Urban Partnership Agreement
Encyclopedia
The Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) is an effort of the United States Department of Transportation
and agencies in four metropolitan areas across the country which are testing out several technologies as an effort to reduce congestion in urban areas. The metro areas of Miami, Florida
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
, San Francisco, California
, and Seattle, Washington
are participants. The technologies being used include bus rapid transit
(BRT), high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and other congestion pricing
, dynamic message signs, and other lane management signage.
The federal Department of Transportation sent out requests for cities willing to participate in December 2006. The cities with the most aggressive plans to mitigate congestion were to be selected. Five participants were announced in August 2007, which included the regions listed above as well as New York City
, but New York eventually failed to meet the terms of the agreement they had struck, and was removed from the program.
The UPA is focused on using what it calls "the 4Ts" to reduce congestion: tolling, transit, telecommuting, and technology.
that can be used by registered carpools, hybrid cars, and bus
es, in addition to toll-paying customers using SunPass
. Ramp meter
ing was also installed.
. In downtown, a project called "Marq2" has been undertaken to rebuild Marquette Avenue South and Second Avenue South with two-lane busways and a system using lettered gates to allow express bus
es to flow through the downtown region more quickly. Gates on Marquette Avenue are lettered A, B, C, and D, while gate letters E, F, G, and H are used along Second Avenue. "NexTrip" real-time LED
message signs indicating bus arrival times are also installed at each gate. Marq2 began operation in December 2009.
Other UPA projects in the region were largely related to building the I-35W Bus Rapid Transitway. This included several stops and park and ride
facilities. I-35W also includes HOT lanes which use the MnPASS
system. The other lanes of I-35W also received dynamic active traffic management
signage which gives suggested speed limits which attempt to calm the flow of congested traffic.
system, enhanced 5-1-1
service (both via phone and web interface), improvements to ferry
services, and a better traffic forecasting system for the Grand and MacArthur BRT projects in Oakland
.
need to be replaced, though replacement is not part of the UPA program, and the tolls are one way to generate funds for a replacement span.
The UPA program in Seattle also involved hybrid buses and real-time arrival signage at bus stops as well as improved park-and-ride facilities. Seattle has the largest ferry fleet
in the United States. That system was also funded, including improvements to the terminals at Mukilteo and Guemes Island, as well as investments in high-speed, ultra-low wake ferries.
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
and agencies in four metropolitan areas across the country which are testing out several technologies as an effort to reduce congestion in urban areas. The metro areas of Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
are participants. The technologies being used include bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT), high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and other congestion pricing
Congestion pricing
Congestion pricing or congestion charges is a system of surcharging users of a transport network in periods of peak demand to reduce traffic congestion. Examples include some toll-like road pricing fees, and higher peak charges for utilities, public transport and slots in canals and airports...
, dynamic message signs, and other lane management signage.
The federal Department of Transportation sent out requests for cities willing to participate in December 2006. The cities with the most aggressive plans to mitigate congestion were to be selected. Five participants were announced in August 2007, which included the regions listed above as well as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but New York eventually failed to meet the terms of the agreement they had struck, and was removed from the program.
The UPA is focused on using what it calls "the 4Ts" to reduce congestion: tolling, transit, telecommuting, and technology.
Miami
In Miami, the primary UPA project is the "95 Express" program, which added high-occupancy toll lanes to Interstate 95Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
that can be used by registered carpools, hybrid cars, and bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es, in addition to toll-paying customers using SunPass
SunPass
SunPass is an electronic toll collection system in use by the State of Florida and was originally created by the Florida Department of Transportation's Florida's Turnpike...
. Ramp meter
Ramp meter
A ramp meter, ramp signal or metering light is a device, usually a basic traffic light or a two-section signal light together with a signal controller, that regulates the flow of traffic entering freeways according to current traffic conditions...
ing was also installed.
Minneapolis
The UPA projects in Minneapolis extend from the city's central business district south along Interstate 35WInterstate 35W (Minnesota)
Interstate 35W , is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota, passing through downtown Minneapolis. It is one of two through routes for Interstate 35 through the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the other being Interstate 35E through downtown Saint Paul...
. In downtown, a project called "Marq2" has been undertaken to rebuild Marquette Avenue South and Second Avenue South with two-lane busways and a system using lettered gates to allow express bus
Express bus
An express bus service is a bus service that is intended to run faster than normal bus services between the same two commuter points....
es to flow through the downtown region more quickly. Gates on Marquette Avenue are lettered A, B, C, and D, while gate letters E, F, G, and H are used along Second Avenue. "NexTrip" real-time LED
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
message signs indicating bus arrival times are also installed at each gate. Marq2 began operation in December 2009.
Other UPA projects in the region were largely related to building the I-35W Bus Rapid Transitway. This included several stops and park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
facilities. I-35W also includes HOT lanes which use the MnPASS
MnPASS
MnPASS is an electronic toll collection system operated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.The MnPASS transponder has a minimum first time charge of US$40, and there is a monthly fee of $1.50 to lease the transponder. Rush hour tolls for I-394 are usually between $1 and $4, though highly...
system. The other lanes of I-35W also received dynamic active traffic management
Active Traffic Management
Active traffic management , also known as managed lanes or smart lanes, is a scheme for improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on motorways. It has been implemented in several countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
signage which gives suggested speed limits which attempt to calm the flow of congested traffic.
San Francisco
Projects in San Francisco include "SFpark", a variable-price on-street and off-street parkingParking meter
A parking meter is a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meters can be used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing their integrated on-street parking policy, usually related to their traffic and...
system, enhanced 5-1-1
5-1-1
5-1-1, initially designated for road weather information, is a transportation and traffic information telephone hotline in some regions of the United States and Canada. Travelers can dial the three-digit telephone number 5-1-1 on traditional landline telephones and most mobile phones. It is an N11...
service (both via phone and web interface), improvements to ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services, and a better traffic forecasting system for the Grand and MacArthur BRT projects in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
Seattle
The primary project in the Seattle area is related to handling congestion on Washington State Route 520 with tolling. The freeway's floating bridges over Lake WashingtonLake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
need to be replaced, though replacement is not part of the UPA program, and the tolls are one way to generate funds for a replacement span.
The UPA program in Seattle also involved hybrid buses and real-time arrival signage at bus stops as well as improved park-and-ride facilities. Seattle has the largest ferry fleet
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
in the United States. That system was also funded, including improvements to the terminals at Mukilteo and Guemes Island, as well as investments in high-speed, ultra-low wake ferries.