Transportation System Management
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Definition :-
Traffic Management(TM): is the process of making the best use of the existing
roads by reducing present and potential congestion.
Objective :-
The main objective of TM measures is to control the road user, directing him in
such a way that the impact of his presence on other road users is minimized
Requirements:
The TM measures/techniques should:
a) improve the usefulness of existing facilities,
b) be relatively inexpensive,
c) improve safety,
d) protect the urban environment,
e) be flexible, accommodating minor land use changes, new roads, new transport
policies, etc.
Types of TM Measures
The techniques available from which to develop comprehensive TM proposals are
all relatively inexpensive and include:
a) one-way traffic flow systems;
b) road markings;
c) traffic signs;
d) segregation of, or preference to, specific classes of road user – bus -only roads,
pedestrianization,ets;
e) traffic signals and other junction controls;
f) parking regulations;
g) minor road improvements, e.g. re-alignments or junction reconstruction
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT (TSM)
• Definition:-
TSM is the operational planning process applied to operate the existing transport systems at their
most productive and efficient levels. It refers to all strategies that contribute to the efficient use of
existing highway facilities both on the supply and demand sides.
• Objectives:-
The basic objective of TSM is to create more efficient use of existing facilities through improved
management and operation of vehicles and the roadway thus reducing the travel cost (ex. road
carries 1500 veh/day with only 1person /car could increase its carrying capacity to 6000 persons/day
with 4 persons/car).
The term Transportation Demand management (TDM) is also used to describe actions intended to
reduce the volume of highway travel.
Strategies of TDM
1. Road pricing: The rule that forces each motorist to pay specific charges due to his/her
use of available road network at defied position and period.
Methods of road pricing include:-
• Area Licensing scheme: those techniques concerned with congestion reduction such
as the case of Hong Kong, parking controls, odd-day/even- day usage
• Those techniques concerned with pricing imposed on road as devices for providing
funds such as toll roads.
Strategies of TDM
2. Physical restraints: Divide the city into cells. Public transport is allowed to cross while other
traffic uses circular roads away from CBD. Staggered working hours is an example of this
strategy.
3. Parking restraints: Set charges which are low for short period parking then progressively
raised.
4. User taxes: Imposed on fuel, spare parts.
5. Restraints on vehicle ownership: such as higher import duties, sales tax, annual licensing
fees.
6. Land use control: zoning such that employment opportunities are located away from CBD.
Strategies of TSM
These can be classified into 3 basic categories:
• Creating efficient use of road space (managing T. supply) Ex. One-way street,
express lane.
• Reducing vehicle use' in congested areas (managing T. demand and land use) Ex.
Arranging truck deliveries during off-peak carpool.
• Providing transit service.
Each category is detailed and includes a variety of actions, strategies or tactics that can be
used. Adopting a certain strategy to solve a complex congestion problem in any city will not
be beneficial, but selecting a combination of strategies to perform a significant contribution
in the comprehensive plan is the target of any planner
A) Create efficient use of road space (managing transportation supply) Improve
the flow of traffic without altering total veh/day). Techniques used include:
1. Traffic operation improvements: Widening intersections, one-way street, separate
right and left lanes, turning restrictions.
2. Traffic signalization improvements: Physically improving local intersection, signal
coordination (for arterials), computerizing signal coordination (area wide),
television monitoring of traffic.
3. Improvement for pedestrian and bicycles by making walking and bicycling safer
and more pleasant e.g., widening sidewalks, providing lighting, benches pedestrians
malls.
4. Vehicle Restrictions in pedestrian areas such as Peak-hour pricing, auto restricted
areas (transit is allowed), pedestrianized zone, vehicle restrictions in residential
areas.
5. Parking Management: Parking rate charges, preferential parking, curb parking
restrictions, off-street parking restrictions.
6. Work schedule management: staggered, 4-days/week work, 10h/day work, flextime.
7. Intermodal coordination.
B) Actions to reduce vehicle volume (also referred to as TDM) intended primarily to save
energy and reduce congestion. Examples include carpools, vanpools, share-ride taxi
services, subscription bus service. The actions include:
1. Increasing vehicle occupancy through ridesharing, restrictions on auto
travel, provision of fringe parking, and park and ride.
2. Encouraging travel by means other than auto.
3. Reduction of truck traffic in congested areas: Deliveries during off-peak
hours, truck-only street, limit truck size and traffic.
4. Discouraging auto use by economic means such as tolls, parking fees.
C) Improving Transit Service: to be truly competitive with the auto. This
requires special treatment in addition to the fact that any of the TSM actions that
improve the traffic flow should also improve transit service
• For transit to be effective it should:
1. Travel on its own right-of-way.
2. Have flexible routing patterns.
3. Be "hassel free" and easy to use.
• The techniques used include:
a) Express bus service
b) Shuttle services from fringe (outer edge / border) parking to CBD
c) Park-and-ride facilities
d) Improved flexibility in route scheduling and dispatching
e) Simplified fare collection systems and procedures
f) Shelters
g) Bus stop signings
h) Bus fleet modernization
i) Improved passenger information services.
• Transit improvement program requires an integrated approach that incorporates each of these actions where
appropriate to produce an effective and efficient system.
TSM Case Studies
Urban arterial road traffic management :-
1. Pavement Widening: (increase pavement width & reduce lane widths).
2. Parking Bans: (including introduction of clearways on peaks) eliminate side
friction but requires rigorous enforcement.
3. Service Roads. Controls side friction (best on local shopping Centers).
4. Access Control and Reduction: Half or full closure of side streets/converted to
one-way/time period limitations on side street exit and/or entry.
5. Intersection Improvements.
a) Flaring of approaches.
b) Separate turning lanes.
c) General channelization (islands, signs, markings).
d) Turn restrictions. (especially left turn where there is insufficient space).
e) Traffic signals.
f) Bus stop locations.
• locate it on the departure side if long queues or high left-turning exist.
• Locate it after the intersection when buses turn left.
• If different routes meet, consider walking distances and potential ped-veh
conflict.
6. Co-ordination of Traffic Signals. (increase capacity without new
construction/involves cost for large number of detectors).
7. Truck Routes.
8. Facilitating Public Transport (PT) Operations.
a- Physical separation of PT vehicles from others
1. exclusive right-of-way.
2. Bus streets (most common in CBD).
3. Safety zones (for alighting & boarding).
4. Barrier curbs .
b- Preferential treatment for P.T.
• Bus priority lane.
• Traffic signal priority .
• Movement ban exemptions.
• Preferential access to freeways.
References:-
1. Garber and Hoel -Traffic and Highway Engineering-4th edition
2. Lecture Note prof.khair Jadaan
