PEAK-PERIOD TRAFFIC CONGESTION: OPTIONS FOR CURRENT PROGRAMS

The report describes options available within the present state of the art, compares their probable costs and benefits, and makes specific recommendations for solutions to different types of peak-period congestion. Twenty two individual techniques in eleven major categories are identified. They include social approaches, socioeconomic approaches, sociotechnical approaches, and technical approaches. The techniques were considered relative to their benefits and costs. Their effectiveness in treating different congestion problems was measured. Two aspects of timing of impacts were considered. Nine categories of indirect benefits and disbenefits were identified as factors that should be weighted in decision to implement any of the techniques. The study concluded that: individual techniques should be packaged with other supportive techniques to create a cumulative or even synergetic impact; the relationship between peak-period traffic congestion and number of critical societal problems should be investigated and clarified; research is needed in the indirect benefits and disbenefits and the institutional constraints inherent in a number of techniques. To accomplish the last task eight packages of effective combinations of congestion-reducing techniques were selected and evaluated. The package which focused on transit treatments is rated as having the highest over-all applicability to the full range of common peak-period congestion problems, as well as being of moderate cost, and providing benefits to the community. The package which focused on land use changes presented the best permanent solution to congestion as well as many other critical urban problems.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_169.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00775614
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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. Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, in cooperation with the FHWA, DOT, and performed by Remak-Rosenbloom, Santa Barbara, California.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Remak, R
  • Rosenbloom, S
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 65 p.
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Report
  • Issue Number: 169
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0077-5614

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Costs; Land use; Peak hour traffic; Public transit; Socioeconomic factors; State of the art studies; Traffic congestion
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00144034
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Res. Rpt., NCHRP project 710
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM