Incorporating Management and Operations and the Congestion

Management Process into Metropolitan Transportation

Planning

FHWA/FTA Webinar

June 24, 2008

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Session Purpose

• Create understanding the recommended approach for advancing the CMP and M&O in the transportation planning process

• Illustrate how this approach can be applied

• Provide an in-depth look at how a CMP can be fully integrated into the planning process

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Overview

• Background on the initiative• Overview of M&O and CMP• An objectives-driven, performance-

based approach• The resulting MTP and TIP• The role of transit

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Purpose of Initiative

• To improve the performance of the transportation system through more effective integration of the congestion management process (CMP) and management and operations (M&O) into the planning process

• To equip planners and operators to use an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to integrating M&O strategies into metropolitan planning process

• To promote ongoing collaboration and coordination among transportation operators including public safety agencies and between planners and operators

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SAFETEA-LU Requirements

Sections 3005, 3006, and 6001:• Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) shall include:

“Operational and management strategies to improve the performance of existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the safety and mobility of people and goods”

• Long Range Statewide Transportation Plan should include:“capital, operations and management strategies, investments, procedures, and other measures to ensure the preservation and most efficient use of the existing transportation system. ”

• One of 8 planning factors to be considered in metropolitan and Statewide planning: “Promote efficient system management and operations”

• For TMAs, a Congestion Management Process (CMP) is required. Any highway capacity projects in ozone or carbon monoxide non-attainment areas must result from the CMP

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M&O and CMP in Context of Metropolitan Transportation Planning Requirements

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What is Management and Operations (M&O)?

• M&O is an integrated program of strategies designed to get the most efficient and safest use out of existing and planned infrastructure

• M&O strategies are those actions that are taken to optimize the performance of the transportation system

• Many M&O strategies enable transportation agencies to provide better customer service in the near-term without incurring the high costs and time to implement major infrastructure projects

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Examples of M&O Strategies

• Traffic incident management

• Traveler information services

• Road weather management

• Freeway management

• Traffic signal coordination

• Work zone management

• Electronic payment/toll collection

• Transit signal priority

• Emergency response and homeland security

• Freight management

• Travel demand management

• Transit fleet management and dispatching

Regional ITS Architecture provides a blueprint for how ITS (used for many M&O strategies) can be coordinated on a regional level.

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“Samples of Daily Transportation Operations Activities” by Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)

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Benefits of Improved M&O

• Benefits of M&O to the public include– Improved system reliability– Improved service efficiency– Enhanced public safety and security– Reduced traveler delays– Improved access to traveler information– More efficient transportation investments

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What is the CMP?

• A systematic approach applied in a metropolitan region to identify congestion and its causes, propose mitigation strategies, and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented strategies

• As an integral part of the planning process that influences decisionmaking, the CMP feeds projects and strategies directly into the Plan, TIP, and STIP and, replaces the CMS that was often a standalone process

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M&O and CMP in Context of Metropolitan Transportation Planning Requirements

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What is the difference between the CMP and the former CMS?

• The CMP:– Is an integral part of the planning process that influences

decisionmaking– Focuses on on-going efforts to collect, analyze, and preserve

data resources to monitor performance over time– Has an increased emphasis on incorporating management and

operations for congestion mitigation

• For each region, the changes needed to transform its CMS to a CMP depend on how the CMS was previously implemented.

• Moving to a CMP may be a major shift for some regions and a very small change to those that already had a strong CMS.

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Relationship between M&O and the Congestion Management Process

The CMP actualizes the operations objectives through a systematic approach for:

• Developing performance measures• Identifying and analyzing problems• Collecting data• Developing strategies• Monitoring performance

Regional operations objectives in the MTP

Congestion mitigation strategies including M&O strategies

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Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach

• Goals and objectives focusing on the efficient management and operation of the transportation system are included in the plan

• Performance measures are used to track progress toward the objectives

• Initiatives including M&O strategies to meet the objectives are included in plans and implemented through the State and MPO transportation improvement program (TIP) in coordination with local agencies

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Framework for an Objectives-Driven,

Performance-Based Approach

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Using the Approach to Incorporate M&O into the Plan

• M&O goals• Regional operations

objectives• Performance measures for

management and operations

• Resulting MTP and TIP

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Framework for an Objectives-Driven,

Performance-Based Approach

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M&O Goals in the MTP

• Goals describe desired end state• Examples of M&O goals:

– “Maximize Transportation System Management and Operations” Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) – 2035 Regional Transportation Plan

– “Improve transportation system performance” Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) – 2030 Regional Transportation Plan

– “A reliable commute” - Metropolitan Transportation Commission - 2030 Plan

• Other goals in the plan may focus on safety, economy, land use, etc.

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Framework for an Objectives-Driven,

Performance-Based Approach

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Regional Operations Objectives to Actualize Goals

• Objectives are specific, measurable statements relating to attainment of goals

• Developed collaboratively and used to prioritize investment decisions

• Examples:– By 2010, reduce the clearance time of traffic incidents on

freeways and major arterials in the region from a current average of X minutes to an average of Y minutes.

– By 2020, reduce the variability in travel time on freeways and major arterials 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.

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Framework for an Objectives-Driven,

Performance-Based Approach

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Sample Transportation System Performance Measures

Travel time Average travel times; Average travel speeds

Congestion extent Lane miles of congested conditionsAverage hours of congestion per day

Delay Vehicle-hours of recurring delayNon-recurring delay

Incident occurrence/delay

Median minutes from time of incident to clearance

Travel time reliability Buffer time; Buffer time index

Transit performance On-time performanceTransit travel times in comparison to personal vehicle travel times

Customer satisfaction Percent reporting being satisfied

Person throughput Peak hour persons moved per lane

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Regional ITS Architecture and Performance Measures

Provides direction to planners and operators on how data sources can be tied together to support regional operations performance measures

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Framework for an Objectives-Driven,

Performance-Based Approach

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Basics of the

New Approach for CMP

• Fully integrated into the planning process• Specific congestion management objectives drive the

process• Increased emphasis on incorporating management and

operations strategies for congestion mitigation • Focuses on ongoing efforts to collect, analyze, and

preserve data resources to monitor performance over time

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Congestion Management Process (8 Steps)

Identify areas of application

Utilize congestion management objectives in the plan (including operations objectives)

Define system/network of interest

Develop performance measures

Institute system performance monitoring plan

Identify/evaluate strategies

Implement selected strategies/manage system

Monitor strategy effectiveness

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Resulting Metropolitan Transportation Plan and TIP include…

• Vision, goals, and regional operations objectives that address M&O

• Measures that allow the region to track progress toward achieving its objectives

• Strategies for M&O and other strategies recommended by the CMP

• Funding allocations for M&O and congestion management strategies

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Key Role of Transit Agencies in Advancing CMP/M&O in the Plan

• Contribute to decisions at the MPO and State level regarding investment priorities, land use, and economic development

• Participate in developing regional operations objectives

• Provide operations data to planning partners• Recommend transit-based strategies for improving regional

transportation system performance• Implement performance-based objectives in their planning processes• Collaborate with other transportation operators in regional operations

efforts

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Benefits of Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach

• Strategic approach guided by objectives and performance measures ensures most effective strategies for improving system performance are included in transportation plans

• CMP fully integrated into planning process helps inform decisionmakers about trade-offs between competing alternatives

• Helps agencies prioritize investments to achieve agreed upon objectives

• Agencies can gain support from public and elected leaders by demonstrating accountability through performance measures

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View the Guidebooks

• FHWA Planning for Operations Website

http://www.plan4operations.dot.gov

• An Interim Guidebook on the Congestion Management Process in Metropolitan Transportation Planning

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/cmpguidebook/cmpguidebook.pdf

• Management & Operations in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan: A Guidebook for Creating an Objectives-Driven, Performance-Based Approach - Interim Draft

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/moguidebook/moguidebook.pdf

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Upcoming Dates

• Summer 2008 Informational Workshops– Locations:

• Seattle, Washington, July 31• Chicago, Illinois, August 7• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 12• Denver, Colorado, August 14• Providence, Rhode Island, September 9• Atlanta, Georgia, September 23

• Interested in attending? Contact Heather.M.Rigdon@saic.com

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For More Information

• Contact: – Rick Backlund, FHWA-Operations,

Richard.Backlund@dot.gov, 202-366-8333 – Egan Smith, FHWA-Planning,

Egan.Smith@dot.gov, 202-366-6072 – John Sprowls, FTA-Planning,

John.Sprowls@dot.gov, 202-366-5362

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Questions?