1. 1 Federal Highway Administration, USDOT The Final Rule on Work Zone Safety and Mobility Updates to 23 CFR Section 630, Subpart J Presented by Tracy Scriba, Federal Highway Administration Talking Operations Seminar – February 17, 2005

2. 2 Agenda Why update the work zone rule Overview of the final rule Influence on project delivery Outreach and implementation guidance

3. 3 Why 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 improved safety and to minimize disruptions to traffic during the construction of highway projects”

4. 4 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

5. 5 Rule-making Process WZ Feb 2002 May 2003 May 2004Sep 2004 Public Outreach & Comments

6. 6 Overview of the Final Rule Published September 9, 2004 Must be implemented by October 12, 2007 Goals: 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

7. 7 Overview of the Final Rule Specific 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

8. 8 Project-Level Procedures to Assess and Manage Impacts on Individual Projects State implemented policy for the systematic consideration and management of WZ impacts Processes and procedures to implement and sustain WZ policy Provisions – In a Nutshell

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10. 10 Project Delivery Cycle Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment Policy & Standard Procedures

11. 11 Policy State implemented WZ safety and mobility policy State implemented WZ safety and mobility policy – Systematic consideration and management of WZ impacts throughout project development and implementation based on State criteria – Sensitive to varying project characteristics and expected WZ impacts – Multi-disciplinary team approach Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

12. 12 Standard Procedures Standard processes / procedures to Standard processes / procedures to – Assess and manage WZ impacts – Require training for personnel – Use crash and operational data for process / procedural improvement – Conduct bi-annual performance reviews Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

13. 13 Project-Level 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

14. 14 Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Identify projects expected to cause “significant work zone impacts” early in the project development process Identify projects expected to cause “significant work zone impacts” early in the project development process Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

15. 15 Preliminary Eng. / Investigation (PE&I) Identify potential WZ impacts Identify potential WZ impacts Identify potential transportation management strategies Identify potential transportation management strategies Identify other coordination issues Identify other coordination issues Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

16. 16 Design, PS&E, and Contracting Assess WZ impacts (progressively and comprehensively) Assess WZ impacts (progressively and comprehensively) – Address alternative design, construction, contracting, and management strategies in the assessment Develop appropriate TMP Develop appropriate TMP Include appropriate TMP items in PS&E Include appropriate TMP items in PS&E Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

17. 17 Construction Implement TMP requirements Implement TMP requirements Monitor safety and mobility Monitor safety and mobility – Use field observations, crash data, and operational information to manage impacts Consult with appropriate stakeholders Consult with appropriate stakeholders Review random projects as appropriate Review random projects as appropriate Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

18. 18 Performance Assessment Analyze crash and operational data from multiple projects Analyze crash and operational data from multiple projects – Towards improving processes and procedures Maintain data and information resources to support improvements Maintain data and information resources to support improvements Conduct bi-annual process reviews Conduct bi-annual process reviews – WZ data analysis and/or project reviews – Improve WZ processes and procedures, data and information resources, and training programs Systems Planning (TIP/STIP) Preliminary Engineering & Investigation (PE&I) Design, PS&E, and Contracting Construction Performance Assessment

19. 19 In 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

20. 20 Outreach and Implementation Guidance

21. 21 Outreach 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)

22. 22 Informational 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

23. 23 Implementation 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

24. 24 Status 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)

25. 25 Final Rule Web Site http://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