Using Real Time Transportation System Performance Measures to Fuel a Regional Congestion Management System

Robert L. BertiniPortland State UniversityJonathan MaklerCity of Portland and Metro

ITE District 6 Annual MeetingHonolulu, HawaiiJune 26, 2006

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Outline

Introduction SAFETEA-LU The Cost of Congestion Managing Congestion

Performance Measures Reliability Transportation System

Management and Operations Conclusion

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IntroductionPortland, Oregon

METRO regional government

Progressive transportation planning

Shared decision making

Regional Congestion Management System (CMS)

FHWA admonishment

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A New Day for CongestionPortland, Oregon

New university transportation center

Government and business collaborate: Cost of Congestion

METRO CMS roadmap RTP update “New Look:” 1 million

people by 2030 LRT and streetcar

additions

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SAFETEA-LUA National University Transportation Center for Oregon

60 new university transportation centers Research on critical national transportation needs

and expand transportation workforce. $16 million for Oregon Research, education and technology transfer Advanced technology, integration of

transportation/land use and healthy communities Multidisciplinary, statewide, multimodal

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SAFETEA-LUA National University Transportation Center for Oregon

Provide relevant research to assist local, state, and regional agencies in their work;

Expand the pool of highly talented students who choose transportation planning and engineering;

Build upon our collective efforts to make Oregon a place where innovation, creativity, and collaboration lead to sustainable communities.

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The Cost of CongestionMETRO/Portland Business Alliance

Region’s economy is transportation dependent

Action needed to remain competitive As a trade hub, Portland largely

dependent on efficient transportation Businesses report congestion costs Failure to invest will bes costly Additional regional investment will pay off Has generated community conversations

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Managing CongestionCongestion Management Process (CMP)

MPO over 200,000 population (ISTEA, TEA-21, SAFETEA-LU)

Systematic process for managing congestion that provides information on transportation system performance and alternative strategies for alleviating congestion and enhancing mobility.

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Managing CongestionCongestion Management Nework

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Managing CongestionCongestion Management System (CMS)

Monitor and evaluate system, identify congestion causes, evaluate alternative actions, and evaluate benefits of implemented actions;

Measure extent of congestion and evaluate congestion reduction and mobility enhancing strategies;

Data collection and system performance monitoring;

Benefits of traditional/non-traditional congestion management strategies;

Implementation schedule, responsibilities, and funding; and

Periodic assessment of implemented strategies, in context of established performance measures.

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Managing CongestionMETRO’s CMS Roadmap

Planning-oriented performance measures Planning for operations Roadmap:

1. Measure transportation system performance

2. Identify the causes of congestion3. Identify and evaluate alternative

actions4. Implement cost-effective

solutions5. Evaluate the efficiency and

effectiveness of implemented actions

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Congestion Management PlanRegional Policy Making

Finance

TravelAlternatives

Public Expectations

CMSPolicy

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Congestion Management PlanRegional Planning and Programming

MTIP CMS RTP

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

CMS Data ExistingConditions Report

CMS Data CollectionRefinement

RTIP Update

Systems Analysis

Project List

Updated CMS Policy

MTIPUpdate

MTIPUpdate

CMSData

Collection

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PORTAL: PSU Regional ITS Data Archive Center

98 CCTV Cameras 19 Variable Message Signs 485 Inductive Loop Detectors 135 Ramp Meters Weather data Extensive Fiber Optics Network http://portal.its.pdx.edu

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Portland Monthly Congestion Reports

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Data Analysis and VisualizationGrouped Data Plots: Travel Time Reliability

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Performance ReportsI-5 Weekday Travel Time and Congestion

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Mapping and Spatial AnalysisTravel Time Reliability

Point to Point Off-Peak Travel Time Reliability (I-5 N)

Point to Point Peak-Hour Travel Time Reliability (I-5 N)

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Transportation System Management and Operations (TSMO)

Optimize performance of existing infrastructure

MPOs can plan, promote and prioritize but not operate

METRO collaborates with city, county, state and transit operating agencies

2005 FHWA grant to demonstrate Regional Concept of Operations (RCTO)

Shared regional vision of operations First RCTO: traveler information

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Next Steps and Concluding Remarks

Continue development of CMS Road Map

Add data sources to PORTAL Freight/classification data Transit AVL data Arterial performance Freeway incident data

Improve data quality Provide decision support for

transportation officials in the region Involve stakeholders and FHWA

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Acknowledgments PORTAL Team: Kristin Tufte, James Rucker,

Spicer Matthews, Jessica Potter, Sue Ahn, Sirisha Kothuri, Andy Delcambre, Tim Welch, Steve Hansen, Andy Rodriguez, Andrew Byrd

National Science Foundation Oregon Department of Transportation City of Portland TriMet Portland State University METRO FHWA

Visit PORTAL online at:http://portal.its.pdx.edu

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Thank You!

Questions?