Congestion Management Process (CMP)

Briefing to the Technical CommitteeMay 2, 2012

What is a CMP?

“A congestion management process (CMP) is a systematic and regionally-accepted approach for managing congestion that provides accurate, up-to-date information on transportation system performance and assesses alternative strategies for congestion management that meet state and local needs.”

Source: Congestion Management Process: A Guidebook, USDOT, FHWA

CMP & Transportation Management Areas (TMA)

• A CMP is required in metropolitan areas where the population exceeds 200,000

• Federal requirements also state that in all TMAs, the CMP shall be developed and implemented as an integrated part of the metropolitan transportation planning process.

The process includes 6 steps:1. Development of congestion management

objectives;

2. Establishment of measures of multimodal transportation system performance;

3. Collection of data and system performance monitoring to define the extent and duration of congestion and determine the causes of congestion;

Steps:

4. Identification of congestion management strategies;

5. Implementation activities, including identification of an implementation schedule and possible funding sources for each strategy; and

6. Evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented strategies.

Approach

Although a CMP is required in every TMA, federal regulations are not prescriptive regarding the methods and approaches that must be used to implement a CMP. This flexibility has been provided in recognition that different metropolitan areas may face different conditions regarding traffic congestion and may have different visions of how to deal with congestion.

State-of-the-Practice• Staff reviewed CMP’s of 10 similar sized MPOs

– SEMCOG, DRCOG, MTC, MAG, SCAG, SANDAG, etc.

• Shows a wide-range of plans / processes / performance metrics / update schedules

• In most cases, the CMP forms the basis for projects in the LRP

An on-going process

• The CMP is an on-going process, continuously progressing and adjusting over time as goals and objectives change, new congestion issues arise, new information sources become available, and new strategies are identified and evaluated.

The Baltimore Region’s CMP

– What are we measuring?– How are we measuring?– What do the numbers say?

– What can we learn from the numbers?– What are we doing about it?– Improving the process

What are we measuring? • Roadway Measures

– Vehicle volumes (direction, time of day, peak hour, average daily traffic)– Volume/Capacity ratios by direction and time of day– Intersection Level of Service – average queue length, delay– Miles operating at Level of Service (LOS) E or F in peak period– Duration of congestion

• Transit Measures– Average speeds or travel time– Ratio of bus to auto speed (for bus systems)– Average peak period vehicle load factors (passengers per vehicle)

• Travel Time Measures– travel time – the amount of time needed to traverse a segment or corridor– travel speed – usually measured in one of two ways: (a) average travel speed: the

length of a segment divided by the travel time, or (b) spot speed: the speed of a vehicle or a sample of vehicles over a given time interval passing a point along a roadway

– delay – the difference between travel time and acceptable or free-flow travel time– travel time index – ratio of peak-period to non-peak-period travel time.

How are we measuring?• Using GPS to Monitor Traffic

– Since 1998, BMC has used Global Positioning System units to collect travel time and travel speeds on 30 of the heaviest traveled roadways.

•  Aerial Surveys of Congestion – In the past, BMC staff has used extensive aerial surveys to monitor traffic

quality on the freeway system in the metro area.  • Traffic Counts

– Since 1990, BMC has collected and maintained traffic count data for area roadways from a number of sources, including SHA.

•  I-95 Corridor Coalition Vehicle Probe Project – This is a groundbreaking initiative providing comprehensive and

continuous travel time information on freeways and arterials using probe technology.

What do the numbers say? Top 10 Bottlenecks

• Spring 2011

If the reported speed falls below 60% of the reference speed, the road segment is flagged as a potential bottleneck. If the reported speed stays below 60% for five minutes, the segment is confirmed as a bottleneck location.

Top 5 Congested Corridors

Corridors are composed of multiple contiguous bottlenecks totaling at least 3 miles in length

Rank #1 Congested Corridor

Congestion on SB - 4/9-13 Morning Peak

Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri

Congestion on SB - 4/16-20 Morning Peak

Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri

What can we learn from the numbers?

• Identify congested locations and corridors• Understand recurring and non-recurring

congestion patterns• Evaluate and rank projects in the long-range

plan• Calibrate the travel demand model• Develop operational improvements/strategies

What are we doing about it? – CMP Strategies

• CMP Strategies– Improving Roadway Operations

Adaptive Signal Control (e.g. Riva Road) Regional Traffic Incident Management (TIMBR) Real-time traveler information (511)

– Improve multi-modal Options Transit Bicycle & Pedestrian

• CMP Outcomes– Improve Air Quality – Improve Economy

Freight Mobility

– Improve Safety Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) Education (e.g. Street Smart)

Project Name

Project Limits

Improvement Likely Congestion Management Strategies*

Anne Arundel County

MD 175 MD 170 to Howard County line

From AA County line to MD 295 - 2 to 3 lanes. From MD 295 to MD 170 - 4 to 6 lanes

Intersection improvements were studied for the corridor.The County is pursuing additional transit service in the area.BWI Business Partnership is pursuing funding for additional ridesharing in the area.

I-97 MD 32 to US50/301

New roadway in median to accommodate barrier separated managed lanes

Channelized or grade-separated intersections or roundaboutsInterconnected/coordinated traffic signal system 

MD 100 AA-Howard County Line to I-97

Inside base widening to add 1-lane per direction

Considering Light Rail to run in median for a portion of the route.Real-time surveillance (CHART) and freeway service patrol for incident managementPark-and-ride lot within a 1-mile radius of project locationChannelized or grade-separated intersections

MD 198 MD 295 to MD 32

Widen MD 198 to provide easier access to Ft. Meade and Odenton Town Center

Reversible, turning, acceleration/deceleration, or bypass lanesHigh-occupancy vehicle facilities or systemsReal-time surveillance/traffic device controlled by a traffic operations centerInterconnected/coordinated traffic signal systemReal-time traveler information (CHART/511)BWI Business Partnership is looking to increase ridesharing in area through a grant. The County is looking to increase transit service in the area.

MD 3 AA-PG County line to MD 32

Improve safety and capacity on MD 3

Channelized or grade-separated intersections or roundaboutsTransit stop within a ½ mile radius of project locationPark-and-ride lot within a 1-mile radius of project locationTraffic operational improvements were considered. This project will incorporate a Michigan U (new type of signal control)

* congestion management strategies listed in this table are based on information provided by local jurisdictions and staff knowledge of existing operational characteristics along these project corridors.

Improving the process• Adopt Travel Time Reliability Performance

Measures to capture non-recurring congestion patterns (Travel Time Index, Planning Time Index, etc.)

• Form CMP Advisory Group (operations focused)• Link to safety, freight, ITS Architecture and

Management & Operations (M&O)• Coordinate with SHA & Jurisdictions• Continue role in the Interagency Review Process

– link NEPA & Planning

Next Steps

• Web updates - ongoing• CMP report – end of FY 2012• FY 2013 CMP

– Performance Measurement– Corridor Analysis– Coordinate with mid-Atlantic MPO’s on

reliability measures

Questions / Comments / Suggestions

• BMC CMP Team Members:Bala Akundi, Bill LeonardBrian Ryder, Ed StylcEileen Singleton, Jason BiernatMonica Haines Benkhedda, Regina ArisTerry Freeland, Victor Henry