DIVERSION OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC IN LOS ANGELES: IT WORKED

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) implemented a traffic management plan aimed at bringing about voluntary traffic diversion upstream of a section of freeway that needed to be closed for 6 hr for maintenance operations. Without an extensive traffic management effort, delays of more than 2 hr were anticipated. The plan was designed to limit delays on the affected high-volume freeways (160,000 to 225,000 average daily traffic) to a maximum of 20 min. The plan included an aggressive public information campaign before the closure by using both media and freeway signing and an extensive use of changeable message signs during the operation. Significant diversion from two freeways that feed the closure area was achieved. Congestion extended about 2.5 miles upstream of the closure at its maximum; actual delays never exceeded the targeted 20 min. The plan, how it was developed, and how it was implemented are described. Results of the operation are also presented.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/957/957-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DIVERSION+OF+FREEWAY+TRAFFIC+IN+LOS+ANGELES%3A+IT+WORKED&author=D.+Roper&author=R.+Zimowski&author=A.+Iwamasa&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Freeway Operations. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Roper, D H
  • Zimowski, R F
  • Iwamasa, A M
• Conference:
  • 63rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1984-1-16 to 1984-1-20
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps;
• Pagination: pp 1-4
• Monograph Title: URBAN TRAFFIC, PARKING, AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 957
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freeways; Highway traffic control; Mass media; Publicity; Traffic delays; Traffic diversion; Traffic signs; Variable message signs; Work zone traffic control
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles (California)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391622
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030903034
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM