Transportation

System
Management

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Transportation System Management

z The basic objective of TSM is to create more

efficient use of existing facilities through
improved management and operation of
vehicles and the roadway.
z TSM refers to all strategies that contribute to the
efficient use of existing highway facilities, both
{on the “supply “ side (i.e., changing the facility itself)
and,
{on the “demand” side (changing the way people travel).

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TSM Strategies
- Supply Side

zThe TSM strategies on the supply side

(i.e., changing the facility itself) can be
classified into the following categories:

zCreating efficient use of road space, and

zProviding and improving transit services.

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

zThe actions in this group are intended to

improve the flow of traffic, usually without
altering the total number of vehicles that
use the roadway during an average day.

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

Techniques used include:

1. Traffic operations improvements

2. Traffic signalization improvements
3. Improvements for pedestrians and bicycles
4. Special roadway designations (priorities in
roadway assignments, for example, HOV lanes)
5. Parking management
6. Intermodal coordination.

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

1. Traffic Operations Improvement

9Widening intersections
9Creating one-way streets
9Installing separate lanes for right and left
turns, and
9Restricting turning movements (especially
right turns)

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

2. Traffic Signalization Improvements

9Physically improving local intersections

9Coordinating signal timing for arterial
roadways
9Computerizing area-wide signal coordination
in downtown grid networks
9Television monitoring of traffic

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

3.Improvements for Pedestrians and Bicycles

9 Widening sidewalks
9 Providing lighting, benches, and pedestrian malls
9 Building grade separations (underpasses or
overpasses)
9 Building bikeways, and
9 Installing pedestrian controls at intersections

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)
4. Special Roadway Designations

9 Reserving the curb lane of an arterial for buses only

9 Reserving an entire street, usually in the CBD, for
the exclusive use of buses
9 Reserving a lane in the opposite direction of traffic
(contra-flow lane) when traffic is heavy in one
direction and light in the other direction
9 Providing bus or carpool lanes on freeways
(referred to as diamond lanes)
9 Permitting use of highway shoulders during peak
hours

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

5. Parking Management

9 Curb parking restrictions to reduce the amount of on-

street parking
9 Off-street parking restrictions, such as pricing
differentials to discourage all-day parking, the
elimination of free parking, and parking subsidies
9 Preferential parking for carpools and vanpools to serve
as an incentive for ridesharing
9 Parking rate charges designed to encourage
ridesharing or to limit vehicular traffic
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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Efficient Use of Road Space)

6. Intermodal Coordination

9 The travelers often change modes at some point.

9 Therefore, coordination between modes must be
considered, including improvements between transit,
carpools, autos, walking, and bicycles.
9 Many possibilities exist for intermodal coordination,
such as
9Park-and-ride facilities to assist the transfer between
autos and rail or bus transit, and
9Transit interface improvements that simplify the transfer
between modes by eliminating fare collection or locating
bus stops to minimize walking.
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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Providing and Improving Transit Services)

zThe principal goal of TSM is to reduce

traffic congestion.

zIf economical, reliable, and fast transit

service is available, it is likely that some
auto users will switch to transit service.

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TSM Actions
- Supply Side (Providing and Improving Transit Services)

z Techniques used to improve transit include:

9 Express bus service
9 Shuttle bus services from fringe parking areas to downtown
9 Internal circulation in low-density areas
9 Improved flexibility in route scheduling and dispatching
9 Simplified fare collection procedures
9 Park-and-ride facilities
9 Shelters
9 Bus stop signs
9 Bus fleet modernization, and
9 Improved passenger information services.

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TSM Actions
- Demand Side (a.k.a. TDM)

zTransportation Demand Management or

TDM (also called Mobility Management)
refers to various strategies that change
travel behavior (how, when and where
people travel) in order to increase
transport system efficiency and achieve
specific objectives.
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TSM Actions
- Demand Side (a.k.a. TDM)

z TDM, is a general term for strategies that increase overall system

efficiency by encouraging a shift from single-occupant vehicle
(SOV) trips to non-SOV modes, or shifting auto trips out of peak
periods.
z This helps increase urban mobility by moving people and goods
rather than motor vehicles.
z TDM seeks to reduce auto trips – and hopefully vehicle miles
traveled – by increasing travel options, by providing incentives and
information to encourage and help individuals modify their travel
behavior, or by reducing the physical need to travel through
transportation-efficient land uses.
z The cumulative impact of a comprehensive set of TDM strategies
can have a significant impact on travel behavior, system
efficiency, and SOV rates. TDM programs are usually
implemented by public agencies, employers, or via public-private
partnerships.
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TSM Actions
- Demand Side (a.k.a. TDM)

z The specific objectives of TDM are:

9 reduced traffic congestion
9 road and parking cost savings
9 increased safety
9 improved mobility for non-drivers
9 energy conservation and
9 pollution emission reductions

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TSM Actions
- Demand Side (a.k.a. TDM)

z There are many different TDM strategies with a variety

of impacts.
z Some improve the transportation options available to
consumers, while others provide an incentive to
change travel mode, time or destination.
z Some reduce the need for physical travel through
mobility substitutes or more efficient land use.

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TSM Actions
- Demand Side (a.k.a. TDM)

z The various TDM Strategies are:

z Road Pricing
z Parking Management
z Commute Trip Reduction
z Alternative Work Schedules
z Ride Sharing
z Distance-Based Pricing
z Car-Free Planning
z Vehicle Restrictions
z Tele Work
z Smart Growth

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1. Road Pricing

z Road Pricing means that motorists pay directly for

driving on a particular roadway or in a particular area.

z Economists have long advocated Road Pricing as an

efficient and equitable way to pay roadway costs, fund
Transportation Programs, and encourage more
efficient transportation.

z Road Pricing has two general objectives: revenue

generation and congestion management.

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1. Road Pricing

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1. Road Pricing (cont..)

z Different types of Road Pricing are:

9Road Tolls
9Congestion Pricing
9Cordon (Area) Tolls
9HOT Lanes
9Vehicle Use Fees
9Road Space Rationing

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1. Road Pricing (Contd.)

zRoad Tolls
9 Tolls are a common way to fund highway and bridge
improvements.
9 This is considered more equitable and economically efficient
than other roadway improvement funding options which cause
non-users to help pay for improvements.

zCongestion Pricing
9 Congestion Pricing refers to variable road pricing (higher prices
under congested conditions and lower prices at less congested
times and locations) intended to reduce peak-period vehicle
trips.
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1. Road Pricing (Contd.)

zCordon (Area) Tolls

9 Cordon tolls are fees paid by motorists to drive in a particular
area, usually a city center.
9 Some cordon tolls only apply during peak periods, such as
weekdays.

zHOT Lanes
9 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are High Occupancy Vehicle
(HOV) lanes that also allow access to low occupancy vehicles if
drivers pay a toll.
9 HOT lanes are often proposed as a compromise between HOV
lanes and Road Pricing.
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1. Road Pricing (Contd.)

zVehicle Use Fees

9 Pay-As-You-Drive Vehicle Insurance, prorates
premiums by mileage so vehicle insurance becomes a
variable cost.

zRoad Space Rationing

9 A variation of road pricing is to ration peak period
vehicle-trips or vehicle-miles using a credit-based
system.
9 For example, each resident in a region could receive
credits for 100 peak-period vehicle-miles each or $20
worth of congestion fees each month.
9 Residents can use the credits themselves, or trade or
sell them to somebody else.
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1. Road Pricing (Contd.)-- Examples

zLondon Congestion Pricing

ƒ Since 17 February 2003 the city of London has charged
a £5 daily fee for driving private vehicles in an eight
square mile central area during weekdays as a way to
reduce traffic congestion and raise revenues for
transport improvements.
ƒ An automated system checks vehicles entering the
charging zone against a database of motorists who have
paid the fee.
ƒ Public acceptance has grown and there is now support
to expand the program to other parts of London.
ƒ In 2004 Mayor Livingstone was reelected, largely due to
the success of the congestion pricing program.
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1. Road Pricing (Contd.)-- Examples

zLondon Congestion Pricing

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2. Parking Management

z Parking Management is a general term for strategies that

encourage more efficient use of existing parking facilities, reduce
parking demand and shift travel to non-SOV modes.

z Managing parking helps to reduce the undesirable impacts of

parking demand on local and regional traffic levels and the resulting
impacts on community livability and design. At the same time, smart
management of parking helps to ensure access to retail businesses,
provides access for visitors to regional and neighborhood attractions
and supports neighborhood vitality.

z The supply of free or inexpensive parking at the final destination is a

key decision factor cited for choosing to drive a personal auto rather
than taking a bus, bike, walk or carpool.

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2. Parking Management

z When free or inexpensive parking is offered, it leads to

overuse, often by long-term or all-day parkers who
occupy valuable spaces at the expense of short-term
parkers, limiting access to retail businesses and service
industries catering to short-term users.

z Parking demand that exceeds supply results in the

common phenomenon of “circling”—cars going round
and round the local area searching for limited parking,
leading to more congestion and delay. Therefore,
parking management is integral to any transportation
demand management program.

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2. Parking Management

z The most effective parking strategies are cost-

based or pricing measures that link parking rates
to demand or provide financial incentives and/or
prime parking spaces to preferred markets such
as carpools, vanpools and short term parkers.

z This reduces total parking demand, shifts travel

to other modes, reduces vehicle miles traveled
(VMT) and ensures a minimum number of
parking spots are always available, avoiding the
“circling” problem adding to congestion.
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2. Parking Management

z The strategies are:

{ Variable Market Rate On-Street

Pricing- setting variable parking rates
that fluctuate with demand helps
optimize parking availability, free
spaces for short term users, and
eliminate search traffic

{ Unbundling Parking Costs-

requiring that parking spaces be
leased or sold separately from the rent
or sale price

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2. Parking Management
{ Parking Tax- City of Seattle is instituting a 10 percent
parking tax (of the parking fee charged by commercial
parking business). In Vancouver, B.C. parking tax
rates are based on the square meters of taxable
parking area applies to all commercial parking,
whether a fee is charged or not)

{ Parking Cash-Out- an employer based strategy

which allows the employer to charge employees
for parking while giving employees a bonus or pay
increase to offset the cost of parking. Employees
may use this increase to pay for parking or may
choose an alternate mode and “pocket” the
difference.

{ Electronic Parking Guidance Systems- guide

motorists from main access roads to parking
facilities with available spaces.

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2. Parking Management

{Parking Maximums- impose limits on the number of

parking spaces to be provided at new developments
through off-street parking requirements and can help
encourage transit use and other alternatives to SOV.
In addition, reward could be offered to developers
who “underpark” their building by not building up to
the maximum levels allowed.

{Park-and-Ride Lots- can help alleviate demand for

parking in congested areas

{Parking Enforcement and Education- can help

manage the on-street supply and free spaces for
short term parkers.
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3. Commute Trip Reduction

z Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) (also called

Employee Trip Reduction or Vehicle Trip
Reduction) programs give commuters resources
and incentives to reduce their automobile trips.

z The employers are required to take initiatives to

reduce their employees’ trips by a certain
percentage under these programs (failure will
result in fines).
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2. Commute Trip Reduction-- Examples

zOregon’s ECO Program

ƒ The state of Oregon has a Employee
Commute Options (ECO) program which
requires employers with more than 50
employees in the Portland area to make a
good faith effort to encourage employees to
reduce automobile commute trips, with a target
of a 10% reduction over three years.
Employers fail to make such an effort may be
fined.
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4. Alternative Work Schedules

z Alternative Work Schedules (also called Variable

Work Hours) include:

zFlextime
zCompressed Workweek
zStaggered Shifts

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4. Alternative Work Schedules

ƒ Flextime: employees are allowed some flexibility in

their daily work schedules. For example, rather than
all employees working 8:00 to 4:30, some might
work 7:30 to 4:00, and others 9:00 to 5:30.

ƒ Compressed Workweek (CWW): employees work

fewer but longer days, such as four 10-hour days
each week (4/40), or 9-hour days with one day off
every two weeks (9/80).

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4. Alternative Work Schedules

ƒ Staggered Shifts: shifts are staggered to

reduce the number of employees arriving and
leaving a worksite at one time. For example,
some shifts may be 8:00 to 4:30, others 8:30
to 5:00, and others 9:00 to 5:30. This is
similar to flextime, however, employees have
less flexibility.

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4. Alternative Work Schedules-- Examples

zCanadian Labor Market

ƒ According to the Canadian Labor Market and
Productivity Centre, alternative work
arrangements are becoming more common.
ƒ Approximately 10 percent of the workforce
follows a compressed work week schedule and
25 percent have flexible work schedules.

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5. Ridesharing- Car and Van Pooling

z Ridesharing is one of the most common and cost

effective alternative modes, particularly in areas that are
not well served by public transit.
z Rideshare programs typically provide carpool matching,
vanpool sponsorship, marketing programs, and
incentives to reduce driving.
z Carpooling uses participants’ own automobiles.
Vanpooling uses vans that are usually owned by an
organization (such as a business, non-profit, or
government agency) and made available specifically for
commuting. 40
5. Ridesharing- Car and Van Pooling

z Rideshare incentives may include HOV Priority (e.g.,

HOV highway lanes), preferential parking spaces, and
awards.
z Rideshare programs can be implemented by an
individual employer as part of a Commute Trip Reduction
program, by a Transportation Management Association
or a Campus Trip Management program
z Large programs use computerized rideshare partner
matching systems that take into account each
commuter’s origin, destination, schedule, and special
needs. 41
5. Ridesharing- Car and Van Pooling-- Examples

z Los Angles SmartTraveler

ƒ The ridesharing service allows users to obtain lists of
potential ride matches via touch-tone telephone.
ƒ Users must pre-register, which entails giving some
personal information, including their usual commute
times and preferred pick-up and drop-off locations. Upon
request, the system can call the people in the list and
deliver a user-recorded message.

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6. Distance-Based Pricing

z Distance-Based Pricing (also called Pay-As-You-Drive,

Mileage-Based and Per-Mile pricing) means that vehicle
charges are based on how much a vehicle is driven, so
the more you drive the more you pay and the less you
drive the more you save.
z Such fees tend to be more economically efficient and fair
than existing pricing practices.
z Converting fixed costs into distance-based charges gives
motorists a new opportunity to save money when they
reduce their mileage.
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6. Distance-Based Pricing

z To implement this technique:

ƒ Odometer readings are collected by certified

odometer auditors, usually during scheduled
maintenance
ƒ Vehicle operating hours are recorded by a small
instrument installed in each vehicle.
ƒ An electronic system in each vehicle tracks mileage.

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6. Distance-Based Pricing

zBenefits:
zIncreased fairness
ƒ Increased affordability
ƒ Consumer savings
ƒ Reduced vehicle travel
ƒ Increased safety
ƒ Emission reduction

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6. Distance-Based Pricing-- Examples

z The European Union has plans to convert existing fixed

road hauling charges into distance-based fees by 2010.

z The Progressive Insurance Company introduced its

Autograph vehicle insurance coverage, a form of
distance-based insurance in the state of Texas in 1999.
This uses GPS to track vehicle location. This program
has been successful, and Progressive is planning to
expand it into other markets

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7. Car-Free Planning

z Car-Free Planning involves designing particular areas for

minimal automobile use, as follows:
ƒ Developing urban districts (such as a downtown or residential
neighborhood) where personal automobiles are unnecessary
and automobile traffic is restricted.
ƒ Housing developments where residents are discouraged from
owning private cars.
ƒ Pedestrian-oriented commercial streets where driving is
discouraged or prohibited.
ƒ Resorts and parks that encourage or require non-automotive
access.
ƒ Car-free days.
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7. Car-Free Planning

zCar-Free Planning tends to be most

feasible and accepted in urban areas with
good travel alternatives (transit, cycling
and walking) and peripheral automobile
parking.

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7. Car-Free Planning-- Examples

zBogota Car Free Day

ƒ The city of Bogota, Columbia first established an

official “Car Free Day” on February 24th, 2000. This
was one of the first Car Free days organized in a
developing country. The event was successful and
highly popular, and as a result the organizers won
the prestigious Stockholm Challenge Award.

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8. Vehicle Restrictions

z Vehicle Restrictions include various regulatory

strategies to limit automobile travel at a
particular time and place:
ƒ Some cities discourage or prohibit automobile traffic
on certain roads at certain times to create pedestrian-
oriented commercial area.
ƒ Some cities have Auto-Restricted Zones that limit
automobile access
ƒ Some cities are divided into traffic cells that have
direct walking, cycling and transit connections, but
require a longer trip to travel between by private
automobile. 50
8. Vehicle Restrictions

ƒ Some cities have cordon Road Pricing

ƒ Road Space Reallocation can increase the
portion of road rights-of-way devoted to walking,
cycling, HOV, transit and freight transport,
giving them Priority over general automobile
traffic.
ƒ Driving can be restricted based on vehicle
license plate numbers.

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8. Vehicle Restrictions-- Examples

zMexico City No Drive Days

ƒ Mexico City implemented no-drive days during
periods of extreme air pollution.
ƒ Under this rule, a car could only be used every
other day, depending on whether the license
plate had an odd or even number.
ƒ When the duration of these restrictions
increased, many wealthier households bought
second cars to use those days. Most of these
cars were cheap, older, high-polluting cars. The
policy has since been dropped! 52
 9. Telework

z Telework (also called Home Computer

Schemes) includes various programs and
activities that substitute telecommunications
(telephone, fax, email, websites, video
connections, etc.) for physical travel.

z Specific examples are:

ƒ Telecommuting -- employees who are allowed to work
from home or another location
ƒ Distance Learning
ƒ Tele-Shopping (Internet Shopping)
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9. Telework

ƒ Tele-Banking (Internet Banking)

ƒ Electronic Government -- use of
telecommunications by government agencies to
provide services.
ƒ Internet Business-to-Business (B2B)-- Internet
interactions between businesses, such as
bidding, sales and planning.

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 9. Telework-- Example

z A survey of 400 U.S. Teleworkers indicates that

Telework provides net reductions in vehicle
travel averaging 30 miles per telecommute day.

z This study estimates that if 10% of the workforce

Telecommutes on any given day, total vehicle
travel would decline by 4%.

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 10. Smart Growth
z Smart Growth (also called New Community Design) is a
general term for policies that integrate transportation and
land use decisions, for example by encouraging more
compact, mixed-use development within existing urban
areas, and discouraging dispersed, automobile
dependent development at the urban fringe.
z Smart Growth can help create more accessible land use
patterns, improve transport options and create more
livable communities.
z Smart Growth emphasizes accessibility, meaning that
the activities people use frequently are located close
together.
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10. Smart Growth
TOD Schematic Diagram

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 10. Smart Growth-- Examples

zOrlando Mileage-Based Development

Charges
ƒ The City of Orlando, Florida uses a mileage-
based formula based on a factor which is the
product of number of trip generation and
average trip distance to charge developers for
their traffic impacts.
ƒ This recognizes the travel reduction benefits of
more accessible locations.

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10. Smart Growth

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 Concluding Remarks…..
z TDM is a preventive solution to transport problems. In
general, preventing problems is more cost effective than
treating problems after they occur.
z However, preventive solutions tend to be undervalued,
because beneficiaries are seldom aware of the harms
they avoid.
z For example, a family physician who urges you to lose
weight, exercise and stop smoking is considered an
annoyance, but a surgeon who performs a successful
heart transplant after you get heart disease is considered
a hero.
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 Concluding Remarks…..
z Some people are skeptical that TDM strategies are feasible,
because they require consumers to change their travel habits and
support policy changes such as pricing reforms.

z Although such changes may be difficult to implement, there are

examples of successes, including recycling, smoking reductions and
seat belt use.

z In each case, a combination of public education, policy changes and

support services have had a dramatic impact on behavior patterns,
indicating that consumers can support such changes both politically
and individually.
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