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

USDOT Congestion Initiative

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An image of traffic congestion.

Slide 1

Baltimore - Washington Regional Traffic Signal Forum
Maritime Institute
Linthicum, MD
March 14, 2007

USDOT Congestion Initiative

Regina McElroy
Director, Office of Transportation Management
Office of Operations
Federal Highway Administration

Slide 2

The Congestion Challenge

"Mobility is one of our country's greatest freedoms, but congestion…Limits predictable and reliable movement of people and goods and poses a serious threat to continued economic growth."

Secretary Mary Peters, October 2006

Slide 3

USDOT Congestion Initiative - Why Now

  • Surging public discontent with congestion and "pork" barrel spending
  • New advances in technology that can greatly improve system management and pricing
  • Successful congestion reducing demonstrations in major cities around the world
  • Strong private sector investment interest in US infrastructure
  • Growing consensus that traditional financing mechanisms for highway and aviation infrastructure are unsustainable
  • Economic benefits of trucking, rail and aviation deregulation (estimated at $60B/year) increasingly threatened

Slide 4

USDOT Congestion Initiative - A Six Point Plan

  • Relieve urban congestion
  • Unleash private sector investment resources
  • Promote operational and technological improvements
  • Establish a "Corridors of the Future" competition
  • Target major freight bottlenecks and expand freight policy outreach
  • Accelerate major aviation capacity projects and provide a future funding framework

Slide 5

USDOT Congestion Initiative
Point 1

Relieve Urban Congestion

  • Create urban partnerships
  • Promote HOV to HOT conversion
  • Implement meaningful congestion management process
  • Reduce impacts of bottlenecks

Slide 6

Urban Partnership Agreements

  • Implement broad congestion pricing
  • New or expanded bus rapid transit
  • Expanded telecommuting / flexible work schedules
  • Technology / operations strategies

Images of a rail station, bus, and lanes of traffic.

Slide 7

Urban Partnership Agreements

  • Significant Interest
  • Congestion Pricing/Urban Partnership Agreements Workshops
    • Washington, DC (March 21)
    • Denver (March 23)
    • Atlanta (March 30)
  • Frequently Asked Questions posted at grants.gov (March 2007)

Slide 8

HOV to HOT Conversions

  • Establish FHWA expert task force
  • Assess opportunities for HOV to HOT conversions
  • Champion HOV to HOT Conversions
  • Provide technical support/training

An image showing SR 91 Express Toll Lanes in Orange County, California. Plastic pylons separate Express Toll Lanes. Photo: California Private Transportation Co

Slide 9

Meaningful Congestion Management Process

  • Bring Operations into the Planning Process
  • New SAFETEA-LU requirement
  • TMAs with certification reviews in FY07

An image of traffic congestion.

Slide 10

Reduce Impacts of Bottlenecks

  • Initiate dialogue with States to pursue innovative solutions with near-term impacts
  • Distribute Primer and lessons learned from Lead States
  • Promote establishment of comprehensive bottleneck reduction programs

An image of vehicles on an interstate in congested traffic.

Slide 11

USDOT Congestion Initiative
Point 3

Promote Operational and Technological Improvements

  • Traveler Information
  • Work Zones
  • Incident Management
  • Traffic Signal Timing

Slide 12

Real-Time Traveler Information

  • Nationwide 511 deployment
  • Travel time on all urban DMS signs
  • SAFETEA-LU Section 1201 - Implementation (NPRM)

An image of an overhead Display Message Sign (DMS) displaying traveler time information.

Slide 13

Reduce Work Zone Delay

  • Implement work zone safety and mobility final rule

An image of a Road Work Ahead sign displayed on a work vehicle in a work zone area.

Slide 14

Reduce Incident Delay

  • "Move it" laws
  • Quick clearance policies
  • Full function service patrols
  • Integrated transportation / law enforcement technology

An image of law enforcement and emergency vehicles at a traffic incident.

Slide 15

Improve Traffic Signal Timing

  • Increase awareness/funding (Self Assessments and National Report Card)
  • Champion regular signal retiming programs
  • Release ACS lite

An image of a control center in Springfield, Missouri.

Springfield, MO

Slide 16

Congestion Information Resources

Images of tractor trailers, a meeting, and traffic congestion with overhead traffic signals.

Office of Operations