Due to the magnitude and duration of the North Split project, opportunities to travel in and out of downtown Indianapolis will be limited for an extended period of time. To minimize the social and economic impact of reduced access, INDOT will work with the design-build contractor, the City of Indianapolis, emergency response agencies and stakeholder groups to implement a Mobility Management Plan during the entire period of construction.
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT PLAN GOALS
The goals of the Mobility Management Plan are:
- Goal 1: Optimize traffic operations of the available transportation network. INDOT has already begun to work with Indianapolis DPW to implement spot improvements and enhance signal operations as part of its larger regional mobility plan to improve local traffic operations while the regional INDOT construction program is being implemented.
- Goal 2: Reduce overall roadway network demand. This will be accomplished by enhancing opportunities for mode shift, to transit or non-motorized vehicles or to carpools and vanpools; or by reducing peak hour travel demand through work rescheduling, flextime, or encouraging work-from-home options.
- Goal 3: Provide enhanced motorist information. When motorists are armed with current reliable information on road closures, traffic congestion, and available alternate routes, they can make informed choices regarding travel plans, including route, mode choice, and time-of-day travel.
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT PLAN COMPONENTS
The details of INDOT’s Mobility Management Plan are currently being developed. The plan will be implemented by four task groups, as described below:
- Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Team: This team will ensure an effective Traffic Management Plan (TMP) and MOT plan is developed and implemented by the contractor to maintain safety and mobility in the construction zone. The MOT Team will coordinate with and provide information to all other teams regarding the ongoing contractor MOT Plan and day-to-day activities of construction.
- Local Traffic Operations Team: This team will identify and plan strategies to maintain safety and mobility of the roadway system within the construction area and throughout the surrounding road network. These strategies will focus on accommodating traffic diverted to the local roadway network due to project construction. A subgroup of the Traffic Operations Team will focus on emergency response planning in the construction zone and the local roadway network.
- Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Team: This team will identify and plan strategies to reduce congestion on the roadway network by lowering the number of vehicles using the system or by shifting trip times so that peak demands are reduced. A key task of this team will be the development and presentation of TDM educational materials to motorists, employers, and institutions, in close coordination the Communications and Public Outreach Team.
- Communications and Public Outreach Team: This team will develop and implement real-time communication strategies that provide current information to the public regarding construction activities, detours, and temporary closures so that local employers and institutions have sufficient information to plan trips effectively with respect to route, mode, and time of travel. This team will also inform employers and commuters of travel demand management opportunities to reduce the level of peak traffic in the project area.