This is the updated, 3rd version of this document. The first version is FHWA-HOP-07-130, and the second version is FHWA-HOP-09-037. While many of the nation’s bottlenecks are addressed through costly major construction projects (i.e., “mega-projects”) or costly transportation alternative solutions (e.g., HOV or HOT lanes, dynamic pricing, investments in transit alternatives, parking and commuter incentive programs, et al.) there is a significant opportunity for the application of operational and low-cost “fixes” at spot-specific locations. This Primer is the signature product of the Localized Bottleneck Reduction (LBR) Program, which is administered out of the Office of Operations, Office of Transportation Management, at FHWA HQ in Washington, D.C. The LBR program is focused on relieving recurring congestion chokepoints (as opposed to nonrecurring congestion causes) and the operational influences that cause them. Widening, lengthening, retiming, metering, or bypassing these problem areas to unclog them can often be done with lower cost, less intensive “footprint” means than traditionally waiting for a complete facility rebuild or an out-year project. In much the same way that transportation agencies might have an annualised safety-spot improvement program, e.g., a “top 10 list” of high accident locations, so too should they have an annualised congestion-spot program. If the ultimate fix need be a complete facility overhaul, then so be it; but an agency needn't limit itself to only “building our way out of congestion.” (Author/publisher)
Abstract