# Presentation: 382627

## Congestion Initiative Update

- Associate Administrator for Operations
- Federal Highway Administration
- US Department of Transportation

***Congestion Initiative ****Update*

* ***I-95 Corridor Coalition**
**2006 Annual Meeting**
**Norfolk, Virginia**

**December 11-12, 2006**

## “Congestion is not a fact of life.  We need
  a new approach, and we need it now.”
			        Former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, May 2006

“Mobility is one of our country’s greatest
 freedoms, but congestion...limits
 predictable and reliable movement of
 people and goods and poses a serious 
 threat to continued economic growth.”
					Secretary Mary Peters, October 2006

*  **a new approach, and we need it now.”*
- 			        Former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, May 2006
*“**Mobility is one of our country’s greatest*
* **freedoms, but congestion...limits*
* **predictable and reliable movement of*
* **people and goods and poses a serious *
* **threat to continued economic growth.”*
- 					Secretary Mary Peters, October 2006

**The Congestion Challenge**

## Relieve urban congestion.
Unleash private sector investment resources.
Promote operational and technological improvements.
Establish a “Corridors of the Future” competition.
Target major freight bottlenecks and expand freight policy outreach.
Accelerate major aviation capacity projects and provide a future funding framework.

- Relieve urban congestion.
- Unleash private sector investment resources.
- Promote operational and technological improvements.
- Establish a “Corridors of the Future” competition.
- Target major freight bottlenecks and expand freight policy outreach.
- Accelerate major aviation capacity projects and provide a future funding framework.

**A Six-Point Plan**

## 1.  Relieve Urban Congestion

- Create urban partnerships to pursue congestion pricing.
- Promote HOV to HOT conversion.
- Reduce impacts of bottlenecks.
- Create meaningful congestion management process.

## Relieve Urban Congestion Urban Partnership Solicitation

**Create urban congestion partnerships with urban areas**
**willing to ****implement broad congestion pricing****, plus**
- New or expanded bus rapid transit.
- Expanded telecommuting/flexible work schedules.
- Technology/operations strategies.
**Federal Register notice issued:  December 8.**
**Process:**
- 	April 30, 2007 – “Application” from States, counties, cities, MPO’s, etc.
- 	June 8, 2007 – USDOT designates preliminary urban partners.
- 	August 8, 2007 – USDOT selects urban partners.

## Relieve Urban Congestion Supporting Programs 

**Resources:**
- Value Pricing Program – Provides tolling authority and grants in support of aggressive pricing strategies.
- ITS Congestion Mitigation Operational Tests – Provides grants for innovative and aggressive use of ITS.
**Federal Register notices to be issued in mid-**
**late December.**

## Relieve Urban CongestionPromote HOV to HOT Conversion

- Establish FHWA expert team.
- Provide comprehensive outreach/technical assistance.
- Offer 1-day HOV to HOT course.

##  Relieve Urban Congestion Create meaningful congestion management process

- Issue regulations.
-  Provide guidance.
-  Offer training, seminars
-     and peer exchange.
-  Emphasize during TMA
-     certification reviews.

## Relieve Urban CongestionReduce impacts of bottlenecks.

- Distribute Primer in January.
- Establish and learn from lead States.
- Initiate bottleneck dialogue between FHWA Divisions and States to pursue innovative, low-cost solutions.

## 2.  Unleash Private Sector Investment Resources      Public Private Partnerships (PPP)

**Opportunity:**
- Emergence of PPP’s as mechanism to support needed transportation investments.
- 21 States currently have enabling PPP legislation.

**Actions:**
- Model** **PPP legislation.
- Engage with partners on potential role of PPP’s within State.
- Technical support to assist partners in entering successful PPP’s.

## 3.  Promote Operational and Technological         Improvements

- Improve traveler information.
- Reduce incident delay.
- Reduce work zone delay.
- Improve traffic signal timing.

## Technology and Operations Improve Traveler Information

**Challenges****:**
- 511 accessible to 35% of American public.
- 20 of 40 largest metro areas post travel time on DMS.

**Actions:**
- Nationwide 511 Deployment.
- Travel time on all urban DMS signs.
- SAFETEA-LU  Section 1201 – Implementation (NPRM).

## Technology and OperationsReduce Incident Delay

**Challenges:**
- 25% of all congestion.
- 1-minute closure =        4-minute delay.

**Actions:**
- “Move it” laws.
- Quick clearance policies.
- Full function service patrols.
- Integrated transportation/law        enforcement data sharing.
- Performance measures.

## Technology and Operations

- 10% of all congestion.
- 20% of NHS under construction in peak season.
- Highways for Life (HfL) program authorized at $20 million/year.
- HfL projects eligible for 100% Federal share.

**Actions:**
- Work zone safety and mobility final rule.
- Leverage HfL program in support of Congestion Initiative.

**Technology and Operations**
- Reduce Work Zone Delay

## Technology and Operations   Improve Traffic Signal Timing

**Challenge:**
- Nationally operating at D-level.

**Actions:**
- Increase awareness/funding (Signal Report Card).
- Champion regular signal retiming programs.
- Implement ACS lite.

## 4.  Corridors of the Future       Corridors of Future Program

**Identify up to five major growth corridors in**
**need of long-term investment.**
**Federal Register notice issued:  September 5, 2006.**
**Process:**
- 	October 23   –  ”Expression of Interest” from State, multiple
-                              States, private sector entity (40 received).
-     December     –  US DOT selects “applicants.”
-     April 2, 2007 –  Detailed applications submitted with
-                              multistate concurrence.