Goal

Plan, implement, and monitor Work Zone Traffic Control (WZTC) methods that maximize safety of workers and system users with continued or better level of service.

Sustainability Linkage

Work zone traffic control supports all of the triple bottom line principles by improving safety for construction workers and, for system users, reducing crash-related and construction-related congestion, user costs, and incident-related costs.

Background & Scoring Requirements

Background

This criterion covers WZTC related to preservation and maintenance activities undertaken by an agency’s staff (or contracted staff) and programmatic WZTC activities. It does not include project-specific WZTC. Two related criteria include OM-11: Traffic Control Infrastructure Maintenance, which covers the preservation and maintenance of permanent traffic control, ITS, and safety devices, and OM-13: Transportation Management and Operations, which covers the operation of permanent traffic control and ITS systems.

The agency must have a program, committee, or task force that reviews and establishes policies regarding WZTC. In addition to ensuring compliance of the FHWA Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule as required to receive federal funding on projects, the task force agenda includes training, standards, new products, innovative practices, and legislation.

Scoring Requirements

Requirement OM-14.1

1-3 points. Develop a Program

Develop a WZTC program that includes the following elements:

• Have a policy in place to conduct an annual Work Zone Process Review using FHWA’s Work Zone Process Review Toolbox website¹ to review how an agency’s work zone management is performing on a system-wide basis.
• Examine current work zone trends and issues in work zone safety, and identify current contributing factors that cause injury and fatal work zone crashes.
• Update and adopt new policies and procedures as needed to correct shortcomings in work zone safety policies and to improve level of service in work zones.
• Work with law enforcement to ensure work zone accident reports are accurately reported.
• Organize and provide training both for workers and for use in drivers’ education classes.
• Review new technologies and innovations for use in work zones.
• Consider FHWA’s WZTC Self-Assessment website².

One of the following scores applies:

• 0 points. The agency does not have a WZTC program that covers two or more of the elements listed above.
• 1 point. The agency has a WZTC program that covers two or three of the elements listed above.
• 2 points. The agency has a WZTC program that covers four or five of the elements listed above.
• 3 points. The agency has a WZTC program that covers six or seven of the elements listed above.

Requirement OM-14.2

2 or 4 points. Set Goals and Monitor Progress

To earn credit for this scoring requirement, the agency must have a Work Zone Traffic Control program as described in scoring requirement OM-14.1. Scoring is based on the following, cumulative requirements. The first requirement must be accomplished to earn the second.

• Requirement OM-14.2a

2 points. Establish Performance Metrics for Work Zone Traffic Control

Establish quantifiable performance metrics for the WZTC program. Measures could be based on level of service, number and severity of accidents, and other relevant parameters. Measures could be qualitative and/or quantitative.

• Requirement OM-14.2b

2 additional points. Monitor Progress and Demonstrate Sustainable Outcomes

Monitor progress towards goals for at least one year after goal establishment and show measurable advancement towards stated goals.

Requirement OM-14.3

1-2 points. Use Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to Anticipate and Reduce Congestion

In order to obtain credit for this criterion, the agency must routinely maintain signal systems and ITS during construction. Use ITS to anticipate and reduce congestion caused by highway work zones and to warn drivers of an upcoming work zone. This could include the use of portable camera systems, highway advisory radios, variable speed limits, ramp metering, traveler information, merge guidance, queue detection information, and traffic analysis tools (e.g., Quick Zone), and is aimed at increasing safety for both workers and road users. 

One of the following scores applies:

• 0 points. The agency does not use ITS to anticipate and reduce congestion.
• 1 point. The agency allows and has a few projects using ITS to anticipate and reduce congestion.
• 2 points. The agency routinely uses ITS to anticipate and reduce congestion.

Requirement OM-14.4

1 point. Apply and Review ITS Technologies and Innovations

Apply and review new ITS technologies and applications for use in work zones, such as:

• Use of safety intrusion alarms in work zones
• Use of CB Wizard to broadcast alert messages to truck drivers
• Drone radar and radar speed advisory devices

Requirement OM-14.5

1-3 points. Leverage Contracting Innovations

Contracting incentives or dis-incentives can encourage contractors to reduce and optimize construction timelines and therefore reduce impact to the travelling public and exposure of workers to traffic. Strategies such as Lane Rental, A+B bidding, Interim completion dates, and flexible start dates can be effective strategies for reducing impact to the public.

One of the following scores applies:

• 0 points. The agency does not use innovative contracting to encourage contractors to reduce and optimize construction timelines.
• 1 point. The agency has test cases that use innovative contracting to encourage contractors to reduce and optimize construction timelines.
• 2 points. The agency routinely includes the use of innovative contracting to encourage contractors to reduce and optimize construction timelines in design-build contracts only.
• 3 points. The agency routinely includes the use of innovative contracting to encourage contractors to reduce and optimize construction timelines in both design-bid-build and design-build contracts.

Requirement OM-14.6

1 point. Coordinate with the Public

Agency uses a public involvement or WZTC representative to communicate regularly with property owners and businesses affected by work. Consideration is given to reduce impacts to businesses through effective and clear WZTC (e.g., driveway open or business open signage).

Requirement OM-14.7

1 point. Promote Public Awareness

Participate in National Work Zone Awareness Week and develop a campaign to promote work zone safety awareness.

Resources

The following resources are referenced in this criterion and consolidated here:

1. FHWA, Work Zone Process Review Toolbox website, http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/prtoolbox/pr_toolbox.htm
2. FHWA, WZTC Self-Assessment website, http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/decision_support/self-assess.htm

Case Studies & Criterion Examples

Scoring Sources

The program is considered to have met this criterion if the requirements above can be reasonably substantiated through the existence of one or more of the following documentation sources (or equal where not available):

1. Documentation of the Work Zone Traffic Control program, committee, or task force including its members, goals, actions, and scope.
2. Documentation of policies, procedures, and guidance for the use of ITS in work zone traffic control.
3. Summary of Contracting Innovations and when they are appropriate to use.
4. Documentation of the activities to promote public awareness of work zone safety.