1. FHWA International Scanning Studies on Managing Travel Demand and Active Traffic Management
Federal Scans and Transferability to Washington State
California MICM Workshop
Los Angeles, Dec. 5, 2007
Eric N.Schreffler (ESTC) and Craig Stone (WSDOT)
Opening slide for Workshop
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2. Managing Travel Demand and Active Traffic Management to Mitigate Congestion
OVERVIEW
Federal Congestion Management Process
Managing Travel Demand Scan
Active Traffic Management Scan
Washington State ATM Feasibility Study
Opening slide for Welcome
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3. FEDERAL CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Statewide Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning Final Rule
USDOT, FHWA 23 CFR Parts 450 and 500 (2/14/07)
Links Congestion Management System to planning process
Emphasizes operational and management strategies
Common performance measures and goals for CMP, LRTP and M&O
CMP must be a “cooperatively developed and implemented metro-wide strategy” through the use of “travel demand management strategies”
CMP should result in multi-modal system performance measures and strategies that can be reflected in the region-wide plan and TIP

4. FEDERAL CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Statewide Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning Final Rule
Demand management measures might include:
Growth Management
Congestion Management
Public Transportation Improvements
ITS Technologies

5. Managing Travel Demand and Active Traffic Management to Mitigate Congestion
PRESENTATION PURPOSE
Present broader view of managing travel demand and traffic
Introduce European examples
Provide wide array of techniques
Underscore need for integration
Show how one state is exploring options
Opening slide for Welcome
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6. MANAGING TRAVEL DEMAND
International Scanning Studies:
2005 = Managing Travel Demand (MTD/TDM)
2006 = Active Traffic Management (ATM)
FHWA International, AASHTO, NCHRP
MTD Scan included: MTC, FHWA, Florida, Utah, Minnesota and New Jersey
Visited: Rome, Stockholm, Lund, Cologne,Rotterdam, Delft and London
FHWA sponsoring workshop series
Opening slide for Welcome
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7. ACTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
International Scanning Studies:
2005 = Managing Travel Demand (MTD/TDM)
2006 = Active Traffic Management (ATM)
ATM Scan included: FHWA, PSRC, Texas, Washington, Minnesota and Virginia
Visited: Athens, Copenhagen, Germany, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Birmingham and London
Opening slide for Welcome
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8. MANAGING TRAVEL DEMAND TO MITIGATE CONGESTION
MTD Scan
Opening slide for Executive Overview
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9. DEFINITION: What is Managing Travel Demand?
Managing travel demand is about providing travelers, regardless of whether they drive alone, with travel choices, such as work location, route, time of travel and mode. In the broadest sense, “demand management is defined as providing travelers with effective choices to improve travel reliability.” *
* FHWA, 2006
Key Message: Managing demand is all about providing travelers with choices.
So, what is this concept of managing travel demand? What is a comprehensive definition of demand management?
In the past 3-4 years, FHWA has produced new guidance on managing demand and their definition focuses on offering travelers choices. Not just mode choice, as is traditionally thought of for demand management, but choice of time of day to travel, route to travel, and even location and the need to travel itself. The ultimate goal of managing demand is to provide traveler with greater reliability.

10. TRAVEL DEMAND STRATEGIES: Choices
Mode Choice Location Choice
- drive alone - telework
- car- and vanpool - Transit-oriented development
- shuttle buses - Location-efficient mortgages
bike/walk - proximate commute
Time Choice Route Choice
traveler info - traveler info
travel time prediction - Active Traffic Mgmt
event scheduling - HOV lanes
flex-time/CWW - congestion pricing
Key Message: there are a great number of strategies that can influence travel choices.
Note that mode choice is more than just carpools and vanpools. Travelers can be given greater options on when to travel through improved information and work scheduling. Once in their car, a variety of strategies can be employed to guide them to the best route, or even the best lane. You will hear more about Active Traffic Management as a unique concept. Finally, the origin and destination and need for travel can be affected by work policies, such as telework and proximate commuting (the ability to work at a branch office closer to home), but also from location-efficient mortgages (lower loan rates for buying near transit) and by land use strategies, including transit-oriented development, which affect where people live, work and how they commute.

11. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: Traffic vs. Travel Demand Management
Source: AVV and FHWA
Key message: demand management influences the traveler before they get into their car
Okay, so how can we come to a common understanding of this broader concept of managing demand. Well, a part of European scanning study, we learned how the Dutch perceived the relationship of travel demand management to traffic management. This helped our group better understand how demand management fits into the urban transportation system.
Starting on the left, the demand for travel first feeds into mode and location choices. Vehicular travel then flows into route and time choices, which creates temporal and spatial traffic patterns…and congestion. Travel on the road network then is divided into lane choices on a given facility. So, this defines transport, traffic and network demand as it impacts the choices we defined earlier. Then, various strategies can be employed to influence these choices. One a day to day basis, these choices are influenced by service providers and managers, such as Traffic Management Centers. Specific strategies to influence choices include both those strictly targeted to traffic (such as lane and speed controls and variable message signs) and some to travel choices, such as pricing, pre-trip information and alternative mode promotion. However, some strategies can influence both traffic choices already on the road and travel choices of those about to get into their cars. Near-trip information and incident management can influence the time, route, and mode of travel before it gets to critical congestion points. I’ll show you this in a simple example.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: Traffic vs. Travel Demand Management

12. FOUR CATEGORIES OF DEMAND STRATEGIES
OPERATIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
PRICING/FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONAL/FACILITATION
Key Message: demand management can be divided into four categories
Now, we move from the conceptual to real experience. The strategies explored in the scanning study were categorized into four groupings. We will discuss each in turn, to define techniques within each and provide European and US examples.
FHWA, 2006

13. OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Improving the efficiency of the transport system by:
Providing real-time, multi-modal information
Predicting travel times
Active traffic management
Traffic management centers
Parking management
Photo enforcement
Improved public transport
Managing large-scale events and emergencies
Highway reconstruction mitigation
Key message: operational strategies improve the efficiency of traffic flow and can have an impact on demand
Operational strategies include techniques to improve the efficiency of the transportation system. This includes improved travel information and travel options, such as public transit. The image on the left is from Cologne, where drivers approaching the city get real-time information on the travel time by car and light rail into the center. Traffic and parking management can manage traffic today and influence travel choices in the future. This includes photo speed enforcement on highways. Finally, these strategies are not only appropriate for day-to-day operations, but are being applied to large-scale events and emergencies and to highway reconstruction projects.
Sources: ATAC, Schreffler, Hull, AVV

14. OPERATIONAL EXAMPLE: EUROPE
ACTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT on M42 – UK
Use of hard shoulder
Break-down areas
Driver info panels
Speed control
Photo enforcement
CCTV
Key message: Active Traffic Management is an integrated approach to improving efficiency
You’ll be hearing more about this, but one concept that is being embraced in many parts of Europe is Active or Dynamic Traffic Management. One large-scale application of this on the M42 motorway, a radial route around Birmingham. It combines many techniques, such as variable message signs, lane speed control, photo enforcement, use of the hard shoulder, and real-time traffic information.
Source: Highways Agency

15. INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Providing advantages to sustainable choices with:
HOV facilities
Special use lanes
Park-and-Ride facilities
Access control (e.g., car-free zones)
Key message: special facilities and access controls can influence demand
It might be odd to think about infrastructure as a demand strategy, but of course, HOV lanes are a prime example. Special lanes for buses, carpools and vanpools, bicycles, and even delivery trucks (as in this photo from London) have been used in throughout the world. Park-and-ride facilities are another way to encourage ridesharing and transit use. Finally, access control to restrict automobiles has been used in the U.S. and throughout the world as well. Rome has combined access control in its historic center with pricing for resident and worker access. While Rome implemented access control for preservation and environmental reasons, it is also a key component of its regional mobility plan.
Sources: Schreffler and Highways Agency

16. INFRASTRUCTURE EXAMPLE: EUROPE
SPECIAL LANES IN THE NETHERLANDS
Rush hour lanes
Use of hard shoulder running
Peak period operations
Good safety record
Plus lanes
Add extra narrow lane
Reduced speed
Reversible tidal-flow lane
Exclusive bus and truck lanes
Rush hour lane
Key message: special lanes can increase throughput
The Netherlands, a small country at the crossroads of Europe, is experiencing tremendous growth in travel demand, for both goods movement and people. As a short-term response (in the longer term they are considering national road pricing), the have created a number of special use lanes. First, “rush hour” lanes allow peak period use of the hard shoulder. “Plus” lanes involves re-stripping lanes to add an additional narrow lane with lower speeds on the whole facility. The Dutch have installed over 100 kms of these lanes and plan for almost 500 kms, or over one-quarter of their automated network.
The Netherlands also uses reversible lanes and bus lanes in key areas of the Randstad.
Plus lane
Plus lane
Bus lane
Truck and bus lane
Sources: AVV and Hull

17. PRICING/FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
Trigger economic incentives and disincentives with:
Cordon pricing in congested centers
Other road pricing schemes (trucks)
Revenue for improved transit
Subsidies for using alternative modes
London
Key message: pricing is perhaps the purest form of demand management
While congestion pricing is debated in the U.S., several European cities have implemented pricing schemes to limit traffic in congested core areas and to manage truck traffic. Since high taxes on cars and fuel are not reducing demand, these cities are using pricing to reduce emissions. User acceptance and payment schemes are key factors in program success.
In the U.S., it is more common to use incentives, such as alternative mode subsidies.
Sources: Hull, stockholmsforsoket.se,
ATAC, Schreffler
Stockholm
Rome
Germany
Germany

18. PRICING EXAMPLE: EUROPE
STOCKHOLM TRIAL
Legislated 7-month pilot test
Cordon around city center
18 charging points; photo of plates
10-20 SEK per crossing ($ $2.88)
16 new bus routes; 2,800 P-n-R spaces
Goal = 10-15% reduction in traffic
Result = 19% reduction in car traffic
4% increase in transit ridership
Emissions reduced
Referendum passed in city
Key message: the Stockholm pricing pilot exceeded expectations
Many of you are now aware of the so-called Stockholm Trial. Last year, central Stockholm tested a cordon pricing scheme around the city center, with 18 charging points. Drivers were charged up to about $3 every time they crossed a cordon. Tracking and charging were accomplished with both photo enforcement (ANPR – automated number plate recognition) and transponders (OBU = on-board units). Travelers were provided with a new option in the form of new park-and-ride bus routes. The results were greater than anticipated. Last September, voters in the City of Stockholm voted to continue the pricing scheme.
Source: stockholmsforsoket.se

19. INSTITUTIONAL/FACILITATIVE STRATEGIES
New ways to institutionalize demand management into planning, management, and operations via:
Partnerships
Travel Planning
Coordination
New Policies
Source: AVV
Key message: managing demand has created new approaches to institutionalizing travel choices
Finally, new ways to institutionalize demand management into planning, management and operations are being employed, including new public/private partnerships to deliver services and information, “travel plans” to reduce car use to key destinations, coordination mechanisms, and new policies that embrace demand management.

20. INSTITUTIONAL EXAMPLE: EUROPE
HEATHROW AREA TRANSPORT FORUM
Partnership of airport, towns and tenants
Created Surface Access Strategy
During planning of Heathrow Express
Increased transit/carpool use (10%  19%)
Decreased car use (78%  70%)
Funded with parking surcharge
Drive alone share decreased
Transit and carpool share increased
Consistent with “Smarter Choices”
Key messages: new collaboratives can develop innovative solutions
One example of a new partnership to coordinate travel to a major destination are the airport transport forums being implemented in the U.K. The first of these was at Heathrow where the newly formed Forum created a Surface Access Strategy to coincide with the development of the Heathrow Express rail service. Using a surcharge on airport parking, the strategy has led to a significant decrease in car use and an increase in transit and carpool use by employees. The Heathrow program has been consistent with the national “Smarter Choices” travel awareness campaign.
Source: Alastair Duff and BAA

21. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES PERFORMANCE MONITORING
Performance-based goals set
Performance monitoring used to maximize efficiency
Evaluation used to measure effectiveness in achieving objectives
Key message: measuring performance is as important as with traffic management
So, now that you have seen the various strategies for managing demand, how do we know if they work? Well, as with most of urban transportation, performance-based monitoring is key. Realistic goals must be set (and the tendency is to over-estimate the potential impacts of managing demand), performance is monitored and results evaluated.

22. Source: Highways Agency
PERFORMANCE GOALS
England’s Performance Monitoring Policy
Goal: make travel times more reliable
County divided into 98 key routes; determine 90% percentile of travel times for the system
Public Service Agreement: reduce travel time for the worst 10% of congested trips or potentially lose highway funds for these routes
One solution cited in HA Business Plan: manage demand (Integrated Demand Management - IDM)
Key message: users want travel time reliability
While individual strategies, projects and programs have been evaluated in the U.S. and Europe, system-wide impacts are harder to assess. But in the UK and the Netherlands, performance goals have been set and are being monitored with respect to travel time reliability. In England, the highway system has been divided into 98 key routes and the 90th percentile of travel times established. If the travel times for the worst 10% of congested trips are not improved, key areas might lose highway funds. As Andy noted yesterday, it has changed the way that the Highway’s Agency thinks, how they manage the system, day-to-day, moment-to-moment.
We should clarify that this not something being pursued in the U.S.
Source: Highways Agency

23. and Trivector Traffic AB
THE KEY - INTEGRATION
Demand management should be integrated with:
Long-range planning
Land development
Employer/school practices
Planning for operations
Traffic management
System operations
Performance measurement
Key message: demand management should be integrated into transportation
But the real key to maximizing the impacts and benefits of demand management is to integrate them into all relevant aspects of the transportation system. This requires integrated demand management into both planning and management and operations.
Source: City of Lund
and Trivector Traffic AB

24. INTEGRATION EXAMPLE LUNDAMATS – Lund, Sweden
Integrated, sustainable transport plan:
Sustainable town planning
Priority to bicycles
Extended transit (BRT)
Reduce car traffic
Employer and community transport solutions
Key message: integrated packages of measures should be developed
In terms of planning integration, the scan study learned about the City of Lund in southern Sweden. This university-town, already famous for bicycle use, decided to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to reducing car use in order to make the town more livable and to embrace the “sustainable travel” philosophy.
Hull

25. INTEGRATION EXAMPLE LUNDAMATS – RESULTS
Placed priority on sustainable travel
Accommodated growth in travel without increasing car use
Reduced VMT per capita in real terms
Key message: Lund reduced traffic without sacrificing economic growth
You’ll hear a lot more about Lund, but after the first phase of implementation and exhaustive evaluation, Lund was able to maintain car use at 1995 levels while mobility and accessibility needs were satisfied with other modes. They measured a net decrease in per capita VMT, showing that the region could grow, without a concomitant growth in traffic.

26. MTD LESSONS LEARNED Lessons Learned from Europe
Transportation Management Thinking Is Evolving In Europe
Demand Management Differs From Traffic Management
Owners and Service Providers are Working Together
Demand Management Can Be Integrated Into Programs, Projects and Operations
Economic Growth and Traffic Management Can Co-Exist
Key message: thinking about travel demand is evolving in Europe
So what did we learn from the Europeans when we visited? Clearly, the thinking on transportation management is evolving. One way is making a clear distinction between traffic and travel management, and assessing the potential impact on each, especially before travelers get in their cars.
Operators of the transport system, service providers, and users are working together to employ innovative strategies.
Europeans are integrating this new thinking into planning and operations, and linking transport to energy and the environment in substantive ways.
The example from Lund shows that a region can manage traffic without killing the golden goose -- economic growth can occur with a equal increase in traffic.
Hull

27. MTD LESSONS LEARNED (con’t)
Road Pricing Proven Effective
Customized Travel Time Prediction Is Possible
Dynamic Signing Can Influence Safety and Operations
Pre-Trip and Near Trip Information Can Influence Congestion
Performance-based Evaluation Integrated Into Processes and Policies
U.S. has a lot of experience with managing demand, but not as good as integrating into planning, management and operations
Hull
Key message: Europe is trying some innovative approaches that we have not yet embraced
While European’s are using many of the same measures being employed in the U.S. (albeit some different methods of conveyance), some of the innovative strategies seem to be a greater willingness to use pricing, research to predict travel times and provide this information to travelers, and more emphasis on providing choices as part of pre-trip and near-trip information.
Finally, system performance is being linked to demand management to assess the ability to reduce demand in key places and at key times.

28. DEFINITION: What is Sustainable Transport?
Sustainability is the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity.
Sustainable transport works to meet the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Key Message: Managing demand is all about providing travelers with choices.
So, what is this concept of managing travel demand? What is a comprehensive definition of demand management?
In the past 3-4 years, FHWA has produced new guidance on managing demand and their definition focuses on offering travelers choices. Not just mode choice, as is traditionally thought of for demand management, but choice of time of day to travel, route to travel, and even location and the need to travel itself. The ultimate goal of managing demand is to provide traveler with greater reliability.