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Planned Special Events Traffic Management

Program Areas > Reducing Non-Recurring Congestion

Traffic incidents, planned special events, and other types of non-recurring events generally result in congestion and delays that travelers are not expecting. These delays are unlike congestion caused by routine traffic during daily peak travel periods. More than half of all congestion that motorists encounter is non-recurring. The frequency and severity of the impacts resulting from these disruptions are increasing significantly in both metropolitan and rural areas. The impacts and challenges agencies face may be more severe if the planned special event is located in a rural area. To advance or improve upon current practices will require new local initiatives focused on improving the planning, coordination, and traffic management for all planned special events in a region, or for specific events. The use of these recommended practices provides an opportunity to incorporate these techniques, concepts, and practices into the day-to-day policies, procedures, and practices of an agency.

Tabletop Exercise Instructions For Planned Events and Unplanned Incidents/Emergencies

When planned special events are held, they generally increase traffic demands in or near the location of the event. In order to address this influx of traffic, transportation management plans are developed with the intent of minimizing the effect the event has on the transportation system. For a transportation management plan to be successful, however, it is strongly recommended that the plan be tested and reviewed prior to the event. One of the most effective ways to test a transportation management plan is through a tabletop exercise. Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-08-005.

  • Tabletop Exercise Instructions For Planned Events and Unplanned Incidents/Emergencies (HTML, PDF 160KB)

Conference on Managing Travel for Planned Special Events: Tools for Practitioners

The conference, which will be held November 29 - December 1, 2006 in Newport Beach, California, will focus on good practical tools for managing travel for planned special events as they pertain to Planning, Operations and Evaluations.

  • Conference Flyer (HTML, PDF 1.4 MB)

Managing Travel for Planned Special Events Handbook

Individual Handbook Chapters

  • Table of Contents (HTML, PDF - 346 KB)
  • Introduction (HTML, PDF - 236 KB)
  • Chapter 1 - Background (HTML, PDF - 580 KB)
  • Chapter 2 - Characteristics and Categories of Planned Special Events doc (HTML, PDF - 987 KB)
  • Chapter 3 - Overview (HTML, PDF - 899 KB)
  • Chapter 4 - Regional and Local Coordination (HTML, PDF - 483 KB)
  • Chapter 5 - Event Operations Planning (HTML, PDF - 1,111 KB)
  • Chapter 6 - Traffic Management Plan (HTML, PDF - 2,748 KB)
  • Chapter 7 - Travel Demand Management and Traveler Information (HTML, PDF - 701 KB)
  • Chapter 8 - Implementation Activities (HTML, PDF - 433 KB)
  • Chapter 9 - Day-of-Event Activities (HTML, PDF - 500 KB)
  • Chapter 10 - Post-Event Activities (HTML, PDF - 497 KB)
  • Chapter 11 - Discrete/Recurring Event at a Permanent Venue (HTML, PDF - 395 KB)
  • Chapter 12 - Continuous Event (HTML, PDF - 413 KB)
  • Chapter 13 - Street Use Event (HTML, PDF - 439 KB)
  • Chapter 14 - Regional/Multi-Venue Event (HTML, PDF - 400 KB)
  • Chapter 15 - Rural Event (HTML, PDF - 446 KB)
  • Appendix A - Sample Special Event Permit Regulations, Applications, and Agreements (HTML, PDF - 1.1 MB)
  • Appendix B - Event-Oriented Risk Scenario Contingency Plans (HTML, PDF - 203 KB)
  • Appendix C - Interagency Agreements for Special Event Planning (HTML, PDF - 105 KB)
  • Appendix D - 2003 Fair Saint Louis Event Patron Survey (HTML, PDF - 272 KB)
  • Appendix E - Regional Directional Distribution for 2001 NASCAR Kansas 400 (HTML, PDF - 201 KB)
  • Appendix F - Parking and Pedestrian Accommodation Plans - Lambeau Field Reconstruction (HTML, PDF - 492 KB)
  • Appendix G - Wisconsin DOT Organization and Dissemination of Inter-Jurisdictional Road Construction (HTML, PDF - 386 KB)
  • Appendix H - Example Site and Parking Maps (HTML, PDF - 437 KB)
  • Appendix I - Example Traffic Flow Maps (HTML, PDF - 850 KB)
  • Appendix J - Example Protocol for Planned Special Event Traffic Signal System Operations (HTML, PDF - 75 KB)
  • Appendix K - Example Traffic Control Plans (HTML, PDF - 862 KB)
  • Appendix L - Public Agency and Event-Specific Websites (HTML, PDF - 2,786 KB)
  • Appendix M - Venue Transportation Guides (HTML, PDF - 860 KB)
  • Appendix N - Sample Implementation Plans (HTML, PDF - 265 KB)

Planned Special Events: Checklists for Practitioners

Planned Special Events: Checklists for Practitioners presents a total of six checklists on event-specific planning for planned special event travel management. These checklists follow the order in which the topics are presented in Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Federal Highway Administration handbook, Managing Travel for Planned Special Events, Publication Number: FHWA-OP-04-010.

Outreach Material

  • Frequently Asked Questions (HTML, PDF - 383 KB)
  • Presentation (HTML, PPT - 16,182 KB)
  • Fact Sheet (HTML, PDF - 188 KB)
  • Tri-Fold Brochure (HTML, PDF - 375 KB)

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