Office of Operations
photos of traffic merging onto congested highway, congestion in snowstorm, variable message sign, cargo, variable speed limit sign in a work zone, and a freeway at night
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Freeway Operations and Traffic Management

Freeway Management Program

Managing travel and controlling traffic involves the application of the appropriate policies, strategies, and actions to mitigate any potential impacts resulting from the intensity, timing, and location of travel and to enhance mobility on highway and freeway facilities.

Publications

  • Ramp Management and Control Handbook
    • Handbook (HTML, PDF 7.3MB)
      (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-HOP-06-001) (EDL Document No.: 14242)
    • A Primer (HTML, PDF 2MB)
      (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-HOP-06-080)
    • Brochure (HTML, PDF 361KB)
      (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-HOP-06-081)
    • Project Fact Sheet (HTML, PDF 335KB)
      (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-HOP-06-082)
    • Frequently Asked Questions (HTML, PDF 1.1MB)
      (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-HOP-06-083)
  • Freeway Management and Operations Handbook (HTML, PDF 10.5MB)
    September 2003
    (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-OP-04-003) (EDL Document No.: 13875)
    If you have comments or suggestions for updating the handbook, please send them via email at Jessie.Yung@fhwa.dot.gov.
  • Guidelines for Transportation Management Systems Maintenance Concept and Plans Handbook
    December 2002
    (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-OP-04-011) (EDL Document No.: 13882)
  • Highway Traffic Operations and Freeway Management: State-of-the-Practice White Paper
    March 2003
    (FHWA Publication No.: FHWA-OP-03-076) ( EDL Document No.: 13801)
  • What Have We Learned about Intelligent Transportation Systems? Chapter 2: What Have We Learned about Freeway, Incident, and Emergency Management and Electronic Toll Collection? (PDF, 119KB)
    December 2000
    (EDL Document No.: 13318)

Training Courses

  • Freeway Traffic Operations (NHI Course# 133075A)
    This course addresses basic traffic flow theory for freeways and evaluation of freeway operations during project development and design. In addition, this course provides information on freeway traffic control systems, traffic management centers, and operations analysis procedures for freeways.
    • Skill Level: Specialized learning.
    • Target Audience: Federal, state, and local transportation professionals involved in planning, design, and implementation of freeway traffic operational improvements. Course Length: Three or five days.
    • Cost: $400 per participant for the three-day course; $650 per participant for the five-day course
    • Contact: Danielle Mathis-Lee, National Highway Institute, (703) 235-0528, Danielle.Mathis-Lee@fhwa.dot.gov.
  • Traffic Detector Video Training Course (1993)
    This 90-minute set of videotapes presents a training course on planning, designing, installing, and maintaining traffic detectors, with emphasis on loop detectors. The target audience for this course is the practicing engineer and technician. Based on the 1991 Traffic Detector Handbook, Second Edition, the package includes the two-volume set of videos and an 80-page companion manual.
    • Cost: $50 for members of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE); $75 for non-members.
    • Contact: ITE Bookstore, (202) 289-0222 x130, fax: (202) 289-7722, publications@ite.org.

Other Resources

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