Congestion Management Process

The Congestion Management Process (CMP) is a systematic, cyclical, and regionally accepted approach for managing congestion that generates current information regarding regional congestion, outlines methods for identifying congestion management needs, identifies strategies to mitigate congestion, defines performance measures and targets related to congestion, and defines the path for implementing strategies through COMPASS’ transportation improvement program (TIP) and long-range transportation plan (Communities in Motion).

The intent of the CMP is to establish a transparent, collaborative, data-driven decision-making process for making targeted investments in congestion management strategies that support the long-term vision and goals of the region. A CMP is federally required for areas with populations exceeding 200,000, known as Transportation Management Areas. While only a portion of COMPASS’ planning area is subject to this requirement (the Boise Urbanized Area), COMPASS’ CMP covers its entire planning area.

COMPASS’ current CMP was accepted by the COMPASS Board of Directors in April 2022 and replaced the previous 2005 version. It includes the most recent congestion related goals, objectives, performance measures, and targets for the region; incorporates new data sets for identifying and analyzing congestion; expands the toolkit for congestion management strategies; and better describes the integration between the CMP and the TIP and long-range transportation plan.

COMPASS reports on regional congestion management performance on an annual basis. The congestion management annual report uses data to show trends in congestion, measure progress toward meeting congestion-related performance measures, and recommend strategies to mitigate congestion in Ada and Canyon Counties, Idaho – the Treasure Valley. The most recent congestion management annual report can be found below; older reports can be found on the Reports web page.

Transportation system management and operations involve multi-modal transportation and emergency management agencies, and include planning and implementation of ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) and the I-84/I-184 detours online interactive map.