Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. MDOT Project Manager RC-1554 Jason Firman, P.E. 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Developing a Congestion Mitigation Toolbox September 30, 2011 6. Performing Organization Code Texas Transportation Institute 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Org. Report No. Jason A. Crawford, P.E.; Todd B. Carlson, AICP; William L. 1554 Eisele, Ph.D., P.E.; and Beverly T. Kuhn, Ph.D., P.E. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract No. TAMU 3135 2009-0661 College Station, TX 77843-3135 11(a). Authorization No. Z2 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report & Period Covered Michigan Department of Transportation Final Report 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract Increased traffic congestion is a result of many sources including increasing demand and lagging supply. Responding to increasing congestion, agencies from the federal government to local townships have turned to congestion management, or mitigation. Congestion mitigation is delivered through a variety of techniques. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recognized a need to assist state and local agency partners to identify potential congestion mitigation strategies and improve collaboration. Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers developed “A Michigan Toolbox for Mitigating Congestion.” The team conducted several tasks in development of the Toolbox. The TTI team reviewed and consulted previous congestion toolboxes for strategy identification, toolbox elements, and toolbox style. The research team implemented a survey of metropolitan planning organizations throughout the country to gather agency experiences with congestion mitigation strategies. Finally, the research team reviewed congestion management processes of four Michigan transportation management areas and performed interviews of metropolitan planning organization staff. Working closely with the MDOT staff, researchers identified 47 strategies to include in the Toolbox. The Toolbox, written in a user-friendly format, provides for each strategy a description, techniques to implement each strategy, data requirements, lessons learned, impacts, and contact information and resources for more information. The Toolbox serves as both a useful desk reference for practitioners and an educational tool for elected officials. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Congestion mitigation, toolbox, mobility, transportation No restrictions. This document is available planning to the public through the Michigan Department of Transportation. 19. Security Classification - report 20. Security Classification - page 21. No. of Pages 22. Price 502 DEVELOPING A CONGESTION MITIGATION TOOLBOX by Jason A. Crawford, P.E. Associate Research Engineer Texas Transportation Institute Todd B. Carlson, AICP Assistant Research Scientist Texas Transportation Institute William L. Eisele, Ph.D., P.E. Research Engineer Texas Transportation Institute and Beverly T. Kuhn, Ph.D., P.E. Senior Research Engineer Texas Transportation Institute Contract/Authorization No. 2009-0661/Z2 Project No. 109276 ORBP No. OR09093 Project Title: Developing a Congestion Mitigation Toolbox Performed in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Transportation September 2011 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER This research was performed in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of MDOT. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The United States Government and the State of Texas do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was conducted in cooperation with MDOT. The authors thank Mr. Jason Firman, P.E. (Project Manager) and Mr. Andre’ Clover, P.E. (Research Manager) for their involvement and collaboration throughout this project. The guidance and assistance provided by the Project Advisors was greatly appreciated. The Project Advisors were: Mr. Jason Gutting, Ms. Melissa Howe, Mr. Lee Nederveld, Mr. Matt Smith, and Mr. Brad Winkler. The authors also thank the contributions from the support staff team who helped throughout this project: Ms. Michelle Benoit, Ms. Carol Court, Ms. Christy Harris, Mr. Rob Martin, Ms. Vicky Nelson, Mr. Chris Pourteau, and Ms. Diana Wallace. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ xi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... xiii 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 OBJECTIVE ........................................................................................................................... 3 DEVELOPING A CONGESTION MITIGATION TOOLBOX ................................................ 3 3.0 SCOPE ..................................................................................................................................... 5 ACCOMPLISHING PROJECT OBJECTIVES ......................................................................... 5 4.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 7 LITERATURE REVIEW AND PLAN REVIEW ...................................................................... 7 IDENTIFICATION OF TOOLBOX STRATEGIES ................................................................. 7 SURVEY OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS ....................................... 8 SURVEY OF MICHIGAN TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AREAS ........................ 9 REVIEW OF BENEFIT-COST ANALYSES .......................................................................... 10 DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLBOX ........................................................................................... 10 5.0 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS .............................................................................................. 11 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................... 11 Congestion Management Process ......................................................................................... 11 Supply/System Management. ............................................................................................... 13 Demand Management ........................................................................................................... 44 TOOLBOX STRATEGIES ...................................................................................................... 54 SURVEY OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS ..................................... 56 Survey Responses and Observations .................................................................................... 56 General Findings ................................................................................................................... 57 SURVEY OF MICHIGAN TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AREAS ...................... 62 Congestion Management Process Development ................................................................... 62 Strategy Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 62 External Factors and Barriers ................................................................................................ 64 Keys to Success..................................................................................................................... 64 Effectiveness ......................................................................................................................... 65 Lack of Effectiveness ............................................................................................................ 65 TMA Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 66 REVIEW OF BENEFIT-COST ANALYSES .......................................................................... 66 Congestion Mitigation Strategy Benefit-Cost Ratios ........................................................... 68 Benefit-Cost Ratios Found .................................................................................................... 68 DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLBOX ........................................................................................... 72 6.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................... 75 CONGESTION MITIGATION ................................................................................................ 75 BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS .................................................................................................. 75 MICHIGAN CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS