News
Intelligent Transportation Systems for Planned Special Events: A Cross-Cutting Study
To increase economic development, many localities are eager to host planned special events, such as conventions, sporting events and state fairs. But with the benefits of planned special events also come challenges, including intense demand on transportation facilities. If not managed effectively, planned special event traffic can snarl roadways, strain transit systems and overload parking facilities, resulting in severe congestion and increased crash risk. Fortunately, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and other innovative transportation strategies can address these problems by smoothing traffic flow before, during and after planned special events.
A cross-cutting study on the use of ITS for planned special events is now available online. This report examines how six agencies in California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York used and continue to use ITS to reduce congestion generated by planned special events, thereby reducing crashes, increasing travel time reliability and reducing traveler frustration. The study concludes with lessons learned from the six sites, categorized into the three phases of special events management: event planning and coordination, day of event, and after-action/post-event.
For more information, contact Laurel Radow of the FHWA Office of Transportation Operations, (202) 366-2855, laurel.radow@dot.gov.
Related links:
