Construction Ahead: Moving toward Sustainable Transportation Management Plans: Fid-Bau Portal

Construction Ahead: Moving toward Sustainable Transportation Management Plans

Dau-Ngo, Theresa / Gonzalez, Ivan / Hilde, Lindsey / Jim, Miriam

While transportation management plans (TMPs) are commonly developed to address work-zone safety and mobility needs of the traveling public during construction of highway projects, TMPs have yet to be firmly ingrained in the transit planning process. Coordinating and streamlining TMP strategies for both types of transportation projects is increasingly critical given the overlapping needs to maintain the operations of existing transportation systems during construction activities and the growing trend toward sustainability in transportation, including reducing traffic congestion and related air quality impacts. Beyond their traditional application, TMPs can serve as a means for accommodating the construction of transportation improvements while supporting the shift to more sustainable travel patterns once a project is in operation. This paper discusses the process for developing TMPs, while integrating strong sustainability principles. Topics that are addressed include 1) current national and regional TMP guidelines; 2) harnessing the use of the Internet, social media, and mobile-based applications as part of the overall approach to informing the traveling public of construction-related transportation impacts and alternative means of travel; and 3) balancing cost-effective TMP strategies with promoting alternative transportation modes during construction and after a project opens. Proposed recommendations include how to integrate sustainability elements into TMP strategies, how to leverage TMPs to engage the public in minimizing transportation impacts during construction, and how to approach developing TMPs, especially for transit projects.