Overview of the Work Zone Safety and

Mobility Rule

Module 1

Overview of Rule 2

Overview of Subpart J Establishes requirements and provides

guidance for: Systematically addressing WZ safety and

mobility impacts Developing strategies to help manage these

impacts

Applies to all Federal-aid highway projects

Published September 2004 Effective October 2007

Overview of Rule 3

Key Concepts Advocated by the Rule We can be more effective in reducing

WZ safety and mobility impacts if we:

Better understand, anticipate, and plan for the impacts

Do so early in the program delivery process Consider solutions that go beyond the

immediate location of the work zone Integrate this thinking into the agency/DOT

culture

Overview of Rule 4

Provisions – In a Nutshell

Project-Level Procedures to Assess and Manage Impacts on Project-Level Procedures to Assess and Manage Impacts on Individual ProjectsIndividual Projects

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

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

Overview of Rule 5

Agency WZ Safety and Mobility Policy

Agencies must develop and implement a policy for the systematic consideration and management of WZ impacts

Rule adds additional focus on mobility as well as safety impacts for work zones

Overview of Rule 6

Agency WZ Safety and Mobility Policy

Agency’s work zone policy:

May vary based on project characteristics and expected WZ impacts

Can be in the form of processes, procedures, and/or guidance

Overview of Rule 7

Agency Level Processes & Procedures Use WZ safety and mobility info/data:

–To manage impacts on ongoing projects– From multiple projects to improve processes and procedures

Require training for personnel involved in WZ planning, design, implementation, management, and enforcement

Conduct process review at least every 2 years to assess effectiveness of and improve state WZ procedures

Procedures for systematic WZ impacts assessment and management

Overview of Rule 8

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

(e) Responsible persons. The State and the contractor shall each designate a trained person at the project level who has the primary responsibility and sufficient authority for implementing the TMP and other safety and mobility aspects of the project.

Overview of Rule 9

Significant Projects Projects anticipated to cause sustained WZ impacts

greater than what is considered tolerable based on State policy and/or engineering judgment

One project or combined effects of projects in one area Automatically includes Interstate projects within a

Transportation Management Area (TMA) that: Occupy a location for more than 3 days Have intermittent or continuous lane closures State may request an exception

Identify as early as possible

Briefly: Projects expected to cause a relatively high level of impacts

Overview of Rule 10

Transportation Management Plans (TMPs)

TMP: A plan for managing WZ impacts

Set of coordinated transportation management strategies

How they will be used

Overview of Rule 11

What Changed? Updated Rule vs. Former Rule

Overview of Rule 12

Key Differences in Policy-Level Provisions

Former Rule: Did not specifically require a WZ policy. It required each State DOT to develop and implement procedures consonant with the requirements of the regulation.

Updated Rule: Requires each agency to implement a WZ policy and emphasizes that the policy facilitate the systematic consideration and management of WZ impacts throughout the various stages of project development and construction.

Overview of Rule 13

Key Differences in Process-Level Provisions

Work Zone Assessment and Management Procedures

Former Rule. Did not have such a provision. Updated Rule. Recommends that agencies develop

and implement systematic procedures to assess and manage the WZ impacts of projects.

Overview of Rule 14

Key Differences in Process-Level Provisions

Work Zone Data Former Rule. Required crashes and crash data to be

analyzed to correct deficiencies and to improve the content of future traffic control plans.

Updated Rule Requires Agencies: To use available WZ information and data to manage WZ

impacts for specific projects. Expands WZ data to include mobility/operational data. To pursue ongoing improvement of WZ processes and

procedures by analyzing data from multiple projects.

Overview of Rule 15

Key Differences in Process-Level Provisions (Cont.)

Work Zone Training Former Rule. Required all persons responsible for the

development, design, implementation, and inspection of traffic control to be adequately trained.

Updated Rule. Has a training provision similar to that of the former Rule. Expands scope of training to include WZ transportation

management in addition to WZ traffic control. Includes a provision to indicate that the training ought to be

appropriate to the job-decisions that each individual is required to make.

Overview of Rule 16

Key Differences in Process-Level Provisions Process Reviews

Former Rule. Required States to conduct an annual process review of

selected projects. Required the results of the review to be forwarded to the

FHWA for review and approval. Updated Rule.

Changes from annual reviews to bi-annual reviews. Objective of the process reviews is to enhance efforts to

address safety and mobility on current and future projects. Does not require that the results of the review be forwarded

to the FHWA for approval, but does encourage the DOT to include FHWA in the review.

Overview of Rule 17

Key Differences in Project-Level Provisions

Traffic Control Plan (TCP) vs. Transportation Management Plan (TMP)Former Rule.

Required the development of TCPs for projects. Updated Rule.

Requires TMPs to be developed and implemented for projects based upon the expected WZ impacts.

Overview of Rule 18

Key Differences in Project-Level Provisions (Cont.) Responsible Person

Former Rule. Required States to designate a qualified person at the project-level who would have primary responsibility and sufficient authority for assuring that the TCP and other safety aspects of the contract are effectively administered.

Updated Rule. Requires the agency and the contractor to both designate a trained person (as specified in the Rule), at the project-level to implement the TMP and other safety and mobility aspects of the project.

Overview of Rule 19

Implementation Resources

Overview of Rule 20

Implementation Guides Implementing the Rule on WZ Safety and Mobility WZ Public Information and Outreach Strategies Developing and Implementing Transportation

Management Plans (TMPs) for WZs WZ Impacts Assessment: An Approach to Assess

and Manage WZ Safety and Mobility Impacts of Road Projects

Available at http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rule.htm

Overview of Rule 21

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

Implementation Guides Examples Rule language FAQs Brochure and fact sheets Presentations

FHWA Work Zone Web Sitehttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/workzones