Traffic Congestion Number of Congested Lane Miles - Ratio of Annual Average Daily Traffic to Hourly Highway Capacity

Our strategy will help Oregon monitor the level and The Ratio of Annual Average Daily Traffic to Safe and efficient mobility is foundational to extent of congestion over time. This Hourly Capacity (AADT/C) best suits the the economic opportunity and livability of all information will be used to apply different desire to monitor state highway mobility in Oregonians. By monitoring mobility, we techniques designed to manage and Oregon. AADT/C measures both the extent evaluate performance with respect to optimize system performance. and duration of congestion, highlighting connecting people and goods to the markets where congestion has spread beyond one they wish to reach. As Oregon grows, more About the Target hour of the day. AADT/C values range from 0 people and freight are squeezed onto a Most people are aware traffic congestion to 12+. Table 1 illustrates the range of values transportation system that cannot expand to causes slower speeds and longer travel for this metric. The “Number of Congested keep pace. As long as the Oregon economy times. However, congestion also causes Lane Miles” represents locations where the continues to grow, we can expect congestion other problems, such as reducing system AADT/C is a value of 9 or higher. to increase. reliability, lower fuel efficiency, reduced air quality and higher GHG. Congestion How we are doing While there is no single solution to eliminate monitoring reveals whether the duration There are two types of delay caused by congestion, there are different methods and intensity of congested periods are rising traffic congestion: 1) recurring congestion available to manage the rate at which or falling over time. caused by more trips (demand) than the congestion increases. This mobility indicator system is designed to carry, and 2) non- recurring congestion due to events such as

Fact Since 2017 over 500 Oregon state highway lane miles are classified as congested using this measure. 2020 congestion levels dropped 58% from the impacts of COVID-19 mandates.

Sept 2021

Mobility, cont. traffic incidents, weather, and construction Oregon’s strategies to provide work zones. Much of the demand for transportation options reduce single-vehicle transportation is influenced by economic occupancy use, while improving the health activity, which is beyond public-sector of Oregonians, promoting environmental control. However, there are ways in which benefits and providing access to jobs, goods recurring congestion may be reduced, such and services. as higher vehicle occupancy rates (carpools, mass transit, parking fees), reducing vehicle About the data trips (affordable housing located near work The data used to calculate this measure sites, services and shopping), roadway comes from the annual Highway operations (ramp meters, variable speeds, Factors affecting results and what Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) road pricing), increased pedestrian and bike data submittal to FHWA. The HPMS was use and adding road capacity (new through needs to be done developed to measure the scope, condition, lanes). Non-recurring congestion may be performance, use and operating reduced by safety-enhancement projects ODOT has a three-part approach aimed at providing mobility: characteristics of the Nation’s highways. This (reduces crashes), incident response data is also used to determine the programs (reduces incident clearing times)  Optimize use of infrastructure,  Manage the traffic network, and apportionment of Federal-aid Highway and roadway operations aimed at enhancing Program funds to states as well as serves as  Support transportation options. safety or smoothing traffic flow. the primary data source for the biennial

“Conditions and Performance Report” to We optimize the use of infrastructure by Table 1. AADT/C Values for U.S. Congress, which supports the leveraging new technology and construction Congestion Levels development and evaluation of FHWA’s techniques to improve performance and Ratio legislative, program and budget planning Description safety. We invest in safety projects to Value activities. decrease crash-induced congestion and Uncongested traffic flow Less than 7 construction projects designed to relieve Transitioning to moderate 7 – 8.99 Contact Information bottlenecks. Through traffic network Chi Mai, P.E. congestion management we employ new technology to ODOT Policy, Data & Analysis Division Moderate congestion to 9 – 9.99 provide timely information to travelers. [email protected] congested conditions These systems help travelers choose Congested and transitioning 10 – 11.99 alternative modes and routes to avoid to very congested congestion caused by crashes and other Data Source Very congested and 12+ disruptions. Finally, Oregon ranks among the Highway Performance Monitoring System transitioning to extremely top states for numbers of walk, bike, ride- congested transit, telecommute and shared-rides.