Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
(HOT) lanes are added to freeway lanes so that motorists who car pool and pay tolls
bene
t from faster and more reliable travel.
However, the corridor congestion problem is often the result of the joint
occurrence of recurring and nonrecurring events that can be effectively mitigated
only through the application of real-time management tools applied to all modes of
transportation service the corridor. This approach, known as Integrated Corridor
Management (ICM) uses ITS tools and assets to manage traf
uence
traveler behavior to achieve operational objectives. Known as Active Transporta-
tion Demand Management (ATDM), this strategy consists of monitoring, control-
ling, and managing demand over the entire trip chain in the corridor [
2
].
c
fl
flow and in
fl
24.8 Future Outlook
The ways that urban areas will grow and change in the future will have important
bearing on when, how much, and where congestion will increase. Equally important
will be peoples
preferences for living and work locations. Evolving technological
breakthroughs in information, communications, and automation, will also in
'
fl
uence
the intensity, duration, and extent of traf
c congestion. The ability of transportation
system improvements and travel demand management programs to effectively
relieve congestion in the future will also depend on the ability of independent public
agencies to coordinate their transportation and land use decisions
—
a key require-
ment for effective congestion relief [
3
].
24.8.1 How Will Travel Demand Change in the Future?
In the last half of the twentieth century, highway travel outpaced population growth.
More people living in suburban settings, driving more cars, led to increased vehicle
miles of travel, declines in public transport use, increased land consumption, and
increased traf
c congestion.
In the twenty
first Century, changes in public attitudes toward social responsi-
bility for environmental preservation, recognition of the limits of auto mobility and
increased investment in public transport have somewhat changed the perspective.
Growth rates in the use of public transport, especially in larger metropolitan areas
began to exceed the growth rate in VMT.
freeway lanes and road
pricing have become more acceptable. Automated vehicles are becoming a reality
and their increasing presence in the traf
“
Managed
”
c stream is likely to increase the capacity
throughput of freeways and expressways, as well as reducing crash rates. Expected
changes in socio-demographic characteristics and household location decisions are
likely to result in lower per capita VMT growth and lower future annual VMT
growth rate [
3
].
