Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

5.8.7 Evacuation Traffic Management

  1. “Adjust Signal Timings to increase the green time and/or progression band for through movements leading out of an evacuation zone.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  2. “Consider a Laptop Communications System to help law enforcement personnel monitor the outgoing traffic and to respond quickly to incidents.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  3. “Consider Reversible Flow for short sections of roadways under extreme situations, such as the approach of a Category 4 or 5 hurricane with limited time to evacuate the public.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  4. “Consider Suspension of Tolls to encourage people to use toll roads, which in turn reduces bottlenecks at toll collection booths.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  5. “Consider Tow Truck Usage at key bottleneck locations along evacuation routes to help detect and clear minor accidents and help maintain traffic flow and capacity.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  6. “Consider Use of a Bus System to provide transportation for special needs members of the community (e.g., elderly, handicapped, etc.) and take them to shelters that provide special needs.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  7. “Consider Vehicle Restrictions for oversize cargoes and mobile homes.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  8. Coordinate Traffic Signals – “Changing traffic lights on alternate routes, such as Airline Highway or US 190, to keep traffic moving.”
    Times-Picayune Online, “Communication Called Storm Evacuation Key”

  9. “Establish and Maintain Communications among agencies. Use systems such as the Public Information Emergency System in Texas and Emergency Satellite Communications in Florida, which have proven to be reliable. Have a back-up system available.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  10. Develop Immediate Improvements to Highway System as Necessary – “Immediate Improvements—(a) better coordination of evacuation process (staged evacuations among parishes facilitated through separate conference call and coordinate contra flow initiation with evacuation announcements), (b) immediately suspend bridge tolls, (c) more and better signage (additional variable message board equipment and targeted installation of permanent dynamic message signs at critical alternate evacuation routes), (d) manage Interstate access at key locations, (e) extended green/flashing yellow on major routes, (f) stage tow trucks at strategic locations, and (g) establish Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and Louisiana State Highway Patrol Traffic Control Center).”
    Testimony to State of Louisiana State Legislature on Hurricane Ivan, 2004

  11. “Locate Your Bottlenecks”
    A Study of the Impact of Nine Transportation Management Projects on Hurricane Evacuation Preparedness

  12. “Minimize Left-Turning Movements along evacuation routes and on roads leading to evacuation routes.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  13. “Need Time to Set Up for Contra-Flow Lanes”
    Reverse Lane Standards and ITS Strategies Southeast United States Hurricane Study: Technical Memorandum Number 1: Final Report

  14. “Operate an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate all of the evacuation activities.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  15. Plan for Long-Term Improvements to the Highway System – “Long Term Objectives—(a) improve loading/distribution of traffic and make contra flow more effective (task force studying alternatives within infrastructure/manpower limits, calibrate computer modeling program to 9/14 – 9/15 traffic conditions, model new configuration and work with local officials to better coordinate school closings, government offices and businesses at appropriate times to relieve traffic bottlenecks and (b) better educate public on evacuation routes and alternate routes (public affair campaign to distribute state maps and newly developed easy-to-read evacuation maps with alternate routes, partner with print media to print zone-specific maps, partner with a the media on plans to give public realistic expectations and public service announcements on evacuation plans).”
    Testimony to State of Louisiana State Legislature on Hurricane Ivan, 2004

  16. “Promote High-Occupancy-Vehicle Lane Usage to encourage motorists to evacuate in groups.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  17. Provide for a New Traffic Control Center as Necessary – “Providing a new traffic control center with up-to-the-minute reports on traffic patterns and communicating directly with the broadcast media to let motorists know about conditions and alert them to alternate routes. New message boards along evacuation routes will also provide news about traffic conditions and alternate routes.”
    Times-Picayune Online, “Communication Called Storm Evacuation Key”

  18. Review Toll Policies – “[Review] policies regarding the lifting of toll fees.”
    Reverse Lane Standards and ITS Strategies Southeast United States Hurricane Study: Technical Memorandum Number 1: Final Report

    “Suspend toll-taking on the Crescent City Connection and the Causeway when an evacuation is called. (State of Louisiana Senator Robert) Barham recalled an angry call he received from a friend stuck in traffic near the Crescent City Connection. ‘When that mandatory evacuation was issued for Plaquemines [Parish], they were still collecting tolls for six hours or more,’ Barham said. ‘That’s one of the things we’ve got to cure.’”
    Times-Picayune Online, “Communication Called Storm Evacuation Key”

  19. Station Tow Trucks at Strategic Locations – “Station tow trucks at strategic points so that accidents and broken-down vehicles can be quickly cleared.”
    Times-Picayune Online, “Communication Called Storm Evacuation Key”

  20. “Use Traffic Counters to assess traffic flow and the volume of vehicles evacuating.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  21. “Use Changeable Message Signs to help convey timely and useful information.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  22. “Use Channeling Devices as a part of traffic control.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  23. “Use Closed Circuit Television Cameras to monitor traffic flow and to manage incidents.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  24. “Use Highway Advisory Radio to provide information pertaining to the weather, evacuation routes, incidents, and construction.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  25. “Use Lane Control Signals in critical areas to help direct traffic.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes

  26. “Use Static Signs to provide general information. Consider the use of flip-down signs.”
    Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes


February 7, 2006
Publication #FHWA–HOP-08-015