Traffic Management Teams: A Description and Action Plan for Virginia

About the report:

A traffic management team improves the overall traffic operations in an urban area, especially along urban corridors, through the communication, coordination, and cooperation of the transportation-related operational agencies in the area. Since various state, county, and city agencies are responsible for the ground transportation system in an urban area for optimal traffic management, it is essential that these agencies work together. Traffic management teams have proven to be a very successful means of coordinating the activities of transportation-related operational agencies in urban areas in Texas. A team typically consists of representatives of city and state traffic engineering offices, city and state law enforcement agencies, and the local transit authority. Other agencies are included if they are significantly involved in the operation of the urban corridors. Although most advantageous in cities with populations above 300,000, traffic management teams are useful for any size city where major travel corridors cross jurisdictional boundaries and where there is a need. to improve relationships between transportation operational agencies. The activities that are coordinated by a team include: (1) work zone traffic, (2) route improvements, (3) normal operations, (4) emergency planning, and (5) special event traffic handling. Guidelines for a traffic management team based on what has been successful for existing teams are presented. The guidelines include organizational structure, conduct of team meetings, keys to success, and measures of effectiveness. An action plan for implementation of traffic management teams in Virginia was developed. In the plan, urban areas where traffic management teams would be useful are identified, and steps to implement a traffic management team are identified. It is recommended that traffic management teams be implemented in all urban areas in Virginia. These teams would be especially advantageous for the Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Tidewater areas.

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