Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

H1−2: Public Outreach for Travel Demand Management

DESCRIPTION:

Travel Demand Management (TDM) is a general term for various strategies that increase transportation system efficiency by reducing total demand or shifting a portion of demand to other times, routes, or modes of travel. TDM can be used in work zones to help reduce traffic flow through a work zone, particularly when capacity is constrained due to narrowed or closed lanes or construction activity. Although most individual TDM strategies only affect a small portion of total travel, the cumulative impacts of a comprehensive TDM program can be significant.

When a gas explosion destroyed two portions of the MacArthur Maze and quick reconstruction was needed, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched an aggressive public relations campaign using a website and local media personnel to inform drivers about alternate routes, public transportation alternatives, and reconstruction updates. Traffic in the area was reduced significantly, helping enable reconstruction in 26 days rather than a few months.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) developed a comprehensive public outreach campaign to prepare local businesses, community groups, and the general public for a major roadway rehabilitation project along Interstate−5 through downtown Seattle that reduced the number of open lanes to two. WSDOT developed a public outreach plan which encouraged motorists to shift their routes from the work zone corridor to other routes or modes of transportation which resulted in more than a 50 percent reduction of traffic through the work zone area. WSDOT used a website with a Construction Coordination Map showing affected streets and sidewalks, alternate routes, and real−time congestion information to help motorists safely navigate through the work zone.

In advance of closing the Fort Pitt Bridge−Tunnel in Pittsburgh for reconstruction, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) made improvements and modifications to detour roadways to ensure those roadways would be able to handle significant detoured traffic. By preparing detour routes in advance, PennDOT was able to divert traffic without confusing drivers and ensure that the detour routes could sustain the additional traffic. PennDOT also reversed the flow of lanes on the detour routes to ensure that traffic flowed smoothly into the city, and opened up a barrier to allow traffic from one of the detour routes to re−enter in a free−flow lane without having to merge into a single lane – an approach that proved extremely beneficial to motorists.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

TDM strategies help to improve overall traffic flow through the dispersion of traffic or by increased use of different transit modes when capacity is constrained due to construction. Safety of the traveling public and time saving is also realized.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Traffic delays due to work zones can be decreased due to use of TDM strategies.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

Long−term projects where capacity is constrained and there is a potential for delays. TDM strategies are also helpful when there is a full road closure or where regular traffic flows through the work zone may slow construction efforts.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

California , Pennsylvania, Washington

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Ken Kochevar, Safety and Design Team Leader – National Programs, FHWA California Division
Phone: (916) 498−5853
E−mail: ken.kochevar@dot.gov