Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
240 Additional Transportation Management Plan Strategy Resources The information provided in this guidebook reflects the current work zone strategy state of practice based on available published literature, FHWA programs, surveys of state DOT work zone engineers, followÂup interviews with select survey respondents, and reviews of state design and engineering manuals, special provisions, and standard drawings. However, almost all state DOTs are continually looking at ways to expand or enhance their practices within work zones. This is especially true for SWZs, which more and more states are adopting, and for integration with motorist information systems (e.g., 511, websites), highway condition reporting systems, TMC, and soon to be tested dedicated shortÂrange communications/ vehicleÂtoÂinfrastructure. It is also necessary to understand that evaluation of work zone strategies, refinement of these strategies for optimum effectiveness and efficiency, and development of guidelines and specifications are continuously evolving. As such, readers seeking additional information about work zone management may find the following additional resources to be of interest. 14.1 Transportation Management Plans A TMP lays out strategies for managing the work zone impacts of a project. Section 630.1012 of the FHWA Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule states that for significant projects, the state shall develop a TMP that consists of a TTC plan and addresses both transportation operation and public information components. For individual projects or classes of projects that the state determines to have less than significant work zone impacts, the TMP may consist only of a TTC plan. However, states are encouraged to also consider transportation operations and public information issues for these projects. Additional information on TMPs, TMP devel opment resources, examples, checklists, and so on can be found at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/ wz/resources/final_rule/tmp_examples.htm and https://www.workzonesafety.org/topicsÂof interest/transportationÂmanagementÂplans/. 14.2 National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse website, now in its 21st year, provides users with a plethora of information about work zone safety, including news articles, fact sheets, emerging technologies, best practices, key safety experts, laws and regulations, safety C H A P T E R 1 4
Additional Transportation Management Plan Strategy Resources 241 standards, research publications, training videos and programs, and more. The information is updated daily, so the user receives the most recent information first. The website can be accessed at https://www.workzonesafety.org/. 14.3 FHWA Smart Work Zones SWZs are among a few select initiatives being promoted during Round 3 of the FHWA EDC initiative. SWZs are work zones that use innovative strategies to minimize work zone safety and mobility impacts. In EDCÂ3, focus is on coordination of construction projects and use of technology applications to dynamically manage work zone impacts. These strategies include coordination of roadway construction projects to reduce work zone impacts and use of tech nology applications to dynamically manage traffic in the work zone environment. Additional information can be accessed at https://www.workzonesafety.org/swz/. 14.4 FHWA Peer-to-Peer Program for Work Zones The FHWA has established the Work Zone Safety and Mobility PeerÂtoÂPeer Program to facilitate the exchange of information among practitioners to help stimulate improvements toward making work zones function better. The program provides state and local transportation agencies, at no cost, easy access to peers knowledgeable about a range of work zone issues. Assistance is available from practitioners who have expertise in work zone topic areas and can share lessons learned and success stories from their own experiences. This assistance will in turn help agencies and the traveling public realize the benefits of improved safety and mobility in and around work zones. Additional information can be accessed at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/p2p/index.htm. 14.5 Work Zone Management Capability Maturity Framework Tool The Work Zone Management Capability Maturity Framework tool is intended for agencies or regions to assess current capabilities with respect to work zone management. Modeled after the AASHTO Systems Operations and Maintenance Guidance, this tool assesses work zone management capability in six dimensions: business processes, systems and technology, culture, organization and workforce, performance measurement, and collaboration. When the current capabilities are determined, the tool provides a list of concrete actions for agencies to raise their capabilities to the desired levels. Additional information can be accessed at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/tsmoframeworktool/ tool/wzm/index.htm. 14.6 FHWA Work Zone Data Initiative âWork zone activity dataâ is information regarding when, where, and how work zones are deployed. The FHWA launched the Work Zone Data Initiative in 2017 to develop a recom mended practice for managing work zone activity data and to create a consistent language, through the development of a data dictionary and supporting implementation documents,
242 Strategies for Work Zone Transportation Management Plans for communicating information on work zone activity across jurisdictional and organizational boundaries. The effort promotes a stakeholderÂdriven and systemsÂdriven perspective for data that allows practitioners a better understanding of usersâ needs and, ultimately, a better approach to collecting national work zone activity data. FHWA reference documents relating to planning and deploying standardized work zone activity data can be accessed at FHWAâs Work Zone Management Program Collaboration Site, https://collaboration.fhwa.dot.gov/wzmp/.