Implementing an Effective Congestion Management Process

Development Framework

Frankfort, KYAugust 21, 2008

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

CMS to CMP in 8 Steps or Less

2. Area of Application

3. System Definition

(modes & network)

4.PerformanceMeasures

5. PerformanceMonitoring

Plan

6. Identification/ Evaluation ofStrategies

7. Implementation & Management

8. Monitor Strategy Effectiveness

1. Develop Regional Operations Objectives

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

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

The 8 Steps of the CMP Framework

Define Congestion for your area

Definitions

• Goals: Generalized statements which broadly relate the physical environment to values

• Objectives: Specific, measurable statements related to the attainment of goals

Goal C

Objective C-1 Objective C-3Objective C-2

Start with Goals and Objectives

Be SMART about Objectives

Specific Measurable Agreed Realistic Time-bound

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”

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

Eight Goal Categories(district based)

Accessibility Reliability Sustainability Intermodality

Highway Mobility Transit Mobility Walk/Bike Mobility Freight Mobility

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

CMP/Planning Process Relationships

Regional ITS Architecture TIP project selection criteria NEPA documentation

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

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

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

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

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

Objectives need performance measures

They reveal the extent to which alternative actions or plans will lead to the

attainment of an objective

Goal C

Objective C-1

PM

C1a

PM

C1b

PM

C1c

4. Develop the Performance Measures

Build a Hierarchy

CMP & Performance Measures

Measure the Extent of Congestion Evaluate Strategy Effectiveness Establish in a Cooperative Fashion

Federal Requirements

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

Application of Measures

Facility Corridor Subarea Forecastable

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

Congestion Analysis – Hampton Roads

Morning and afternoon peak hour LOS determined for CMS network– Three time periods analyzed

ExistingTIP programmed projects (6 year horizon)Long range (20+ year horizon)

Map 112003 Existing PM

Peak Hour Congestion LevelPeninsula South

Joins Map 9 – Peninsula North

Joins Map 13 – Southside West Joins Map 15 – Southside East

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

Performance Measures (3)

Capacity– Volume of Traffic vs. Capacity by Functional

Classification– Congestion Index– VMT/Lane Mile

V/C Ratios – good for small TMAs

Wilmapco, DE Syracuse, NY Providence, RI

Potential Truck-Related Measures

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

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

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

Transit-related Good Practice

Wilmapco (Wilmington, DE) – adding performance measure “transit load factor”

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)

Performance Measures Linkage

PerformanceMeasures

• Crashes per VMT

• Crashes per capita

• Hours of delay

• Congestion index

Objective Reduce rate of motor vehicle crashes

Decrease travel times for commuting

Safety Mobility

Goal Ensure high standards of safety in the system

Provide access to jobs, housing, and economic activities

CMPCongestion Definition & Identification

Developing Performance Measures

1. Roadway Volume/Capacity Ratio

2. Intersection Level of Service

3. Percent Under Posted Speed

Source: Wilmapco

5. Develop Performance Monitoring Plan

What data is/will be available?– Travel surveys– Traffic counts– HPMS– ITS detection– Aerial surveys– Speed data collection

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

GPS receiver:GPS receiver: data collectiondata 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’

Stopped at back of queue

Stopped in queue

Traffic signal

Taking a closer look at plotted dataTaking a closer look at plotted data

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

Consider Strategy Impacts

Implementation Difficulty Social Impacts Air Quality Impacts Environmental Impacts Safety Impacts

CMP Toolbox of Strategies

Demand management measures Operational improvements Capacity Expansion

Demand Management Strategies

Transit/Ridesharing Improvements Non-motorized travel options Alternative work hours Travel behavior modification Pricing Land use management

Operational Improvements

Traffic Engineering Improvements Incident Management Transit Service Improvements Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

technologies High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Land Use Management

Smart Growth Strategies– Mixed Use Development– In-fill Development– Nontraditional Modes– Access Management

Supply Management

Traffic Engineering Improvements Incident Management Transit Service Improvements Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

technologies High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Travel Behavior Modification

Employer Support Programs Alternative Work Schedules Teleworking Financial Incentives Congestion Pricing

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!

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.

ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

Sample Analytical Activities

Identify Existing and Future Congestion Identify congestion problems and causes Evaluate demand management strategies Evaluate operational management strategies Predict system performance Evaluate SOV capacity expansion Evaluate strategy effectiveness

Congestion Analysis – Hampton Roads MPO

Identified congested locations Created a congestion mitigation “toolbox” Recommended congestion management strategies for

those locations without funded improvements Results incorporated into long range planning process Results also used in CMAQ and RSTP project selection

CMP Evaluation Tools

Empirical Data

Travel Demand Model

Arterial/Intersection Simulation

TDM Model

Land Use Model

Highway Capacity Manual

7. Implementation and Management

MPO coordinates with project sponsors to select appropriate implementation strategies

Categorize selected strategies as short-term or long-term in scope of completion

CMP outcomes reflected in LRP updates and TIP project selection

8. Monitor Strategy Effectiveness

Evaluate effectiveness of implemented strategies in context of performance measures

Document successes/failures Feedback to beginning steps of CMP for future

iterations

Data Collection Needs

Traffic Counts Screenline Counts Toll Counts Transit Boarding Counts Travel Times Vehicle Occupancy Crash Locations

Traffic Data

Total Volume Bus Volume Truck Volume Auto Occupancy Bus Load Factor Average Link Speed

Example Benefits of Operations and Management

Example Strategy

Freeway Management

Arterial Operations

Benefits

Ramp metering in Minneapolis: 22% decrease in mainline travel times

Adaptive signal controls/Canadian cities: delay decreases from 15-40%

Incident management such as Seattle, DC, San Antonio: reduced clearance times of 20-50%; reduced secondary accidents by 30%

Big I project/Albuquerque: reduced average clearance times by 44%

Incident Management

Construction Work Zone Traffic Management

Traveler Information

RWIS

Simulations show reductions in travel time of 1-3 percent

An anti-icing program Idaho reduced accident frequencies by 83%

Big Picture Thoughts

Outline Tasks in UPWP

Develop integration with planning process Continue to monitor the CMP network Review performance measures for CMP

network Select high priority corridor(s), isolated

intersections, etc. for further review Perform additional data collection for priority

review locations

Guidance for Staff CMP Efforts

MPO policy board committee MPO technical committee MPO technical sub-committee Special Task Force Citizen’s Advisory Group

Summary – CMP Framework

1. Regional Operations Objectives

2. Area of Application

3. Networks

4. Performance Measures

5. Monitor/Analyze Performance

6. Identify/Assess Strategies

7. Implement and Management

8. Monitor Effectiveness

Resources

“Congestion Management Process (CMP) Innovations: A Menu of Options”

Prepared for NY State Association of MPO’s

Prepared by ICF Consulting – February 24, 2006

www.nysmpos.org/sci/cms/index.htm

Resources

FHWA CMP and M&O Guidebooks Office of Planning, Environment and Realty

– Planning for Operations– www.plan4operations.dot.gov

CMP Case Studies

WILMPACO http://www.wilmapco.org Hampton Roads Planning District Commission http://www.hrpdc.org North Jersey MPO http://www.njtpa.org

For further information contact:

Brian Betlyon

Metropolitan Planning Specialist

FHWA Resource Center

Phone (410) 962-0086

Brian.betlyon@fhwa.dot.gov

CMP Perfection???