Planned Special Events – Economic Role and Congestion Effects August 2008 Page Blank to Facilitate Duplex Printing NOTICE The U.S. Department of Transportation provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. DISCLAIMER The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA-HOP-08-022 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date August 2008 Planned Special Events – Economic Role and Congestion Effects 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Jonathan Skolnik (JFA), Rami Chami (JFA), and Matthew Walker (DEA) Report No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Jack Faucett and Associates 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 300N, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Dunn Engineering Associates 11. Contract or Grant No. 66 Main St., Westhampton Beach, New York 11978 DTFH61-06-D-00005, T-07-002 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period U.S. Department of Transportation Covered Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Washington, DC 20590 HOTO, HOP, US DOT 15. Supplementary Notes Ms. Laurel Radow, COTM 16. Abstract The purpose of this study is to estimate the influence that large planned special events (PSEs) have on both the economy and congestion on a national level. Transportation planners define PSEs as public activities with a scheduled time and location that affect normal transportation system operations as a result of increased travel demand and/or reduced capacity attributed to event staging. The types of PSEs that are of interest to this study are those special events with more than 10,000 participants and spectators. Increased awareness of the frequency and economic magnitude of these large events is essential to better understanding the important role transportation planning should play in managing the transportation aspects of these events. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Planned special events, PSE, Congestion, Economic No restrictions. This document is available to the Impact public from: The National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. 19. Security Classif. (of this 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price report) Unclassified 102 N/A Unclassified Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized. Page Blank to Facilitate Duplex Printing Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Definition of a Planned Special Event...................................................................................................................................... 6 Previous Studies ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Organization of the Report....................................................................................................................................................... 9 STUDY METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Technical Definition of PSEs................................................................................................................................................. 10 Categorization of Event Types ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Selection of Data Collection Methodologies.......................................................................................................................... 16 Selection of Case Studies ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 Case Study Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 22 Macro National Methodology ................................................................................................................................................ 24 Traffic Impact Estimation Methodology................................................................................................................................ 26 DETROIT CASE STUDY........................................................................................................................................................ 31 Venues and Event Types ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 Data Collection by Venue ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Data Collection by Activity.................................................................................................................................................... 36 PSE Event Days Summary Matrix ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Traffic Impacts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 39 PORTLAND CASE STUDY .................................................................................................................................................... 42 Venues and Event Types ........................................................................................................................................................ 42 Data Collection by Venue ...................................................................................................................................................... 44 Data Collection by Activity.................................................................................................................................................... 45 PSE Event Days Summary Matrix ......................................................................................................................................... 47 Traffic Impacts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 50 EL PASO CASE STUDY......................................................................................................................................................... 51 Venues and Event Types ........................................................................................................................................................ 51 Data Collection by Venue ...................................................................................................................................................... 53 Data Collection by Activity.................................................................................................................................................... 54 PSE Event Days Summary Matrixes...................................................................................................................................... 55 Traffic Effects ........................................................................................................................................................................ 58 COLUMBIA CASE STUDY..................................................................................................................................................... 59 Venue and Event Types.......................................................................................................................................................... 59 Data Collection by Venue ...................................................................................................................................................... 61 Data Collection by Activity.................................................................................................................................................... 63 PSE Event Days Summary Matrix ......................................................................................................................................... 63 Traffic Impacts ......................................................................................................................................................................