Many of us take for granted that when sidewalks are being rebuilt, or the adjacent street is missing and part of the sidewalk is blocked, we see the sidewalk closure ahead and go to the other side or around the block. We grumble about the detour but it is not a big deal.
For someone with limited or no sight, or someone in a hand-powered wheel chair, the detour is more significant.
This post, and at least a few in the future, will address “short” term issues and actions taken related to traffic demand management. In these cases we addressed a “short-term” situation (one month to 2 years) rather than the long-term scenarios that are the focus of urban planners.
Traffic demand management is crucial for major highway work where thousands of drivers have to find another route for an extended time. For some the management technique is warning signs a few days before the closure and a press release. Then roll out the barricades and “give them a few days” and the drivers will find another route.
For others, myself included, “management” means providing information about the lane, street or highway closure plus alternative routes in advance so drivers can “know before they go”. (more…)
Getting caught in traffic and sitting in a long line of cars as traffic lights cycle is a lousy way to start or end the day. But that does not make up for not knowing there was a wreck, the street or lanes are closed for construction or it is the weekend and a parade or fun run has blocked my route.
In downtown Houston the Downtown District provides an information accumulation and distribution to help you know before you go. I have produced and distributed since 2001 for the District a weekly email with the closures for the coming weekend and following week. The district also supports www.DowntownStreets.com that I built and maintain where drivers can see a map of downtown with the long-term closures, a hot links menu on the home page for quick references, and an extensive page of alternate routes into and out of downtown.
Both the email and the web site are simple – no glitz – intending only to provide information. I am proud of the frequent comments that people look forward to the email and glad to know what is happening in the streets.
The email’s success in mitigating congestion is that property managers of the buildings check it to see if their tenants may be affected by a closure. If they are then the email or its contents are sent to the tenants who forward it to their employees. As that distribution can happen quickly traffic congestion for their trip home that day, return the next day, or trip in for a weekend outing, can avoid the congested area.
Each email is also distributed throughout the region by the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau so hotels and others can provide the best advice to guests when they are providing directions about how to access downtown.
Much credit for the success of the email and web site must go primarily to the Traffic and Transportation Branch of the City’s Department or Public Works and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. Also when the Texas Department of Transportation is working n the interstates or highways that impact downtown they provide special info that is posted and distributed to help downtown drivers. Without those inside sources the info would not have the targeted value enjoyed by drivers and pedestrians in downtown.
