Examples of Work Zone Best Practices Module 4. Examples of Work Zone Best Practices2 Module Overview...

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


Overall Findings Since the Work Zone Safety and Mobility

Rule we have seen:Enhanced consideration of WZ impactsEarlier planning for work zonesMore focus on managing work zonesEnhanced trainingMore performance measurement

Numerous successful practice examples from a variety of agencies have emerged

Policy


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)


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


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


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.


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

Impacts Assessment


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


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.


MOTAAMOT Policy ExceptionStage 1 Design


Ohio DOT MOT Process


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


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


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


Missouri DOT I-64 Led to creative thinking, looking further

Looked at regional road networkSaw they had many more options for MOTCould 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


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


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


Missouri DOT I-64 Successes Results at project completion:

$11 million under budgetSeveral 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

Significant Projects


Significant Projects

Agencies now have a process in place to determine level of impacts of a project

Agencies using:Decision flowchartsQuantitative and/or Qualitative criteriaProject impact levelsSome combination


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).


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


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


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 of travelers

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

Transportation Management Plans (TMPs)


TMP Development Experience

Some States have developed hundreds of TMPsCA – Required TMPs since 2000RI – Developed over 100 TMPs since 2009MI – Developed over 150 since 2007WI – Developed over 100 since 2008, most

not for significant projectsOR – Developed over 80 since 2006


How Do States Develop TMPs?

Resource States

Templates PA, RI, MI, TN

Guidelines CA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OR, VA, WI

Training CA, FL, MO, NC, RI, MI, WI

“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


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.


Caltrans TMP Levels


Rhode Island DOT TMP Guidance

Four TMP templates in MS Excel

Training on how to use the templates

Dedicated email account for TMP questions


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Ohio DOT Near Real-Time Crash Data Analysis

Mile 16.2 – 16.99

Non WZ 7 Month Avg.

WZ 3 Month Total

BIG PROBLEM !!


Michigan DOT Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring Monitoring plan included in TMP for significant

projects Includes crash analysis before and after project

Weekly monitoring WZ 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


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


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)


Caltrans I-15 Devore Data Collection, Analysis, and Performance Monitoring

Quantitatively evaluated impact of extended closures on highway network traffic Measured 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


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


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


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


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


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


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 advanceTMP worksheet includes identification of

adjacent projects


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.


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


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.


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

Examples of Work Zone Best Practices Module 4. Examples of Work Zone Best Practices2 Module Overview...

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