Traffic Management REVERSIBLE TRAFFIC LANES CST

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STATE N REI AL IMPACT LCAL RD R R C SPT RLES

CITSTATE PBLIC AARENESS Source: http://islengineering.com PERATIN More Information: tti.tamu.edu/policy/how-to-fix-congestion SUCCESS STORIES

Description • Bridges, tunnels, and toll booth Arlington, Texas Reversible traffic lanes change direc- areas difficult to widen. The city installed tion based on peak congestion times. • Roads surrounding or leading to/ reversible lanes to Reversing lanes reduces congestion: from special event centers. ease congestion • During morning and evening around two professional • Roads during emergency use sports stadiums: commutes. (hurricane evacuation). • When there is an incident block- • FM 157/Collins Street. ing a lane of traffic. Reversible lanes work well in corridors • SH 180/Division Street. where traffic flow is heavily imbalanced • Before and after a special event. • Road to Six Flags Street. for a short period of time, and there are • When construction or mainte- few other solution options. nance is being done on the road. the best locations for implementation and ensure the public understands the How Will This Help? Reversible traffic lanes add capacity to concept and operation. • Reduces congestion by a road by borrowing from the other (off- borrowing capacity from the other peak) direction. The endpoint treatment requires par- direction. ticular care and attention; common Roads can be adjusted to become a • Increases safety in work zones. treatments extend across an intersec- one-way street or have one middle tion, requiring complex signals and lane operate in the peak direction. • Postpones the need to add inefficient timing strategies. If poorly Changeable message signs and/or capacity through conventional executed, these intersections may arrows show these adjustments at lane additions. become expensive and confusing. specified times of the day or when vol- • Accelerates evacuation during Locating a safe mid-block left turn ume exceeds certain limits. weather events or other natural across the favored travel direction can disasters. also be difficult. Impacted businesses Target Market may complain of denial to traffic. Also, • Roads with congested work zone Implementation Issues there is more potential for crashes depending on left-turn demand, mid- areas or incidents. Proper communication and public par- block geometric conditions, and large ticipation are crucial to reversible lane • Roads with highly directional groupings of vehicles in the favored success. Local agencies should identify congestion. traffic direction.