Implementing an Effective Congestion Management Process Development Framework Frankfort, KY August 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.Performance Measures 5. Performance Monitoring Plan 6. Identification/ Evaluation of Strategies 7. Implementation & Management 8. Monitor Strategy Effectiveness 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-1Objective 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 1 Defining 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

CMP Defining 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

CMP Network – Greenville, SC MPO

 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 Measure Thresholds % of Time at Free Flow Speed – Serious < 40% – Congested > 40% and < 50% – Marginal> 50% and < 65% – OK> 65% and < 80% – Good>80% Source: Greenville, SC MPO

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) Map Existing PM Peak Hour Congestion Level Peninsula South Joins Map 9 – Peninsula North Joins Map 13 – Southside WestJoins 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

Detailed Analytical Tools Localized Delay – Hidalgo, TX MPO

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

CMP Congestion 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: 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’

Stopped at back of queue Stopped in queue Traffic signal Taking 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

Toolbox of Mitigation Strategies

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

Priorities in Plan & TIP

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

Implementation Issues Time and Fiscal Constraints Operations Objectives Multimodal Approach Project Prioritization Linkage to NEPA Process Documentation of SOV Analysis

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,

Resources FHWA CMP and M&O Guidebooks Office of Planning, Environment and Realty – Planning for Operations –

CMP Case Studies WILMPACO Hampton Roads Planning District Commission North Jersey MPO

For further information contact: Brian Betlyon Metropolitan Planning Specialist FHWA Resource Center Phone (410)

CMP Perfection???