Congestion Management Process (CMP)

1. Congestion Management Process (CMP) Briefing to the Technical Committee May 2, 2012

2. What is a CMP? “A congestion management process (CMP) is a systematic and regionally-accepted approach for managing congestion that provides accurate, up-to-date information on transportation system performance and assesses alternative strategies for congestion management that meet state and local needs.” Source: Congestion Management Process: A Guidebook, USDOT, FHWA

3. CMP & Transportation Management Areas (TMA) • A CMP is required in metropolitan areas where the population exceeds 200,000 • Federal requirements also state that in all TMAs, the CMP shall be developed and implemented as an integrated part of the metropolitan transportation planning process.

4. The process includes 6 steps: • Development of congestion management objectives; • Establishment of measures of multimodal transportation system performance; • Collection of data and system performance monitoring to define the extent and duration of congestion and determine the causes of congestion;

5. Steps: • Identification of congestion management strategies; • Implementation activities, including identification of an implementation schedule and possible funding sources for each strategy; and • Evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented strategies.

6. Approach Although a CMP is required in every TMA, federal regulations are not prescriptive regarding the methods and approaches that must be used to implement a CMP. This flexibility has been provided in recognition that different metropolitan areas may face different conditions regarding traffic congestion and may have different visions of how to deal with congestion.

7. State-of-the-Practice • Staff reviewed CMP’s of 10 similar sized MPOs – SEMCOG, DRCOG, MTC, MAG, SCAG, SANDAG, etc. • Shows a wide-range of plans / processes / performance metrics / update schedules • In most cases, the CMP forms the basis for projects in the LRP

8. An on-going process • The CMP is an on-going process, continuously progressing and adjusting over time as goals and objectives change, new congestion issues arise, new information sources become available, and new strategies are identified and evaluated.

9. The Baltimore Region’s CMP • What are we measuring? • How are we measuring? • What do the numbers say? • What can we learn from the numbers? • What are we doing about it? • Improving the process

10. What are we measuring? • Roadway Measures • Vehicle volumes (direction, time of day, peak hour, average daily traffic) • Volume/Capacity ratios by direction and time of day • Intersection Level of Service – average queue length, delay • Miles operating at Level of Service (LOS) E or F in peak period • Duration of congestion • Transit Measures • Average speeds or travel time • Ratio of bus to auto speed (for bus systems) • Average peak period vehicle load factors (passengers per vehicle) • Travel Time Measures • travel time – the amount of time needed to traverse a segment or corridor • travel speed – usually measured in one of two ways: (a) average travel speed: the length of a segment divided by the travel time, or (b)spot speed: the speed of a vehicle or a sample of vehicles over a given time interval passing a point along a roadway • delay – the difference between travel time and acceptable or free-flow travel time • travel time index – ratio of peak-period to non-peak-period travel time.

11. How are we measuring? • Using GPS to Monitor Traffic • Since 1998, BMC has used Global Positioning System units to collect travel time and travel speeds on 30 of the heaviest traveled roadways. • Aerial Surveys of Congestion • In the past, BMC staff has used extensive aerial surveys to monitor traffic quality on the freeway system in the metro area.   • Traffic Counts • Since 1990, BMC has collected and maintained traffic count data for area roadways from a number of sources, including SHA. • I-95 Corridor Coalition Vehicle Probe Project • This is a groundbreaking initiative providing comprehensive and continuous travel time information on freeways and arterials using probe technology.

12. What do the numbers say? Top 10 Bottlenecks • Spring 2011 If the reported speed falls below 60% of the reference speed, the road segment is flagged as a potential bottleneck. If the reported speed stays below 60% for five minutes, the segment is confirmed as a bottleneck location.

13. Top 5 Congested Corridors Corridors are composed of multiple contiguous bottlenecks totaling at least 3 miles in length

14. Rank #1 Congested Corridor

15. Congestion on SB - 4/9-13 Morning Peak Thurs Fri Tue Wed Mon

16. Congestion on SB - 4/16-20 Morning Peak Tue Wed Mon Thurs Fri

17. What can we learn from the numbers? • Identify congested locations and corridors • Understand recurring and non-recurring congestion patterns • Evaluate and rank projects in the long-range plan • Calibrate the travel demand model • Develop operational improvements/strategies

18. What are we doing about it? – CMP Strategies • CMP Strategies • Improving Roadway Operations • Adaptive Signal Control (e.g. Riva Road) • Regional Traffic Incident Management (TIMBR) • Real-time traveler information (511) • Improve multi-modal Options • Transit • Bicycle & Pedestrian • CMP Outcomes • Improve Air Quality • Improve Economy • Freight • Mobility • Improve Safety • Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) • Education (e.g. Street Smart)

20. Improving the process • Adopt Travel Time Reliability Performance Measures to capture non-recurring congestion patterns (Travel Time Index, Planning Time Index, etc.) • Form CMP Advisory Group (operations focused) • Link to safety, freight, ITS Architecture and Management & Operations (M&O) • Coordinate with SHA & Jurisdictions • Continue role in the Interagency Review Process – link NEPA & Planning

21. Next Steps Web updates - ongoing CMP report – end of FY 2012 FY 2013 CMP Performance Measurement Corridor Analysis Coordinate with mid-Atlantic MPO’s on reliability measures

22. Questions / Comments / Suggestions • BMC CMP Team Members: Bala Akundi, Bill Leonard Brian Ryder, Ed Stylc Eileen Singleton, Jason Biernat Monica Haines Benkhedda, Regina Aris Terry Freeland, Victor Henry