Special events traffic management using ITS technologies: Application to San Juan, Puerto Rico

A very important task for the professionals involved in traffic operations is to manage the traffic congestion generated by special events that occur in the center of the city. When very large crowds attend these events, the rest of the metropolitan area is affected and the mobility of the population is reduced. This is the case in the metropolitan area of San Juan that in several occasions has faced the adverse effects of traffic congestion because of special events that take place the historic/tourist area of old San Juan. Considering the benefits of implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) decided to incorporate the use of ITS to help handle traffic congestion. One geographical area is of special interest was the old San Juan Bay area, where many special events take place. The ITS implementation program for the whole metropolitan region was planned and several steps were taken towards implementation. A special opportunity to implement part of the system as demonstration project occurred during the special event called Regatta 2000. In early 1999, the PRHTA initiated a comprehensive plan to incorporate ITS technologies to improve traffic management and mobility related to that specific special event. As a result of the implementation of this ITS program for the Regatta 2000 at San Juan, an efficient way to move people and vehicles was accomplished. This paper outlines some of the key traffic management issues surrounding Regatta 2000 innovative and important partnering strategies used throughout the plan\u27s development information and technology sharing efforts, and the results of the plan after implementation