Paving the information highway

Building public trust through reliable communications

Brian MantheyCommunications Officer

Marquette Interchange TeamWisconsin Department of

TransportationSeptember 12, 2005

Cornerstone of downtown;Gateway to the stateDowntown Milwaukee relies on theMarquette Interchange

75,000 downtown residents 1.1 million residents in total market areaAlmost 4,300 private downtown businesses121,600 private jobs7 million visitors to downtown festivals & attractions

Wisconsin relies on the Marquette Interchange

Access to 37% of state’s jobs and population in southeastern WisconsinAccess to another 24% of state’s jobs and population in eastern countiesKey tourism access to Door County, Green Bay, and NE Wisconsin

Downtown Milwaukee relies on theMarquette Interchange

75,000 downtown residents 1.1 million residents in total market areaAlmost 4,300 private downtown businesses121,600 private jobs7 million visitors to downtown festivals & attractions

Wisconsin relies on the Marquette Interchange

Access to 37% of state’s jobs and population in southeastern WisconsinAccess to another 24% of state’s jobs and population in eastern countiesKey tourism access to Door County, Green Bay, and NE Wisconsin

History of the Marquette Interchange (1952-Present)

1952: A north-south/east-west freeway with an interchange is proposed southeast of the Marquette University campus1968: The Marquette Interchange is dedicated and opens to traffic on Dec. 23rd

1972: Second proposed freeway and interchange north of downtown is de-mapped due to freeway opposition1992: Accelerated deterioration and traffic safety issues lead to recommendation to rebuild the interchange2002: Preliminary plans for the redesign of the Marquette Interchange complete2004: Construction begins on $810 Million redesign of the interchange

1952: A north-south/east-west freeway with an interchange is proposed southeast of the Marquette University campus1968: The Marquette Interchange is dedicated and opens to traffic on Dec. 23rd

1972: Second proposed freeway and interchange north of downtown is de-mapped due to freeway opposition1992: Accelerated deterioration and traffic safety issues lead to recommendation to rebuild the interchange2002: Preliminary plans for the redesign of the Marquette Interchange complete2004: Construction begins on $810 Million redesign of the interchange

What are the problems?

Structure deteriorationCrash rates are high

Traffic congestion

Project Goal: Redesign and rebuild the Marquette Interchange

Reconstruction project addresses needs for the community and the state, with an overall budget of $810 million and construction from 2004 to 2008

TRUST –Building a foundation for success

Trust is:built and maintained by many small actions over time; taking someone at their word and expressing a belief they will follow through in all they promised.

Trust is:built and maintained by many small actions over time; taking someone at their word and expressing a belief they will follow through in all they promised.

TRUST –Identify and empower stakeholders

Business community. Find a way to keep Milwaukee open for business while rebuilding the interchangeUse existing voices within the business community

Neighborhood communities. Traditional neighborhoodsSchools – Marquette , MSOE, MPSContract with existing voicesPolitical contact

Driving publicCommutersOccasional visitorsTourists

Business community. Find a way to keep Milwaukee open for business while rebuilding the interchangeUse existing voices within the business community

Neighborhood communities. Traditional neighborhoodsSchools – Marquette , MSOE, MPSContract with existing voicesPolitical contact

Driving publicCommutersOccasional visitorsTourists

CHALLENGE –Keep downtown open for business

Action planUtilize the best available ITS

and communications tools to reinforce message, deliver on promises and build public trustMaintain access to downtown from alternate ramp locations when necessaryMaintain two lanes from all directions (EB, WB, SB, NB) in peak periods

Action planUtilize the best available ITS

and communications tools to reinforce message, deliver on promises and build public trustMaintain access to downtown from alternate ramp locations when necessaryMaintain two lanes from all directions (EB, WB, SB, NB) in peak periods Beth Nicols

Downtown Business Association

Challenge –Motorists safety and peace of mind

Special emphasis on work zone safety in conjunction with Milwaukee Co Sheriff

Traffic response units to clear incidents quickly

Regular traffic control inspections

Action – Utilize real-time info and safety elementsTraffic Operation Center (TOC) Milwaukee County Sheriff

Update traffic cams and traffic detection tools

24/7 Operations began July 1

Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Freeway Service Patrols

One vehicle/deputy each shift operating 24/6 (off Sunday)

Action: ITS signage both from TOC and contractors

VMS, CMS and trailblazing signageVariable Message Signs (VMS)Variable Message Signs (VMS) Changeable Message Signs

Trailblazing signage

Action – ITSInteractive web site based on construction schedule

“Map-It” Tool Route planning generated by using construction schedule. Traffic Information Map Includes TOC generated real-time performance data, alerts, and traffic-cam photos.TrafficBugIcon can be installed on computer toolbar; flashes when alerts occur within user’s selected routes

“Map-It” Tool Route planning generated by using construction schedule. Traffic Information Map Includes TOC generated real-time performance data, alerts, and traffic-cam photos.TrafficBugIcon can be installed on computer toolbar; flashes when alerts occur within user’s selected routes

MCHANGE.ORG

TOUR =>

No good deed goes unpunished…

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel HeadlinesMilwaukee Journal Sentinel Headlines

The headline that hasn’t appeared…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelProject Web site fails Information unreliable

Milwaukee Journal SentinelProject Web site fails Information unreliable

Other traffic mitigation effortsUp-to-date Get Around Guide

Other traffic mitigation efforts Media communications

Other traffic mitigation effortsAlternate Routes and alternate modes

Enhance transit optionsLocal bus routesFreeway & festival flyers

Project hotline888-468-0037Updated message for short-term closures

Improve alternate routesRealign intersectionsAdjust traffic signal timingAdjust parking

Enhance transit optionsLocal bus routesFreeway & festival flyers

Project hotline888-468-0037Updated message for short-term closures

Improve alternate routesRealign intersectionsAdjust traffic signal timingAdjust parking

Results -mchange.org delivers as promised

Over 31 million hits since October 2004.Usage spikes at key points of the projectVisits recorded from all 50 states and all Canadian ProvincesBusiness have linked to Map-it directions

Over 31 million hits since October 2004.Usage spikes at key points of the projectVisits recorded from all 50 states and all Canadian ProvincesBusiness have linked to Map-it directions

RESULT –Minimal average increase in travel times

Milwaukee-area travel times

Travel times as of 4:01:35 PM (CDT) Wed., May. 4, 2005Times in parentheses are free-flow (normal) travel times.

I-43 NB Downtown - Brown Deer Rd. 11:00 minutes (11 min) No delay

I-43 SB Capitol Dr. - Downtown 8:32 minutes (4 min) +4:32

I-43 SB Brown Deer Rd. - Downtown 14:58 minutes (10 min) +4:58

I-894 EB Hale - Mitchell 5:29 minutes (6 min) No delay

I-894 WB Hale - Zoo 4:35 minutes (4 min) +0:35

I-94 EB Moorland Rd. - Zoo 7:43 minutes (3 min) +4:43

I-94 EB Hwy 16 - Zoo 22:21 minutes (10 min) +12:21

I-94 EB Moorland Rd. - Downtown 12:51 minutes (10 min) +2:51

I-94 NB 7 Mile Rd. - Layton Ave. 7:01 minutes (7 min) +0:01

I-94 NB Layton Ave. - Downtown 6:38 minutes (6 min) +0:38

US45 SB Hwy Q - Zoo 19:33 minutes (15 min) +4:33

US45 SB Good Hope Rd. - Zoo 15:47 minutes (9 min) +6:47

RESULT –Downtown has stayed open for business

Wells Street Bridge demolition on December 10, 2004 (Friday night) required complete closure of I-43Despite closure, at least 22,000 downtown arts, entertainment and Milwaukee Bucks customers got home safelyMedia reports and mchange.org were key tools to keep motorists informed about the eventPublic confidence in the management of the project soared

Wells Street Bridge demolition on December 10, 2004 (Friday night) required complete closure of I-43Despite closure, at least 22,000 downtown arts, entertainment and Milwaukee Bucks customers got home safelyMedia reports and mchange.org were key tools to keep motorists informed about the eventPublic confidence in the management of the project soared

Wrap-up

Trust is built and maintained through many small actions over time.Embrace the idea of public trust as the foundation of project success.Identify and empower stakeholders early in the process. Commit to technology and ideas that produces reliable communications and fosters public trust.

Trust is built and maintained through many small actions over time.Embrace the idea of public trust as the foundation of project success.Identify and empower stakeholders early in the process. Commit to technology and ideas that produces reliable communications and fosters public trust.

Intelligent

Trust-building

Traffic

Systems