Implementing an Effective Congestion Management Process

1. Implementing an Effective Congestion Management Process Development Framework Frankfort, KY August 21, 2008

2. Learning Objectives • Highlight integration of planning process and management and operations objectives • Discuss the CMP eight step process • Highlight good practice for each step • Focus on performance measures, strategies and evaluation techniques

3. CMS to CMP in 8 Steps or Less 1.Develop Regional Operations Objectives 5. Performance Monitoring 2. Area of Plan Application 6. Identification/ 3. System Definition Evaluation of Strategies 7. Implementation & Management (modes & network) 4.Performance 8. Monitor Strategy Effectiveness Measures

4. 1. Develop Regional Operations Objectives • CMP in TMA’s shall provide for effective management and operations to address congestion management. • CMP should be part of developing the Plan and TIP

5. Steps in Development of Regional Operations Objectives • Consider 8 Planning Factors in creating regional goals • Develop objectives relating to goal achievement • Ensure measurability and outcomes • Foster coordination with stakeholders

6. The 8 Steps of the CMP Framework Define Congestion for your area

7. Goal C Objective C-1 Objective C-2 Objective C-3 Definitions Start with Goals and Objectives • Goals: Generalized statements which broadly relate the physical environment to values • Objectives: Specific, measurable statements related to the attainment of goals

8. Be SMART about Objectives • Specific • Measurable • Agreed • Realistic • Time-bound

9. Objectives-Driven Planning • Objectives = specific, measurable statements, based on goals, relating to the attainment of system performance • Examples (all relating to a goal of congestion reduction): • Over the next 3-5 years, reduce the clearance time of traffic incidents on freeways and major arteries in the region from a current average of X minutes to an average of Y minutes. • Over the next 3-5 years, reduce the variability in travel time on freeways and major arteries in the region such that 95% of trips (19 out of 20) have travel times no more than 1.5 times the average travel time for a specific time of day. • By 2012, enhance connectivity among transit services so that transfers between transit modes (rail, bus) and operators are seamless and can occur with one “smart card”

10. North Jersey MPO Example • CMP Performance Goals • Strategy Analysis • Examination of CMP-related projects • Prioritization of new strategies and projects for the Regional Transportation Plan • Identification of new strategies and projects for implementation by appropriate agencies

11. Accessibility Reliability Sustainability Intermodality Highway Mobility Transit Mobility Walk/Bike Mobility Freight Mobility Eight Goal Categories(district based)

12. CMP Integration w/Plan & TIP • Common set of performance measures with Plan and TIP and regional operations and management strategies • Common set of goals and objectives with Plan and TIP and regional operations and management strategies

13. CMP/Planning Process Relationships • Regional ITS Architecture • TIP project selection criteria • NEPA documentation

14. 2. Define Area of Application • What geographic area? • Entire TMA boundary • Planning boundary (model network) • What level of network facilities? • Highway Facilities (Interstate, Arterials, Collectors, etc.) • Transit Routes • Freight Corridors, Intermodal Connectors

15. CMP Process – Step 1Defining the System Define the Transportation Modes • Congestion Identification will be limited to roadway congestion for this report. • Congestion Solutions, however, will include all modes Source: Wilmapco

16. 3. Define System Characteristics • Multimodal in Nature • Corridors, Activity Centers, Hot Spots • What level of network facilities? • Highway Facilities (Interstate, Arterials, Collectors, etc.) • Transit Routes

17. CMPDefining the System Define the Transportation Network • CMP Network consists of all roads in the region with functional classification of Minor Arterial and higher(plus some additional roads suggested by the CMP Subcommittee). Source: Wilmapco

18. CMP Network – Hampton Roads, VA MPO • CMP network includes all minor arterials and above, as well as selected collectors • Over 1,500 roadway segments (1,300 centerline miles) • CMP network = Long range planning network • CMP database includes various traffic characteristics for each roadway segment

19. PM C1a PM C1b PM C1c Goal C Objective C-1 4. Develop the Performance Measures • Objectives need performance measures • They reveal the extent to which alternative actions or plans will lead to the attainment of an objective Build a Hierarchy

20. CMP & Performance Measures • Measure the Extent of Congestion • Evaluate Strategy Effectiveness • Establish in a Cooperative Fashion Federal Requirements

21. Selecting Measures • Be Measurable • Have a clear and intuitive meaning • Be comparable across time and geographical areas (facilities,corridors, subareas) • Have a relationship to actual system operations • Provide for cost-effective data collection

22. Application of Measures • Facility • Corridor • Subarea • Forecastable

23. Performance Measures • Travel Time • Average Travel Time (LOS, contours, etc.) • Average Peak Period Travel Time by Functional Class • Origin/Destination Travel Time • Percent of Time Average Speed Below • Average Travel Speed

24. Joins Map 9 – Peninsula North Map 11 2003 Existing PM Peak Hour Congestion Level Peninsula South Joins Map 13 – Southside West Joins Map 15 – Southside East Congestion Analysis – Hampton Roads • Morning and afternoon peak hour LOS determined for CMS network • Three time periods analyzed • Existing • TIP programmed projects (6 year horizon) • Long range (20+ year horizon)

25. Performance Measures (2) • Delay • Number of Delays per Trip • Percent Incident Delays per VMT • Annual Vehicle Delay Due to Recurring Congestion • Annual Vehicle Delay Due to Incidents

26. Performance Measures (3) • Capacity • Volume of Traffic vs. Capacity by Functional Classification • Congestion Index • VMT/Lane Mile

27. V/C Ratios – good for small TMAs • Wilmapco, DE • Syracuse, NY • Providence, RI

29. Potential Truck-Related Measures • Percent Truck VMT by Congestion Level • Spot Delay Measures (e.g.,weigh stations) • Average Truck Trip Time and Distance

30. Freight-related Good Practice • Puget Sound Regional Council (Seattle) - CMP addresses incident management response on prioritized truck routes • Metroplan Orlando – designates truck routes and tracks congestion separately

31. Potential Transit Operational Measures • Passengers/revenue vehicle mile • Passenger/revenue vehicle hour • Peak Passengers/seat • Average vehicle speed/travel time per mile • Percentage of on-time arrivals

32. Transit-related Good Practice • Wilmapco (Wilmington, DE) – adding performance measure “transit load factor”

33. Model-related Measures • Number & Percentage Miles Congested • Number & Percentage Lane-Miles Congested • Number & Percentage of VMT Congested • Average Vehicle Speed (VMT/VHT) • Number & Percentage PMT Congested • Average Person Speed (PMT/PHT)

34. Performance Measures Linkage Safety Mobility Goal Ensure high standards of safety in the system Provide access to jobs, housing, and economic activities Objective Reduce rate of motor vehicle crashes Decrease travel times for commuting PerformanceMeasures • Crashes per VMT • Crashes per capita • Hours of delay • Congestion index

35. CMPCongestion Definition & Identification Developing Performance Measures • Roadway Volume/Capacity Ratio • Intersection Level of Service • Percent Under Posted Speed Source: Wilmapco

36. 5. Develop Performance Monitoring Plan • What data is/will be available? • Travel surveys • Traffic counts • HPMS • ITS detection • Aerial surveys • Speed data collection

37. CMP Data – Hampton Roads MPO • CMP database includes various traffic characteristics for each roadway segment • Daily volumes • Roadway characteristics • Peak hour data • Truck data • Travel time data • GIS data

38. GPS receiver:data collection • Easy to use • Small & simple to use (1 button) • Place on dashboard, • No antenna required • PDA not needed for simple runs • Good accuracy (good matches to GIS data) • Inexpensive: • $180 including PDA software • Purchased 6 units for CRCOG • Up to 6 different staff members • Ample capacity • Stores 50,000 data points (>24 hrs) • Battery: 8 hours before recharging • Other equipment tested: • More features • Too expensive ($1500) • Too bulky • Too hard to use • Operator error • Not ‘hands free’

39. Stopped at back of queue Stopped in queue Traffic signal Taking a closer look at plotted data

40. 6. Identify and Evaluate Strategies • Establish “toolbox” of available strategies • Inventory available analytical tools • Evaluate strategies for feasibility at congested locations • Develop short-list for implementation or further study

41. Consider Strategy Impacts • Implementation Difficulty • Social Impacts • Air Quality Impacts • Environmental Impacts • Safety Impacts

42. CMP Toolbox of Strategies • Demand management measures • Operational improvements • Capacity Expansion

43. Demand Management Strategies • Transit/Ridesharing Improvements • Non-motorized travel options • Alternative work hours • Travel behavior modification • Pricing • Land use management

44. Operational Improvements • Traffic Engineering Improvements • Incident Management • Transit Service Improvements • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies • High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

45. Land Use Management • Smart Growth Strategies • Mixed Use Development • In-fill Development • Nontraditional Modes • Access Management

46. Supply Management • Traffic Engineering Improvements • Incident Management • Transit Service Improvements • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies • High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

47. Travel Behavior Modification • Employer Support Programs • Alternative Work Schedules • Teleworking • Financial Incentives • Congestion Pricing

48. New Capacity • In TMAs designated as non-attainment for ozone or carbon monoxide, significant additional capacity for SOVs requires additional analysis demonstrating the extra capacity is warranted!

49. Traffic Signal System Improvement Program • Area faced poorly timed & coordinated systems across jurisdiction lines, • MPO with local cities’ traffic engineers creates 6 year work program, updated every 4 years, • Funded by CMAQ, • MPO Program staffed by 3 Engineers & 3 Technicians.

50. ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES