Ralph D. Mitchell Jr. Mitchell Consulting LLC

Transcription

1 Ralph D. Mitchell Jr. Mitchell Consulting LLC

2 Nearly 2 Million At Risk Population across Southern Louisiana (1.2 Million New Orleans Metro alone) Very limited roadway system for evacuation 100,000 in New Orleans dependent upon Public Transportation Levee Protection System- Protects East Bank Metro Area but creates a Bowl

3 City of New Orleans Ground Elevations LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN FLOODWALL ALONG MISSISSIPPI RIVER 23 FT NEW ORLEANS MISSISSIPPI 18 FT PROJECT FLOWLINE AVG ANNUAL HIGHWATER 14 FT GENTILLY RIDGE B From Canal St. at Mississippi River to the Lakefront at U.N.O. A 17.5 FT SPH DESIGN ELEV 11.5 FT NORMAL LAKE 1.0 FT LEVEL HURRICANE PROTECTION LEVEE & FLOODWALL UNO CANAL ST AT RIVER ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL ESPLANADE AT ST. CLAUDE DERBIGNY AT I-10 GENTILLY BLVD AT ALLEN ELEVATIONS IN FEET NGVD DILLARD UNIV CAMPUS ST. ANTHONY AT WILDAIR DR WAINRIGHT DR AT L.C. SIMON UNO SIDE OF WAINRIGHT DR A B

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5 Congestion is inevitable Demand will change Capacity is fixed Accessibility Mobility Contraflow will not solve all problems Loading & unloading points are linked Unloading works better with diverging routes Demand can be managed Better use of alternate (non-interstate) routes Staging evacuations Early closure of schools and businesses Forced movements can keep traffic moving Eliminate or reduce decision points Manage & eliminate choke points Demand Capacity Constraint

6 Coordinated Evacuations- not only in vulnerable areas but in pass through areas Increase Roadway Efficiency through traffic management, better signage, alternate routes, better loading of Contraflow Recognize that traffic congestion is inevitable everyone is competing for road space Educate the Public: Plans, Alternatives and Realistic Expectations Push Media Information every 30 minutes

7 Establish DOTD/LSP Traffic Control Center Station Contract Wreckers along routes Eliminate Choke Points: Input = Throughput = Output 11 lanes leave the City 11 lanes are accepted out beyond the City I-10 West Contraflow bgins in Metairie and end in LaPlace I-55 and I-59 Contraflow extends into Mississippi

8 PHASE I- (50 hours) Area south of Intracoastal Waterway- Outside of any levee protection system generally vulnerable to Cat 1 and 2 storms PHASE II- (40 hours) Area south of the Mississippi River east of BR and south of I- 10 west of BR- Some levee protection but generally vulnerable to Cat 2+ storms PHASE III- (30 hours) Eastbank Metro Area- Within levee protection system vulnerable to slow Cat 3 or any Cat 4 or 5 storms

9 Staging (72 hours in advance) Stage Assets Phase 1 (50 hours in advance) Evacuate South of Intracoastal Waterway No Interstate Route Restrictions Activate 24/7 Traffic Command Center Phase 2 (40 hours in advance) Evacuate South of Mississippi River, including Westbank Manage/control traffic at intersections Close public offices & schools Phase 3 (30 hours in advance) Evacuate East Jefferson & Orleans Parishes Implement Contraflow for Category III storm or greater Phase 4 (6 hours in advance) Discontinue Contraflow Prepare for re-entry No Travel Restrictions Contraflow Road Restrictions in Place Restrictions Lifted

10 Phase I 100,000 Residents Phase II 500,000 Residents Phase III 1,000,000 Residents

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12 Load Contraflow side (I-10 East) at 4 locations in Metairie and Kenner Normal flow side (I-10 West) will be directed to I-55 North Contraflow side will be crossed back to I-10 West side in LaPlace towards Baton Rouge

13 Causeway Bridge traffic will pass through Mandeville s 2 controlled traffic lights and continue north onto US 190 West (north) At I-12, Causeway traffic will be diverted to I- 12 West via a two lane ramp. This traffic will continue west to Hammond (I-55 Contraflow) and then north on I-55 I-12 West will be closed at Covington and directed to US 190 West (north)

14 I-55 North will be crossed to Contraflow side through a crossover at I-12 I-12 West will be directed to I-55 North I-55 Contraflow will continue into Mississippi to US 84 (Brookhaven) where Contraflow side will be diverted to US 84 West towards Natchez

15 3 lanes of I-10 East from New Orleans East will continue onto Eastbound Twin Span Bridge as 3 lanes by using the right shoulder as a travel lane Eastbound Twin Span Bridge will be heavily patrolled for crashes and breakdowns by Police and MAP units. Contract Wreckers will be stationed along the evacuation routes

16 2 lanes of I-10 East will be crossed to Contraflow side (I-59 South) through a crossover at the I-10/12/59 Interchange Right lane of I-10 East will continue onto I-59 North, I-10 West will be diverted to I-59 North No traffic will be allowed onto I-12 West from I-10

17 Plan- Have an evacuation plan to include alternate destinations. Two-thirds of the lanes out of Metro New Orleans go North. Leave Early- If you leave early there are no route restrictions. If you wait until Phase III begins you risk being directed away from your intended destination. Reliable Transportation- Check your vehicle (full fuel, spare tire, ) and take only the vehicle you need to evacuate in. Don t take more vehicles than you need.

18 1. Developed to improve on traffic congestion from Rita evacuation 2. Involves Lake Charles & Lafayette Regions 3. Applied lessons learned from New Orleans Contraflow Plan Maximize efficient use of northern routes Accommodate evacuation needs in susceptible areas first Eliminate, reduce or better manage congestion bottlenecks

19 Phase Condition Decision Staging (72 hours) Storm enters Gulf (Slow moving Category 3 or Higher) Stage field assets at Districts Place personnel on stand-by 1 (50 hours) Evacuation south of Intracoastal 2 (40 hours) Evacuation south of I-10 Prepare for Contraflow Stage field assets at roadside Mandatory evacuation for Lake Charles (includes urban area) Implement Lake Charles Contraflow Plan 3 (30 hours) Traffic conditions warrant, or Mass mandatory evacuation ordered Implement Lafayette Contraflow Plan

20 1. Significant traffic congestion resulted in SW LA from Rita evacuation 2. Evacuation plan needed to be improved 3. Benefits of Improved Plan maximizes use of northern routes accommodates evacuees from more susceptible areas addresses traffic needs from other states reduces traffic congestion on I-10

21 1. Restrict Interstate access to US 171 & US 165 NB, give priority to local evacuation needs 2. Upgrade signalization on US 171 & US 165 to better manage traffic in pass-through areas 3. Contraflow I-10 to provide more efficient access to US 165 NB 4. Contraflow I-49 to improve traffic flow at I-10/I-49 interchange

22 1. Operated for 25 hours 2. Over 1 million (est.) evacuated 3. Longest delay: 2 3 hours 4. Activated the Traffic Control Center 5. Achieved efficient use of Interstate & alternate routes 6. Educated & continuously informed public 7. Cited as a success by numerous entities in after action reviews

23 New crossovers constructed Portable variable message signs acquired Permanent message boards installed TCC completed and tested Maps developed and distributed Public education has begun and is on-going Plan has been exercised by all agencies at all levels

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