Research Archive

Active Transportation and Demand Management (ATDM) is the dynamic management, control, and influence of travel demand, traffic demand, and traffic flow of transportation facilities. Through the use of available tools and assets, traffic flow is managed and traveler behavior is influenced in real time to achieve operational objectives, such as preventing or delaying breakdown conditions, improving safety, promoting sustainable travel modes, reducing omissions, and maximizing system efficiency. Under an ATDM approach the transportation system is continuously monitored. Using archived data and/or predictive methods, actions are performed in real-time to achieve or maintain system performance.

ATDM implementation strategies fall under three major categories:

  • Active Traffic Management (ATM):  The ability to dynamically manage recurrent and non-recurrent congestion based on prevailing and predicted traffic conditions.  Examples include: adaptive ramp metering; adaptive traffic signal control; dynamic junction control; dynamic lane reversal or contraflow lane reversal; dynamic lane use control; dynamic merge control; dynamic shoulder lanes; dynamic speed limits; queue warning; and transit signal priority.  For more information on ATM go to: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/atdm/approaches/atm.htm
  • Active Demand Management (ADM):  Using information and technology to dynamically manage demand, which could include redistributing travel to less congested times of day or routes, or reducing vehicle trips by influencing mode choice.  Examples include: dynamic fair reduction; dynamic high-occupancy vehicle (HOV)/managed lanes; dynamic pricing; dynamic ridesharing; dynamic routing; dynamic transit capacity assignment; on-demand transit; predictive traveler information; and transfer connection protection.  For more information on ADM go to: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/atdm/approaches/adm.htm
  • Active Parking Management (APM):  The dynamic management of parking facilities in a region to optimize performance and utilization of those facilities while influencing travel behavior at various stages along the trip making process.  Examples include: dynamic overflow transit parking; dynamic parking reservation; dynamic wayfinding; and dynamic priced parking. http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/atdm/approaches/apm.htm