the final rule on work zone safety and mobility · 6 overview of the final rule • published...

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Federal Highway Administration, USDOTFederal Highway Administration, USDOT

The Final Rule on Work Zone The Final Rule on Work Zone Safety and MobilitySafety and Mobility

Updates to 23 CFR Section 630, Subpart JUpdates to 23 CFR Section 630, Subpart J

Presented by Presented by Tracy Scriba , Federal Highway AdministrationTracy Scriba , Federal Highway AdministrationTalking Operations Seminar Talking Operations Seminar –– February 17, 2005February 17, 2005

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AgendaAgenda• Why update the work zone rule

• Overview of the final rule

• Influence on project delivery

• Outreach and implementation guidance

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Why Update the WZ RuleWhy Update the WZ Rule• Legislative requirement

– Congress required the FHWA to review current work zone problems and update the regulation to:

• So, we were told to update the regulation, but ……

• We also believe that it makes good sense to update it

““Better reflect current needs for Better reflect current needs for improved safetyimproved safety and and to to minimize disruptions to trafficminimize disruptions to traffic during the during the

construction of highway projects”construction of highway projects”

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Why Update the WZ Rule Why Update the WZ Rule Influencing Factors:• Growing traffic volumes and congestion

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

• Our highways are approaching middle age– More construction and repair is needed, which means more work zones

• More work is done under traffic– Compressed contractor schedules– Increasing night work

• Work zone safety continues to be a concern– Over 41,000 injuries and 1028 fatalities in 2003

• Travelers are not happy with work zones– Unexpected road conditions and inconsistency cause traveler frustration

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RuleRule--making Processmaking ProcessWZ

Feb 2002 May 2003 May 2004 Sep 2004

Public Outreach & Comments



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Overview of the Final RuleOverview of the Final Rule• Published September 9, 2004• Must be implemented by October 12, 2007Goals:• Expand thinking beyond the actual WZ itself

– Corridor, network, and regional issues

• Expand WZ management beyond “traffic safety and control”– Address mobility in addition to safety– Facilitate customer-focused project development through comprehensive

consideration of work zone impacts– Address current day issues with “operations and management” and “public

information”

• Advocate innovative thinking in WZ planning, design, and management

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Overview of the Final RuleOverview of the Final RuleSpecific Focus Areas:• Institutionalize WZ processes, procedures, practices

• Advocate partnership, and multi-disciplinary approach

• Communicate more effectively with the public

• Advance WZ considerations throughout project delivery

• Address needs for different project types and classes

• Emphasize work zone focused training

• Emphasize performance monitoring and assessment

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ProjectProject--Level Procedures to Assess and Manage Level Procedures to Assess and Manage Impacts on Individual ProjectsImpacts on Individual Projects

State implemented policy for the systematic State implemented policy for the systematic consideration and management of WZ impactsconsideration and management of WZ impacts

Processes and procedures to implement and sustain Processes and procedures to implement and sustain WZ policyWZ policy

Provisions Provisions –– In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

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Project Delivery CycleProject Delivery Cycle

Systems Planning (TIP/STIP)

Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I)

Design, PS&E, and Contracting

Construction

Performance Assessment

Polic

y &

Stan

dard

Pro

cedu

res

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PolicyPolicy

•• State implemented WZ safety and State implemented WZ safety and mobility policymobility policy–– Systematic consideration and management of Systematic consideration and management of

WZ impacts throughout project development WZ impacts throughout project development and implementation based on State criteriaand implementation based on State criteria

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

–– MultiMulti--disciplinary team approachdisciplinary team approach




Construction


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Standard ProceduresStandard Procedures

•• Standard processes / procedures toStandard processes / procedures to–– Assess and manage WZ impactsAssess and manage WZ impacts–– Require training for personnelRequire training for personnel–– Use crash and operational data for process / Use crash and operational data for process /

procedural improvementprocedural improvement–– Conduct biConduct bi--annual performance reviewsannual performance reviews




Construction


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ProjectProject--Level ProceduresLevel Procedures• Identify significant projects

• Develop transportation management plans (TMPs) for projects

• Include appropriate TMP provisions in the PS&Es

• Implement and monitor TMPs for projects

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

•• Identify projects expected to cause Identify projects expected to cause “significant work zone impacts” early “significant work zone impacts” early in the project development processin the project development process




Construction


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

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

management strategiesmanagement strategies•• IdentifyIdentify other coordination issuesother coordination issues




Construction


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

•• Assess WZ impacts (progressively Assess WZ impacts (progressively and comprehensively)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


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ConstructionConstruction

•• Implement TMP requirementsImplement TMP requirements•• 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

•• Review random projects as Review random projects as appropriateappropriate




Construction


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Performance AssessmentPerformance Assessment

•• 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 biConduct bi--annual process reviewsannual 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


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In EssenceIn Essence• Advance WZ considerations as early as practical / possible• A State driven approach – implement a policy to consider and

manage WZ impacts of projects• Develop and implement State-level procedures for systematic

consideration and management of WZ impacts• Understand the WZ impacts of different projects and project types• Manage the WZ impacts of projects by developing and

implementing TMPs appropriate to the project• Monitor the performance of WZs during implementation and make

changes to TMP, if necessary• Analyze post-construction data across multiple projects to

improve policy, practices, processes and procedures

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Outreach and Outreach and Implementation GuidanceImplementation Guidance

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Outreach ActivitiesOutreach Activities• Announce Publication of Rule (September 2004)• Educate Field (September 2004 and ongoing)

– Web Conferences for Division Offices

• Hold Policy Workshops (Fall 2004)• Develop Informational Materials (January 2005)• Develop Implementation Guidance (available late 2005)• Magazine/Newsletter Articles (ongoing)• Extensive Outreach (ongoing)

– Distribution of materials at conferences and meetings throughout the country through 2007

• Continue to Provide Technical Assistance as Needed (ongoing)

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Informational MaterialsInformational Materials• Brochure – Overview of Final Rule

– Describes how the rule can be applied to the project delivery process

• Fact Sheets –– Overview of Final Rule –overview of each provision

in the rule– Work Zone Impacts Assessment – overview of a

potential process for assessing work zone impacts– TMP – describes a TMP, benefits of a TMP, and a

potential approach for development of a TMP– Public Information and Outreach - describes a

public information and outreach campaign, benefits of a campaign, and successful practices for effective campaigns

• Magazine/Newsletter Articles– Rule overview article planned for April 2005 issue of ITE Journal– Other articles to be placed in newsletters/journals as appropriate

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Implementation GuidanceImplementation Guidance• Work Zone Impacts Assessment

• Transportation Management Plan (TMP)

• Public Information and Outreach

• Comprehensive Implementation Guide

• NHI Course - Advanced WZ Management and Design

• Related Guidance and Tools– Roadside safety audit guidance– Training for Law enforcement in work zones– Nighttime work zones applications– QuickZone

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Status of Outreach Products/EffortsStatus of Outreach Products/Efforts• Fact sheets and brochure now available• Developing Rule Guidance (expected availability mid to

late 2005)• Upcoming conferences/workshops

– ATSSA Annual Conference and Traffic Expo - Power Talk Session – Work Zone Mobility Rulemaking (February 27, 2005)

– ATSSA Web Conference (March 22, 2005)

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Final Rule Web SiteFinal Rule Web Sitehttp://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rule.htm

• This site will be continuously updated as new final rule information becomes available

• Content planned:– FAQs– Fact Sheets– Guidance Documents– Training Opportunities– Also hope to add Sample Templates for developing required plans