or departure.Practitioners must adjust backgroundtraffic volumes to account for displacedand diverted traffic due to road closuresrequired to stage the planned specialevent.As a preliminary step to assess the need toperform a detailed roadway capacity analysis,draw a circular screen line (e.g., 0.5 to 1mile radius) around the event venue site.Note each roadway segment intercepted bythe screen line, and estimate the segment’scapacity in each direction of travel. Create achart of hourly composite traffic volumesfor each identified segment, and assess capacitydeficiencies in both directions oftravel.Roadway Capacity AnalysisA roadway capacity analysis uses trafficdemand analysis results to measure the impactof a proposed planned special event onroadway system operations. At the feasibilitystudy level, a roadway capacity analysisreferences existing roadway facility operationsand capacity (e.g., no reverse flow operationor other capacity enhancements).The analysis assumes pedestrian accessmanagement strategies will minimize pedestrian/vehicularconflicts, and parking area3EVENT PROFILE POST-EVENT ACTIVITIES DAY-OF-EVENT ACTIVITIES ADVANCE PLANNINGOVERVIEW3-25