Managing Work Zone Safety and Mobility presented by Param Sankar Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

transcript

Managing Work Zone Safety and Managing Work Zone Safety and MobilityMobility

presented by presented by

Param SankarParam SankarCambridge Systematics, Inc.Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

(AASHTO)(AASHTO)

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline • Key Issues

• Traffic Control Transportation Management

• FHWA’s Final Rule on Work Zone (WZ) Safety and Mobility

• Systematically Addressing WZ Issues in Project Delivery

• Resources and More Information– WZ Management Strategies

Key IssuesKey Issues

More Work Zones More Work Zones • Our highways are approaching “middle age”

– More construction and repair is needed – MORE WORK ZONESMORE WORK ZONES

About 20% of NHS is under construction during the peak summer road work season

CongestionCongestion• Growing traffic volumes and congestion

– Vehicle travel up, but very little growth in road milestravel up, but very little growth in road miles

100110120130140150160170180

VMT (millions) Lane Mile Index

1980 to 2001 – VMT increased by 82%, while highway lane miles only increased 4.2%

Work Zones Add to Congestion Work Zones Add to Congestion • Work Zones add to the congestion problem

Safety Safety • Work zone safety continues to be a concern

– 2003 to 2005: Roughly 40,000 injuries40,000 injuries and 1,000 fatalities 1,000 fatalities in WZs every year

Contractors Under Pressure Contractors Under Pressure • More work is done under traffic

– CompressedCompressed contractor schedules, interrupted shifts, increasing night worknight work– Worker safetyWorker safety– Quality of workQuality of work

Public Dissatisfaction Public Dissatisfaction • Travelers are not happy with work zones

– UnexpectedUnexpected road conditions and inconsistencyinconsistency cause traveler frustration

2000 Traveler Survey - work zones received second lowest overall satisfaction level!

Culture ChangeCulture ChangeTraffic Control Transportation ManagementTraffic Control Transportation Management

Traffic Control Transportation ManagementTraffic Control Transportation Management• Systematic approach to assess and manage WZ impacts – –

customer-focused approachcustomer-focused approach• Expand thinking beyond the actual WZ itself

– Corridor, network and regional issues – alternate routes, modes, adjacent corridors, truck traffic, incidents, etc.

• Expand WZ management beyond “traffic safety and control”– Address mobility in addition to safety– Address current day issues of ““operations and managementoperations and management”” and ““public public

informationinformation””

• Advocate innovative thinking in WZ planning, design, and management– Think outside of the “traffic safety and control” box

FHWA’s Rule on Work FHWA’s Rule on Work Zone Safety and Zone Safety and

MobilityMobility

FHWA’s Final RuleFHWA’s Final Rule• Entitled “Work Zone Safety and Mobility”• Published September 9, 2004; • Compliance date – October 12, 2007• Key aspects

– Institutionalize WZ processes and procedures– Partnership and multi-disciplinary approach– Advance WZ considerations throughout project delivery– Traffic Control Plan (TCPs)Traffic Control Plan (TCPs) Transportation Management Plans Transportation Management Plans

(TMPs)(TMPs)– Active monitoring and management of WZ performance

Key Concepts/ProvisionsKey Concepts/ProvisionsWZ ImpactsWZ Impacts

Impacts may Impacts may extend beyond extend beyond

the WZthe WZ- RoadwayRoadway- Other corridorsOther corridors- IntersectionsIntersections- InterchangesInterchanges- Other modesOther modes- Network/regionNetwork/region

Impacts may vary Impacts may vary based on factors based on factors

such as:such as:- Road classificationRoad classification- Area typeArea type- Traffic characteristicsTraffic characteristics- Travel characteristicsTravel characteristics- Type of workType of work- Time of dayTime of day- Project complexityProject complexity

WZ ImpactsWZ ImpactsWZ induced deviation WZ induced deviation from the normal range from the normal range of transportation of transportation system safety and system safety and mobility……mobility……

Key Concepts/ProvisionsKey Concepts/Provisions

Transportation Management Plan (TMP)Transportation Management Plan (TMP)• Consists of strategies to manage WZ impacts of projectsConsists of strategies to manage WZ impacts of projects• AlwaysAlways has a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Plan has a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Plan• In addition, it In addition, it maymay also have: also have:

– Transportation Operations (TO)Transportation Operations (TO) component, and component, and– Public Information (PI)Public Information (PI) component component

• Scope, content and degree of detail depends on State’sScope, content and degree of detail depends on State’s– WZ policy provisions, andWZ policy provisions, and– Understanding of expected WZ impacts of projectsUnderstanding of expected WZ impacts of projects

TMPTMP

Obviously, you can’t have TO and Obviously, you can’t have TO and PI components for all projects – PI components for all projects –

so, there had to be a way to so, there had to be a way to stratify TMPsstratify TMPs

Key Concepts/ProvisionsKey Concepts/Provisions Significant Significant ProjectsProjects

• What is a significant project?What is a significant project?– Causes sustained WZ impacts, greater than what is considered Causes sustained WZ impacts, greater than what is considered

“tolerable” based on State policy and(or) engineering judgment“tolerable” based on State policy and(or) engineering judgment

– Specifically, all Interstate projects in designated TMAs that last more Specifically, all Interstate projects in designated TMAs that last more than three days with continuous or intermittent lane closuresthan three days with continuous or intermittent lane closures

• How are the TMP provisions stratified?How are the TMP provisions stratified?– For significant projects, TMPs must consist of a TTC plan, and also For significant projects, TMPs must consist of a TTC plan, and also

address TO and PI componentsaddress TO and PI components

– For all other projects, TMPs to consist at least of a TTC planFor all other projects, TMPs to consist at least of a TTC plan

Project Delivery CycleProject Delivery Cycle

Systems Planning (TIP/STIP)

Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I)

Design, PS&E, and Contracting

Construction

Performance Assessment

Policy and Standard ProceduresPolicy and Standard Procedures

Construction

• Implement overall WZ safety and Implement overall WZ safety and mobility policymobility policy– Facilitates systematic consideration and Facilitates systematic consideration and

management of WZ impacts throughout project management of WZ impacts throughout project development and implementationdevelopment and implementation

– Sensitive to varying project characteristics and Sensitive to varying project characteristics and expected WZ impactsexpected WZ impacts

– Multi-disciplinary team approachMulti-disciplinary team approach

• Standard processes / procedures to Standard processes / procedures to help apply the policy to projectshelp apply the policy to projects

Systems Planning (TIP/STIP)Systems Planning (TIP/STIP)

• Get a “conceptual” understanding of Get a “conceptual” understanding of expected WZ impacts of projectsexpected WZ impacts of projects

• Identify “significant projects”Identify “significant projects”• Allocate budgets and program the Allocate budgets and program the

right amount of $$right amount of $$

Construction

Preliminary Eng. / Investigation (PE&I)Preliminary Eng. / Investigation (PE&I)

• IdentifyIdentify potential WZ impacts potential WZ impacts• IdentifyIdentify potential transportation potential transportation

management strategiesmanagement strategies• IdentifyIdentify other coordination issues other coordination issues• Prepare blueprintPrepare blueprint for designing the for designing the

project and developing the project and developing the appropriate TMPappropriate TMP

Construction

Design, PS&E, and ContractingDesign, PS&E, and Contracting

• Assess / Analyze WZ impacts Assess / Analyze WZ impacts (progressively and comprehensively)(progressively and comprehensively)– Address alternative design, construction, Address alternative design, construction,

contracting, and management strategies in the contracting, and management strategies in the assessmentassessment

• Develop appropriate TMPDevelop appropriate TMP• Include appropriate TMP items in Include appropriate TMP items in

PS&EPS&E

Construction

ConstructionConstruction

• Implement TMPImplement TMP• Monitor safety and mobilityMonitor safety and mobility

– Use field observations, crash data, and Use field observations, crash data, and operational information to manage impactsoperational information to manage impacts

• Consult with appropriate Consult with appropriate stakeholdersstakeholders

• Conduct project reviews for gauging Conduct project reviews for gauging overall performanceoverall performance

Construction

Performance Assessment (Post-hoc)Performance Assessment (Post-hoc)

• Analyze crash and operational data Analyze crash and operational data from multiple projectsfrom multiple projects– Towards improving processes and proceduresTowards improving processes and procedures

• Maintain data and information Maintain data and information resources to support improvementsresources to support improvements

• Conduct process reviewsConduct process reviews– WZ data analysis and/or project reviewsWZ data analysis and/or project reviews– Improve WZ processes and procedures, data and Improve WZ processes and procedures, data and

information resources, and training programsinformation resources, and training programs

Construction

Resources and More Resources and More InformationInformation

FHWA – Rule Related GuidanceFHWA – Rule Related Guidancehttp://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rule.htm

• FAQs • TMP Development Guide • Public Information and Outreach Guide• Comprehensive Rule Implementation Guide • Work Zone Impacts Assessment Guide – coming soon• Other content

– Final Rule Language – Informational Materials – Presentations– Real-World Examples

TMP Guide – TMP Strategies SectionTMP Guide – TMP Strategies Section• TTC Strategies

– Control strategies– Traffic control devices– Project coordination, contracting and innovative

construction

• PI Strategies– Public awareness– Motorist information

• TO Strategies– Demand management– Corridor/network management– WZ safety management– Traffic and incident management and enforcement

TMP Guide – TMP Strategies SectionTMP Guide – TMP Strategies Section• WZ Management Strategy Selection Matrix

FHWA WZ WebsiteFHWA WZ Website URL: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/

AASHTO Peer Exchange WorkshopAASHTO Peer Exchange Workshop

URL: http://tig.transportation.org/?siteid=57&pageid=1594

Managing Work Zone Safety and Mobility presented by Param Sankar Cambridge Systematics, Inc.

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