Integrating Active Traffic and Travel Demand Management: A Holistic Approach to Congestion Management

Federal Highway Administration2011PDFTech ReportUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation OfficialsNational Cooperative Highway Research ProgramUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited StatesCongestion management systemsTraffic congestionTravel demand managementFHWA-PL-11-011The purpose of this primer is to introduce and define the active traffic management (ATM) and travel demand management (TDM) concepts and show the need for and benefits of integrating the concepts into efforts to address congestion on the most affected facilities. The primer provides a conceptual framework, originally suggested by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, for understanding the difference between traffic management and travel demand management. In a nutshell, managing travel demand is effectively addressing congestion before the decision is made on when, how, and whether to use a car. Managing traffic is efficiently addressing congestion once the traveler is in the automobile or has made the decision to use a car. The primer underscores the need to integrate the two concepts into a holistic approach to congestion management. The primer describes five types of ATM and TDM integration and provides examples of each, drawn from the United States and Europe. The following are the five types of integration: New partnerships for integrating ATM and TDM; Enhanced travel alternatives in actively managed corridors; Incentives to reduce traffic volumes on congested facilities; Real-time, multimodal traveler information to induce In-route mode shift; and Promotion of TDM at major trip generators in ATM corridors. Finally, an overall approach for integrating the two concepts is provided. It includes an overview of the integrated demand management under development in the United Kingdom.95