Congestion Reduction Toolbox:
Improve Service on Existing Roads
Traffic Incident Management
Traffic incidents cause approximately 25% of traffic congestion. Traffic incidents can be managed so that congestion is reduced. Traffic Incident Management is an important tool in lessening the impact of non-recurring congestion as well as providing for a safer environment for drivers. Traffic Incident Management is a planned and coordinated process to detect, respond to, and remove traffic incidents and restore traffic capacity as safely and quickly as possible. This coordinated process involves a number of public and private sector partners, including: Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, Transportation, Public Safety Communications, Emergency Management, Towing and Recovery, Hazardous Materials Contractors, and Traffic Information Media.
For more information, visit:
- FHWA Traffic Incident Management Program
- Computer-Aided Dispatch – Traffic Management Center Data Integration and Communication
- Motorist Assistance Programs – Service Patrols
- Quick Clearance
Quick clearance policies generally focus on the timely and prudent clearance of incidents involving commercial vehicles. These policies are tempered by such considerations as the potential for hazards associated with the load and the availability of appropriate towing and recovery equipment and personnel. This is an important effort to help clear incidents faster.
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AASHTO - National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC)
An assembly of national organizations representing the public safety, transportation, and towing and recover communities.
Traffic Signal Timing
There are more than 260,000 traffic signals in the United States. It is estimated that over 75% of these signals could be improved by updating equipment or by simply adjusting and updating the timing plans. It is further estimated that poor traffic signal timing accounts for 5 to 10% of all traffic delay or 295 million vehicle-hours of delay on major roadways alone. Traffic signal retiming is one of the most cost effective ways to help traffic move and is one of the most basic strategies to help mitigate congestion. Optimizing traffic signals can produce benefit cost ratios as high as 40 to 1. The costs for retiming traffic signals generally range from around $500 to $3,000 per intersection. There are tools and resources available to create an awareness of the benefits of improved signal timing and to improve the knowledge base through education, training and guidance or technical assistance.
For more information, visit:
- FHWA Arterial Management Program
- Traffic Signal Timing
- ACS-Lite (software)
- National Traffic Signal Report Card
Arterial Management
Arterial Management promotes the efficient and effective movement of people and goods and improves the safety of the traveling public and environment. The FHWA Arterial Management program covers three major focus areas: arterial management, traffic signal timing, and access management.
For more information, visit:
Access Management
Access Management is the proactive management of vehicular access points to land parcels adjacent to all manner of roadways. Good access management promotes safe and efficient use of the transportation network. Access Management encompasses a set of techniques that state and local governments can use to control access to highways, major arterials, and other roadways. These techniques include Access Spacing, Driveway Spacing, Safe Turning Lanes, Median Treatments, and Right-of-Way Management.
For more information, visit:
- FHWA Arterial Management Program
Freeway Management and Traffic Operations
Freeway management includes operational strategies that help keep traffic flowing at high levels of efficiency. Managing travel and controlling traffic involves the application of the appropriate policies, strategies, and actions to mitigate any potential impacts resulting from the intensity, timing, and location of travel and to reduce congestion on highway and freeway facilities. The Traffic Management Center (TMC) is often the hub or nerve center of most freeway management systems.
For more information, visit:
- FHWA Freeway Management Program
- FHWA Traffic Analysis Tools Program
"Traffic Analysis Tools" is a collective term used to describe a variety of software-based analytical procedures and methodologies that support different aspects of traffic and transportation analyses. Traffic analysis tools include methodologies such as sketch-planning, travel demand modeling, traffic signal optimization, and traffic simulation. - TMC Pooled-Fund Study
This web site offers a large number of resources for TMC design, development, management and operation. - Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program aims to use advanced technology to improve the efficiency and safety of our Nation's surface transportation system, including many focused on freeway management and traffic operations.
Road Weather Management
Adverse weather conditions have a major impact on the safety and operation of our Nation's roads, from signalized arterials to Interstate highways. Weather affects driver behavior, vehicle performance, pavement friction, and roadway infrastructure. Weather events and their impacts on roads can be viewed as predictable, non-recurring incidents that affect safety, congestion and productivity. There are three types of road weather management strategies that can be used to mitigate the impacts of rain, snow, ice, fog, high winds, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, and avalanches: 1) Advisory strategies provide information on prevailing and predicted conditions to both transportation managers and motorists. Posting fog warnings on Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and listing flooded routes on web sites are examples of advisory strategies; 2) Control strategies alter the state of roadway devices to permit or restrict traffic flow and regulate roadway capacity. Reducing speed limits with Variable Speed Limit (VSL) signs and modifying traffic signal timing are examples of control strategies; and 3) Treatment strategies supply resources to roads to minimize or eliminate weather impacts. The most common treatment strategies are application of sand, salt, and anti-icing chemicals to pavements to improve traction and prevent ice bonding.
For more information, visit:
- FHWA Road Weather Management Program
- Clarus Initiative
One of nine Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) initiatives being undertaken by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Other Congestion Relief Links of Interest
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- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
Provides funding for surface transportation and other related projects that contribute to air quality improvements and congestion mitigation. - "It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air"
A collaborative effort of FHWA, EPA, and FTA to help transportation and air quality agencies communicate with the public about ways individuals can help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. - Planning for Transportation System Management & Operations
A joint program and web site between FHWA's Office of Operations and Office of Planning and FTA's Office of Planning. The web site serves as a resource to guide and inform transportation planners on effective ways to consider management and operations in planning contexts. - Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration & Coordination - Primer, PDF (4.98MB)
Understanding the importance of regional collaboration and coordination, how it happens, and how to get started.