International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations

Traffic management as key element for future mobility solutions

Several new mobility services have the potential to improve the mobility system performance and to make it more sustainable. However, to exploit this potential these services have to be integrated in the mobility system by proper traffic management. In addition, traffic management allows the optimal use of existing road capacities, without having to build new infrastructure. The aim: make the best use of the available infrastructure, minimize negative effects and so contribute to a quality of location!

This international symposium provided a platform for operators, managers, traffic engineers, practitioners, and researchers to discuss and share their experiences with “Innovation Advances Toward the Future of Managing Traffic”.  Industry leaders and specialists from around the globe discussed the challenges, research needs, innovative methods, and approaches to collaborate with other agencies and service providers.

The 4th International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations, succeeds previous symposia sponsored by the Transportation Research Board and International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) in 2006 (Athens), 2009 (Honolulu), and 2016 (Berlin).

Symposium at a glance

The Symposium program included plenary sessions, technical sessions with invited speakers, poster sessions and workshops which addressed:

• the next generation of traffic management systems
• sharing and using emerging sources of data (e.g., connected and automated vehicles)
• incorporating data from connected and automated vehicles into operational/safety strategies and control plans to manage traffic on freeways
• innovative methods to actively managing and controlling traffic
• managed lanes (e.g., HOV, HOT, Part-time Shoulder Use, Reversible Lanes)
• use of pricing to improve the use of traffic operational strategies
• managing traffic management assets
• sharing information with other systems and stakeholders
• opportunities to share electronic data among systems and 3rd parties
• incorporating mobility on demand services into the day-to-day traffic management and emissions mitigation activities
• coordinating and sharing information with agencies and service providers in response to planned and unplanned events

Key topics

Innovative Financing to Build and Operate Motorways including use of incentives and pricing in traffic operational strategies.

Track A: Governance and Organizational Challenges

This track will provide a substantial path planning for the mission of delivering “directionality” towards common goals for all relevant stakeholders in traffic management. Also the governmental roles need to be redefined and reconsidered, to face future challenges and force the necessary solutions.

Track B: Managing and Analyzing Operational Strategies and Performance

This track investigates the latest of operational strategies for managing freeways and toll roads. The session will discuss various management methods and conducts an analysis of the strategies and their performance. During this track, you will hear about the latest strategies and performance for managed motorway, management during emergency situations, post-covid management, digital twinning and the utilization of artificial intelligence for freeway and tollway operations.

Track C: Next Generation of Traffic Management Systems and Services

The next-generation of agencies' traffic management systems (TMSs) and operations centers (TMCs) can improve safety and mobility. To achieve this, it's crucial to build and maintain support and resources, improve services, plan for advancements, and prepare for the next-generation of TMS. Opportunities arise to enhance TMS capabilities through new technologies, telecommunication advancements, and data connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), travelers using connected devices, and service providers.

Track D: Innovative Financing to Build and Operate Motorways

This track will explore different approaches in project finance involving public or private partners, congestion pricing to promote reliability and efficient use of the transport system, distance-based pricing to address declining motor fuel tax revenue, safety considerations on priced roads, and how pricing and financing decisions contribute towards net zero emissions goals to meet the global climate imperative.