Measuring the Measuring the Distribution and Costs of Distribution and Costs of CongestionCongestion

Tim LomaxTim LomaxTexas Transportation InstituteTexas Transportation Institutehttp://mobility.tamu.eduhttp://mobility.tamu.edu

The Congestion The Congestion Measurement StoryMeasurement Story

WHAT?WHAT? Travel time, variations, Travel time, variations, compare to goalscompare to goals

WHY?WHY? Is it a problem? Causes?Is it a problem? Causes?

WHERE?WHERE? Areawide, SubAreawide, Sub--Region, Region, Corridor, Facility, ServiceCorridor, Facility, Service

WHEN?WHEN? Day, Week, Season, EventsDay, Week, Season, Events

HOW?HOW? Fix it? Define Success?Fix it? Define Success?

Performance Performance Measure NeedsMeasure Needs

Start with Goals and VisionStart with Goals and VisionCongestion and ReliabilityCongestion and ReliabilityLocation, Time & CostsLocation, Time & CostsEffect of Solutions and TrendsEffect of Solutions and TrendsConnect to ExpectationsConnect to ExpectationsConnect to Individual ActionsConnect to Individual Actions–– TravelersTravelers–– BusinessesBusinesses–– AgenciesAgencies

What?What?Urban Mobility MeasuresUrban Mobility Measures

Delay/Person Delay/Person –– Hours per yearHours per year

Buffer Time Buffer Time IndexIndex

Travel Time Peak Period Travel TimeIndex Free Flow Travel Time

95th %Travel Time

Average Travel Time

Average Travel Time

__

1.00

1.10

1.20

1.30

1.40

1.50

Small Medium Large VeryLarge

19822000

Travel Time IndexTravel Time IndexTr

avel

Tim

e In

dex

Population Group

Annual Delay per PersonAnnual Delay per Person

020406080

100

Small Medium Large VeryLarge

19822000

Hou

rs

Population Group

Growth of Congested TravelGrowth of Congested Travel1982 to 20001982 to 2000

Uncongested69%

Extreme5%Severe

8%

Moderate10%

Heavy8%

1982 2000

Moderate13%Heavy

14%

Severe20%

Extreme19%

Uncongested34%

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00Tr

avel

Tim

e In

dex

Small Medium Large Very LargePopulation

Congestion levels in each of the 75 urban

areas studied.

Where? Where? Congestion and PopulationCongestion and Population

Inde

x V

alu

e

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

1 2 :00 A M 2 :00 A M 4 :00 A M 6 :00 A M 8 :00 A M 1 0:00 A M 1 2 :00 P M 2 :00 P M 4 :00 P M 6 :00 P M 8 :00 P M 1 0:00 P M 1 2 :00 A M

When? Average and When? Average and Trip Planning TimeTrip Planning Time

Mid 6A Noon 6P Mid

Trip Planning

Time(19 of 20

trips)AverageTravelTime

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00Travel Time Index

Per

cen

t of

Day

s in

20

01

Average Travel TimeIndex

Median Time Penalty = 27%

10% of Days

When? Peak Period When? Peak Period Congestion LevelsCongestion Levels

When? Peak Period When? Peak Period Frustration LevelsFrustration Levels

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00Travel Time Index

Per

cent

of

Day

s in

200

1

Average 19 of 20 Trips TTI

Median = 60% Penalty

Median = 27% Penalty

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

1.00 1.10 1.20 1.30 1.40 1.50Travel Time Index

Buf

fer T

ime

Inde

xCongestion and Reliability Congestion and Reliability Are RelatedAre Related

Congestion CostsCongestion Costs

Delay and fuel Delay and fuel -- $68 Billion (2000 $)$68 Billion (2000 $)Extra travel time Extra travel time -- 3.6 Billion Hrs3.6 Billion HrsExtra fuel consumed Extra fuel consumed –– 5.7 Billion 5.7 Billion GlnsGlnsBusiness productivityBusiness productivityAir qualityAir qualityWorker, market & supplier accessibilityWorker, market & supplier accessibility

Congestion Successes Congestion Successes ––How are They Measured?How are They Measured?

Lower travel timeLower travel timeMore optionsMore optionsCheaper travelCheaper travelPredictable travel timesPredictable travel timesShorter tripsShorter tripsLess congested time and spaceLess congested time and space

Toolbox:Toolbox:No Lack of Solutions No Lack of Solutions

Alternate Hours of TravelAlternate Hours of TravelVariable Pricing StrategiesVariable Pricing StrategiesFlow SignalsFlow SignalsTraffic Signal ImprovementsTraffic Signal ImprovementsIncident ManagementIncident ManagementEvent ManagementEvent ManagementLocal Bus ServiceLocal Bus ServiceNeighborhood Circulator BusNeighborhood Circulator BusActivity Center Circulator BusActivity Center Circulator BusExpress and Park & Ride ServiceExpress and Park & Ride ServiceDemandDemand--Response & Hybrid Bus ServiceResponse & Hybrid Bus ServiceVanpoolsVanpoolsTelecommutingTelecommutingUrban Development PatternsUrban Development PatternsParking StrategiesParking StrategiesBicycle and PedestrianBicycle and PedestrianLight RailLight RailBus Rapid TransitBus Rapid TransitCommuter / Light RailCommuter / Light RailManaged Lanes/Truck LanesManaged Lanes/Truck Lanes

Electronic Toll Collection SystemsElectronic Toll Collection SystemsIntersection ImprovementsIntersection ImprovementsOneOne--Way StreetsWay StreetsChangeable Lane AssignmentsChangeable Lane AssignmentsArterial Access ManagementArterial Access ManagementTechnologyTechnology--Based Transit ImprovementsBased Transit ImprovementsRidesharingRidesharingTelecommutingTelecommutingAssessing the Transportation ImpactsAssessing the Transportation ImpactsParking StrategiesParking StrategiesBicycle and Pedestrian ElementsBicycle and Pedestrian ElementsFare StrategiesFare StrategiesStreet ContinuityStreet ContinuityNew Lanes New Lanes New Toll RoadsNew Toll RoadsGrade SeparationGrade SeparationGeometric DesignGeometric DesignHOV LanesHOV LanesMultimodal CorridorsMultimodal CorridorsFreight Rail ImprovementsFreight Rail Improvements

Why not more “Success”?

Many Reactions to Many Reactions to CongestionCongestion

AcceptanceAcceptanceFrustrationFrustrationPlan more timePlan more timeVote to fix the problem or to blameVote to fix the problem or to blameMove job, business or homeMove job, business or home

Is this flexibility “cost free”?Is this flexibility “cost free”?

Manage the Construction Process

Increase System Efficiency

Build More Capacity

Manage the Demand

Diversify Development Patterns

Variety of Solution TypesVariety of Solution Types100%

0%

% V

arie

s fo

r Eac

h C

ity

Strategy Mix Will Be Strategy Mix Will Be DifferentDifferent

Capacity Efficiency Demand

Add CapacityGreater EfficiencyDemand Management

Capacity Efficiency DemandCapacity Efficiency Demand

Inner Loop

Outer Loop

Adding Adding RoadsRoads Helps…Helps…

40 Areas – Demand 30% faster

6 Areas—Demand = Roads

29 Areas –Demand 10% to 30% faster

Year

Con

gest

ion

Incr

ease

(%)

250

200

150

100

50

0 1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0

30

60

90

120

150

Small Medium Large VeryLarge

Lane-MilesNeededLane-MilesAdded

. . . But, Difficult to Add . . . But, Difficult to Add Enough Roadway.Enough Roadway.

Lan

e M

iles

Population Group

0

50

100

150

200

250

Small Medium Large VeryLarge

CurrentRidersTrips Needed

Transit Is Not Transit Is Not The OnlyThe OnlySolution, EitherSolution, Either

Yea

rly

New

Nee

ded

(00

0)

Population Group

1,050

Solutions? Solutions?

In the past we managed:In the past we managed:–– Construction ProjectsConstruction Projects–– Supply & CapacitySupply & Capacity–– OperationsOperations–– DemandDemand

Solutions? Need for Solutions? Need for Expanded ManagementExpanded Management

In the past we managed:In the past we managed:–– Construction ProjectsConstruction Projects–– Supply & CapacitySupply & Capacity–– OperationsOperations–– DemandDemandShould we add?Should we add?–– Pricing?Pricing?–– Expectations?Expectations?Consensus and Effort = SuccessConsensus and Effort = Success

SummarySummary

Congestion is growingCongestion is growingSolutions are multimodal policies, programs Solutions are multimodal policies, programs and projectsand projectsMore aggressive operation and deploymentMore aggressive operation and deploymentAchievable goalsAchievable goals–– Stop the growth of congestionStop the growth of congestion–– Improve reliabilityImprove reliability–– Provide more travel optionsProvide more travel options

“…what I found in practice was that the tool that made the most difference in my community was transportation. Nothing else had as great an impact on our economic development, on the pattern of growth, or on the quality of life."

-Norman Y. Mineta, former Mayor San Jose, CACurrent Secretary of Transportation