Congestion Management Process

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

The Congestion Management Process (CMP), which is required by Federal law, is a systematic approach to managing new and existing transportation systems for relieving congestion and maximizing the safety and mobility of people and goods. The measured system performance and defined strategies should be incorporated in the process of the Metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) and the transportation improvement program (TIP).

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is responsible for transportation planning in the urbanized areas of Durham and Orange counties and parts of northern Chatham County. As part of the planning process, the DCHC MPO is required to develop and implement a CMP for monitoring traffic congestion, evaluating system performance, and incorporating mitigation strategies into the MTP and TIP.

CMP Procedures & Responsibilities Report

Congestion Management Products

Mobility Report Card (See Below)
System Status Report 2014
System Status Report 2019
Traffic Incident Management Program Assessment Report

Mobility Report Card

The DCHC MPO is required by federal regulations to develop and implement a Congestion Management Process (CMP) to provide a systematic way for transportation planning in the DCHC MPO area, and to identify and manage congestion in a multi-modal manner. The MPO Board has now adopted a Mobility Report Card that provides detailed performance, safety and activity data on the specific vehicle, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the MPO planning area. For example, performance and safety data is available for specific roadways, intersections, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The Report Card provides a trend analysis in cases where historical data is available. Copies of the Mobility Report Card are available at the following links:

Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Program

Transportation Plans and Congestion Management Process (CMP), required by FHWA, contain Operational and Management Strategies to improve the performance of existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the safety and mobility of people and goods. Improved Traffic Incident Management (TIM) has been shown to reduce both incident duration and secondary crashes. National and local agencies as well as MPOs are realizing the importance of managing traffic and congestion given the financial strains on constructing new facilities. Development of TIM is also an element of the DCHC MPO 2040 MTP.

To help the DCHC MPO develop an effective TIM strategic direction that serves as the cornerstone for other Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSM&O) activities and furthers their efforts to address federal congestion mitigation strategies, an assessment was completed of TIM practices in the greater Durham, Orange and Chatham County areas. This assessment was to determine the status of regional efforts to clear traffic incidents in safe and timely manners, consistent with the MPO Congestion Mitigation Plan. During this assessment first responder agencies and personnel were solicited to complete an on-line survey, participate in project informational meetings and participation in a regional workshop, held on July 12, 2016. A major goal for this assessment was to bring our regional incident responders together to facilitate better communication, cooperation and coordination for response to major incidents that affect the mobility of our local roadways. During this assessment a strategic plan and direction was also created. An objective of this strategic plan is to introduce and document an incident responder Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that builds the foundation for improved traffic incident management in our region.

It is the vision of the DCHC TIM program to be the benchmark of excellence in developing, applying and evaluating TIM strategies and their impacts on congestion, mobility and traffic safety in the DCHC region.

The Mission of the DCHC TIM Program is to plan, inform, and partner with our member agencies and responder entities to develop a comprehensive approach to save lives, increase mobility and be a resource for program success.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Word Viewer