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TRANSCRIPT
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices
Module 4
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 2
Module Overview Covers current practices and successes in:
Policy
Impacts Assessment
Significant Projects
Transportation Management Plans (TMPs)
Data Collection and Analysis and Performance Monitoring
Coordinating Multiple Projects
Each section includes: State of the practice
Best practice examples
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 3
Overall Findings
Since the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule we have seen:Enhanced consideration of WZ impacts
Earlier planning for work zones
More focus on managing work zones
Enhanced training
More performance measurement
Numerous successful practice examples from a variety of agencies have emerged
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Policy
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 5
Work Zone Policy
Agencies pulled together several disparate policies and procedures/guidelines
Formed a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team (ongoing benefits)
Some agencies have established goals and measures for WZ performance (e.g., queues, delay time)
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 6
Washington State DOT WZ Policy
Establishes roles and expectations for the identified program areas
Greater communication and cooperation among all groups by providing a clear understanding of expectations
“Effective work zone safety and mobility strategies minimize traffic delays and provide a safe environment in which to work and drive."
-WSDOT WZ Policy Statement
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 7
Maryland State Highway Administration WZ Policy
Applies to all work performed on SHA-maintained roads
District Offices received extensive training on the policy
Careful consideration of WZ impacts should begin during planning and continue through design, construction, and post-construction review…
Compliance with this policy will benefit the traveling public by minimizing delays, reducing crashes, and providing greater safety...
This policy outlines the procedures to be followed and identifies responsibilities to achieve the desired end result – safer work zones with minimal impact on the traveling public.”-MDSHA Work Zone Policy Statement
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 8
Michigan DOT WZ Policy
Applies to all State trunklines, including freeway and non-freeway facilities
Applies to all types of work zones
Memos and presentations on policy have been given to all personnel
MDOT credits its WZ Safety and Mobility policy as the catalyst to look outside of normal operations when planning, designing, and constructing a project.
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 9
Policy Distribution and Training CO - Distributed to divisions through statewide
meeting forums ID – 1 day workshop with Regional and District
offices Invited people from design, maintenance, construction,
and anyone in the surrounding community to review the policy and procedures
Considering providing training on policy to utility companies
KY – Presentations at conferences, meetings over 2 years
AL, ID, MT, NH, NC, and VA - Shared their respective policies with MPOs
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Impacts Assessment
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 11
Impacts Assessment As a result of the Rule, agencies are:
Considering WZ impacts earlier in the project development process
Enhancing consideration and management of WZ safety and mobility impacts
Expanding planning and impacts assessment beyond the project WZ itself to address corridor, network, and regional issues
Using analytical traffic modeling to determine impacts of upcoming significant projects
Minimizing disruptions on major traffic corridors by optimizing the letting schedule
Coordinating projects so that multiple projects do not adversely impact traffic along certain corridors
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 12
Ohio DOT MOT Alternatives Analysis Used to identify and analyze
potential WZ impacts “constraints” early in project development
Occurs PRIOR to the first detail plan submissions
Early enough so that MOT can be used to help: Pick between feasible project
alternatives Size structure widths Highlight WZ right-of-way and
environmental impacts early enough to do something about them
The goal of the MOTAA is to identify potential traffic safety and mobility problems prior to detailed design so that a solution can be engineered into the design.
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 13
MOTAAMOT Policy ExceptionStage 1 Design
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 14
Ohio DOT MOT Process
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 15
Wisconsin DOT Lane Closure Analysis Tool Provides earlier sense of potential delay impacts Covers segments of the freeway/expressway
statewide Contains hourly traffic count data Contains pre-calculated estimates of road user
delay likely to occur if a lane is closed: Time of day Day of the week Seasons
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 16
Maryland SHA Lane Closure Analysis Program
Tool to quantify queues and delays from capacity decreases in freeway work zones
Compares expected travel demand against WZ capacity on an hour-by-hour basis to estimate delay and queue growth
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 17
Project Example: Missouri DOT I-64
Involved repairing/rebuilding 10 miles of roadway and 30 bridges
Project estimated to take 6-15 years
MoDOT Director challenged his staff to complete construction in 4 years
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 18
Missouri DOT I-64
Led to creative thinking, looking furtherLooked at regional road network
Saw they had many more options for MOT
Could complete the project in less time
Identified and analyzed potential impacts, both before and after bidding the project
Led to determination to use full closure with design-build
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 19
Missouri DOT I-64 Impacts Assessment Pre-Bidding
Regional modeling to predict how traffic would act under different road closure scenarios
During bid evaluation Checked contractor plans and models against
MoDOT pre-bid models After Contract Award
Impacts assessment to develop tables showing: Impacts during each year of construction on major roads and
bridge crossings at Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Excess capacity for each road so that detours could be
planned Impacts that the I-64 closure would have on transit
Impact mitigation strategies developed for the region and documented in the TMP
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 20
Benefits of Early Impacts Assessment for I-64 MoDOT was able to:
Make improvements to alternate routes before construction
Identify the best construction strategy for the project
Increase understanding of MOT options that could potentially shorten the duration of the project
Ensure the TMP contained appropriate strategies for mitigating impacts during construction
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 21
Missouri DOT I-64 Successes Results at project completion:$11 million under budget
Several weeks ahead of schedule
Extensive planning and preparation led to a successful project
Drivers adjusted work hours and avoided routes known to be problem spots
Planning enabled the team to respond quickly to problem spots and incidents
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Significant Projects
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 23
Significant Projects
Agencies now have a process in place to determine level of impacts of a project
Agencies using:Decision flowcharts
Quantitative and/or Qualitative criteria
Project impact levels
Some combination
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 24
Maryland State Highway Administration
Will the work involve continuous or intermittent lane closures on a freeway/expressway for three or more days?
Not a significant project. Proceed with project work.
YES Is the project a District project or minor project?
DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANT PROJECTFor District Projects and Minor Projects
Will the project comply with the work zone mobility policy?
Significant Project – Prepare Transportation Management Plan
Does the project fall under the “Blanket Exceptions” category?
Perform Maintenance of Traffic Alternatives Analysis (MOTAA)1
Will the selected alternative comply with the Work Zone Mobility Policy?
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
Not a significant project. Submit exception request.
YES
Not a significant project. Submit exception request.
Not a significant project. Proceed with project work.
Notes:
1. The MOTAA should be conducted during analysis of detailed alternatives, before a final alternative is selected to proceed to design. Each alternative’s ability to conform with the Work Zone Mobility Policy should be reviewed at this stage. Guidance on performing a MOTAA can be obtained from the Traffic Development and Support Division (TDSD).
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 25
Pennsylvania DOT Significant Project Determination
Based on amount of added travel time: < 15 minutes, impacts are acceptable >15 minutes and < 30 minutes, impacts are
acceptable if for 2 consecutive hours or less > 30 minutes, impacts are unacceptable and
alternate strategies must be considered
Districts use QuickZone, Synchro, HCS or similar programs to model the expected added travel time
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 26
Michigan DOT Significant Project Criteria
If one or more of these thresholds are exceeded, then the project is considered significant:Work zone delay greater than 10 minutes
Work zone LOS is lower than or equal to LOS D, or it drops to LOS C if the current operation is LOS A
Work zone volume/capacity ratio is greater than 0.80
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 27
Montana DOT Significant Projects Three levels of impacts
Level 1 – Impact the traveling public at the metropolitan, regional, or interstate level; directly impact a large number oftravelers
Level 2 - Impact the traveling public at the city or regional level; directly impact a moderate level of travelers
Level 3 - Impact the traveling public to a small degree; duration of work is short to moderate
All Level 1 projects are significant Policy includes a list of corridors in MT that are
automatically Level 1 and Level 2 Policy includes significant project identification checklist
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Transportation Management Plans (TMPs)
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 29
TMP Development Experience
Some States have developed hundreds of TMPsCA – Required TMPs since 2000
RI – Developed over 100 TMPs since 2009
MI – Developed over 150 since 2007
WI – Developed over 100 since 2008, most not for significant projects
OR – Developed over 80 since 2006
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 30
How Do States Develop TMPs?
CA, FL, MO, NC, RI, MI, WI
Training
CA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OR, VA, WI
Guidelines
PA, RI, MI, TNTemplates
StatesResource
“If you have a really good systematic process in place, and have developed checklists, guidance, and other materials to help facilitate this process, then you are less likely to miss steps in your TMP development and are less likely to leave important components out of the TMP.”
- MD SHA Team Leader, Traffic Policy and Management Team
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 31
Caltrans TMP Development Begins during project
initiation and planning
Responsibility of 3 individuals District traffic manager
(DTM) TMP manager Construction traffic manager
Categorized into 3 levels based on: Project characteristics Projected delay
The implementation of TMPs in California has helped to significantly reduce delays in work zones.
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 32
Caltrans TMP Levels
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 33
Rhode Island DOT TMP Guidance
Four TMP templates in MS Excel
Training on how to use the templates
Dedicated email account for TMP questions
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 34
Wisconsin DOT TMP Guidance
Helps WisDOT develop and implement TMPs effectively and consistently statewide
TMP worksheet/checklist
In process of developing benefit-cost guidelines for WZ impacts mitigation strategies
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 35
Michigan DOT TMP Development
“The TMP process gives us the opportunity to better plan for and manage our work zones. As a result of this process, we are able to identify potential impacts that previously might not have been recognized, and identify innovative strategies to manage these impacts through the coordination of construction design and delivery.”
- Michigan DOT Work Zone Delivery Engineer
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 36
Michigan TMP Review Teams Used when a project is
designed that exceeds significant project thresholds
TMP is reviewed against a checklist
Peer review team meets to discuss and rate TMPs:Green
Yellow
Red
Sample Review Checklist Questions:
•Traffic analysis methodology is appropriate and reasonable for the scope/complexity of the job/location and the results are clear and understandable.
•There is analysis of the alternatives considered, with an appropriate comparison of benefits and costs.
•There is adequate discussion and explanation of corridor impacts and/or an explanation of mobility influences beyond the project area including adjacent regions.
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 37
MDSHA Suitland Parkway Interchange TMP Benefits
TMP team found that during one stage of the project, a ramp would be constructed and left dormant until later in the project
Determined ramp could be used to divert traffic around the interchange reduced impacts to drivers and workers
Investigating alternatives early in TMP development and including people on the TMP team who had a broad perspective led to identifying a solution that was more feasible from a cost and implementation standpoint.
Looking at options during systems planning led to identification of a cost effective impact mitigation strategy
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 38
Wisconsin I-94 TMP Development Formed an external TMP
Advisory Group Organized into task
forces for traffic operations, public outreach, and incident management
Identified and implemented several effective strategies to mitigate impacts
“By involving the public, the resulting TMP met the needs of the community and was developed with their direct input, resulting in a higher satisfaction among those affected by the project.“
- WiscDOT State Traffic Engineer
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 39
Ohio DOT I-275 Overpass Beam and Deck Replacement TMP Benefits
Identified creative impacts mitigation strategyMaintained 3 lanes of traffic in each direction Used outside shoulders in both travel
directionsCrossed over 1 lane of traffic
No additional delay No serious injury crashes Positive feedback from the public
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 40
I-69 Reconstruction in MichiganTMP Benefits
Used a combination of innovative impacts mitigation strategies
Crash rate decreased during construction
Drivers are going the speed limit
Delay is less than expected
Data Collection and Analysis andPerformance Monitoring
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 42
Data Collection and Analysis
Many agencies have established measures to track WZ congestion and delay (57%) and crashes (82%)
Less than half of the States are collecting congestion and delay data
Many agencies are collecting some data to track WZ safety performance
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 43
Performance Monitoring/Process Reviews
82% of agencies have established WZ performance guidance
47% of agencies are using customer surveys to evaluate WZ performance
Most (if not all) agencies are doing annual WZ TTC field reviews
WZ process review is required at least every 2 years – most have done first review
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 44
Ohio DOT Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring
Historic Crash Data Used to track improvements to
WZ safety
Near Real-Time Crash Data Obtained from local law
enforcement Stored in database
Real Time Mobility/Speed Data Leasing speed & travel time
information Contract advertised and awarded
(low bid) separately from the construction project
Real-Time Mobility Data Example: 8 mile work zone Sensor spacing ½ mile in
transition area and 1 mile in work area Approximately 10 sensors
covers both directions Cost = $1,100/mo Gives real time data via
cellular broadband Can be used internally or
externally via the web
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 45
Ohio DOT WZ Crash Data Analysis
Began in 2002 See if increased number of WZs causes
more crashes and how they could be prevented
Used data from prior to and during construction to perform before/after comparison
Findings led to improvements to WZ planning and design procedures
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 46
Ohio DOT Historic Crash Data AnalysisConstruction Cost Awarded by ODOT vs. WZ Total Crashes
577258546389
7409
6808
8039
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
$$ i
n M
illi
on
s
5000
5500
6000
6500
7000
7500
8000
8500
# W
ork
Zo
ne
Cra
shes
Awarded Amount LPA projects WZ Crashes
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 47
Ohio DOT Near Real-Time Crash Data Analysis
Mile 16.2 – 16.99
Non WZ 7 Month Avg.
WZ 3 Month Total
BIG PROBLEM !!
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 48
Michigan DOT Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring
Monitoring plan included in TMP for significant projects Includes crash analysis before and after project
Weekly monitoringWZ delay and queue measurements taken by sensor,
field staff observations, and drive-throughs by student interns
Monitoring forms stored in project records system and can be referenced for future projects
Delay and queue data entered into database for periodic analysis
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 49
Michigan DOT Mobility Data Collection
Determined through real-time measurement of vehicle speeds
Regions collect data but not told how to do it
Mobility data must be recorded in a Delay Worksheet
Data used to evaluate project and program-level effectiveness In 2009 – 88% of MDOT projects met its 10-minute
delay criteria
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 50
Rhode Island DOT Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring
Construction staff are required to document all monitoring activities
Developed a specific set of TMP performance monitoring strategies
Include a post-construction WZ performance assessment section in TMP template
RIDOT Performance Monitoring Strategies
•Windshield surveys•Public surveys•Traffic counts•Traffic queues/delays•Travel time•Crash data•Mobility assessment•Safety assessment
•Road safety audits (construction)
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 51
Caltrans I-15 Devore Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring
Quantitatively evaluated impact of extended closures on highway network trafficMeasured traffic volumes and speeds before and
during construction
Conducted web-based surveys before and during construction
Found 20% reduction in traffic demand during the closures, which was 10% greater than originally planned
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 52
Maryland SHA I-495 Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring
Compared data from modeling to data from actual closure to determine: Percentage of vehicles that cancelled trips or
bypassed area due to public information and outreach campaign
How accurately pre- and post-construction simulation models replicated conditions in the field
Used to develop a basis for assumptions in future WZ modeling
Coordinating Multiple Projects
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 54
Coordinating Multiple Projects
Planning and impacts assessment beyond the WZ to address corridor/network/regional issues
Scheduling/Sequencing Optimizing letting schedule to ensure multiple
projects do not excessively impact traffic Inter- and intra-agency coordination to avoid
traffic impacts on 2 parallel routes at same time Possible cost-sharing of mitigation strategies
Planning process plays key role to coordinate concurrent projects and when a project has potential to cause corridor-wide impacts
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 55
Coordinating Multiple Projects: Minnesota DOT
WZ Policy includes: Impacts considerations worksheet to help identify
project impacts and potential mitigation strategies
Worksheet includes focus on Corridor, Network, and Community Issues: Includes impacts of other work zones in the vicinity of
the project, either at the corridor level or the network level.
Management Strategies Includes section on Project Coordination
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 56
Coordinating Multiple Projects: Utah DOT
Traffic Management Committee
Traffic management system improves regional mobility and allows information sharing across agency boundaries
Weekly construction coordination meetings held from April through October
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 57
Utah DOT WZ Planning
Program-level traffic analysis framework Facilitates implementation of construction
programsHelps determine operational treatments
during construction to alleviate impactsHelps determine timing and scheduling of
multiple construction projects at system level
Traffic data from MPO Early analysis results help with decisions
as early as possible
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 58
Coordinating Multiple Projects: Wisconsin DOT
Increasing emphasis on coordinating and scheduling projectsAnnual meeting to discuss how to coordinate
projects statewide over the next 2 years
Implementing statewide process to coordinate projects further in advance
TMP worksheet includes identification of adjacent projects
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 59
Coordinating Multiple Projects: Oregon DOT Identifying and addressing mobility
issues prior to and during design Statewide traffic mobility manager,
regional mobility liaisons, and Statewide Traffic Mobility Committee
Highway Mobility Operations Manual Web-based mobility tracking system Scheduling maintenance activities in
Microsoft Outlook Corridor-Level TMPs
An unprecedented era of road and bridge work is underway throughout the State. Maintaining mobility across corridors, regions, and throughout the state is a high priority for ODOT.
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 60
Oregon DOT Corridor-Level TMPs
Serve as framework for corridor management
Apply to all projects combined in the corridor
Define delay thresholds for each corridor If anticipated corridor delay > threshold
Review project schedules, staging, and traffic management strategies to try to reduce delays
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Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 61
Tips for Coordinating Multiple Projects Begin mitigation efforts long before
construction Foster communication within and across
agencies and utilities Develop a Concept of Operations Appoint a corridor- or regional-level traffic
mobility coordinator Consider impacts of local events and special
travel days Use data and tools like traffic simulation to
better understand traffic patterns along the corridor and alternate routes
Analyze and discuss the impacts of traffic diversion to other jurisdictions and communities
Look for solutions at both the planning and operational level
A corridor-wide approach to planning for construction projects can alleviate impacts at a larger than normal scale and can optimize traffic flow on the mainline and alternate routes during construction.
Examples of Work Zone Best Practices 62
Additional Examples and Resourceshttp://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rule/examples.htm
Additional examples and resources on: WZ Policies Assessing and Managing WZ Impacts Use of WZ Data WZ Training Process Reviews Significant Projects TMPs Public Information and Outreach
Case studies showing how some agencies have implemented all aspects of the Rule