Rule on Work Zone Safety and Rule on Work Zone Safety and MobilityMobility

SHA’s Road to ComplianceSHA’s Road to Compliance

Maryland State Highway AdministrationMaryland State Highway AdministrationOffice of Traffic and SafetyOffice of Traffic and Safety

Talking OperationsTalking Operations Jawad ParachaJawad ParachaMarch 19, 2007March 19, 2007 jparacha@sha.state.md.usjparacha@sha.state.md.us

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In the Beginning…In the Beginning…Summer 2005Summer 2005

• Wanted to review the way we do Wanted to review the way we do business, not just compliance with the business, not just compliance with the RuleRule

• Got a consultant on board to help with Got a consultant on board to help with reviewreview

• Developed Work Zone Business PlanDeveloped Work Zone Business Plan

– 12 key focus areas12 key focus areas

– Goals -> Strategies -> Action itemsGoals -> Strategies -> Action items

– Timetable for completion of milestonesTimetable for completion of milestones

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Focus on the Rule…Focus on the Rule…Fall 2005Fall 2005

• Identified need for communication and Identified need for communication and coordination within and outside of SHAcoordination within and outside of SHA

• Developed Temporary Traffic Control Developed Temporary Traffic Control Safety and Mobility CouncilSafety and Mobility Council

• Met as needed to discuss major Met as needed to discuss major milestones (significant project, TMP milestones (significant project, TMP process, etc.)process, etc.)

- Office of Highway Office of Highway DevelopmentDevelopment

- Maryland Highway - Maryland Highway Contractors AssociationContractors Association

- Office of Bridge - Office of Bridge DevelopmentDevelopment

- Districts (Traffic, - Districts (Traffic, Construction)Construction)

- Office of Planning- Office of Planning - Maryland State Police- Maryland State Police

- Office of Traffic and Safety- Office of Traffic and Safety - Consultants- Consultants

- Office of Communications- Office of Communications - University of Maryland- University of Maryland

- Office of Maintenance- Office of Maintenance - FHWA, Vendors and more!- FHWA, Vendors and more!

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Focus on the Rule…Focus on the Rule…Winter 2006 – Fall 2006Winter 2006 – Fall 2006

Worked with a consultant to:Worked with a consultant to:1)1) Identify Rule requirements (“shalls” vs. Identify Rule requirements (“shalls” vs.

“shoulds”)“shoulds”)

2)2) Review existing SHA policies/processesReview existing SHA policies/processes– Do they satisfy Rule requirements?Do they satisfy Rule requirements?

3)3) ResearchResearch– What are other States doing that is working (or not What are other States doing that is working (or not

working)?working)?– How does SHA currently incorporate work zone How does SHA currently incorporate work zone

considerations in the project development process?considerations in the project development process?– FHWA GuidanceFHWA Guidance

4)4) Propose and implement new strategies to meet Propose and implement new strategies to meet Rule requirementsRule requirements– Policies, processes, guidance documents, etc.Policies, processes, guidance documents, etc.

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Focus on new processes…Focus on new processes…Winter 2006 – Fall 2006Winter 2006 – Fall 2006

Worked together with planning, highway, Worked together with planning, highway, bridge, communications, and construction bridge, communications, and construction offices to:offices to:

– Identify current processes for identifying and Identify current processes for identifying and addressing work zone impacts addressing work zone impacts

– Identify the level of impact assessment that is Identify the level of impact assessment that is completed at each stage project developmentcompleted at each stage project development

– Discuss areas for improvement and how we Discuss areas for improvement and how we can get consideration of work zone impacts can get consideration of work zone impacts moved earlier in the processmoved earlier in the process

– Incorporate new processes into existing Incorporate new processes into existing project development processproject development process

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Focus on new processes…Focus on new processes…Winter 2006 – Fall 2006Winter 2006 – Fall 2006

What did we find?What did we find?– Work zone impacts assessment is already a Work zone impacts assessment is already a

part of the process for what would be part of the process for what would be “significant projects”, just not a formal, “significant projects”, just not a formal, documented processdocumented process

– Traffic analysis for work zones has been done Traffic analysis for work zones has been done on several projects, but not regularlyon several projects, but not regularly

– Overall consensus that work zone impacts Overall consensus that work zone impacts should be looked at earlier in the process should be looked at earlier in the process • On a conceptual level in project planning On a conceptual level in project planning • On a detailed level during preliminary design On a detailed level during preliminary design

(revised as needed as the design progresses (revised as needed as the design progresses to PS&E)to PS&E)

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Where did we run into Where did we run into resistance?resistance?

Identifying responsible persons/ Identifying responsible persons/ offices to take on additional work offices to take on additional work load associated with new processesload associated with new processes

– Everyone thinks looking at work Everyone thinks looking at work zone impacts and developing TMPs zone impacts and developing TMPs are great ideas….BUT resources are great ideas….BUT resources (man power and funding) to get (man power and funding) to get them done are limitedthem done are limited

– Consensus that consultants will Consensus that consultants will take on most of additional work take on most of additional work load; however, there is still effort load; however, there is still effort required on the part of SHA to required on the part of SHA to provide input, review, approve, etc. provide input, review, approve, etc. • Districts wanted Design offices to Districts wanted Design offices to

be responsible be responsible • Design offices wanted the Districts Design offices wanted the Districts

to be responsibleto be responsible• Solution: Shared responsibilitySolution: Shared responsibility

Transportation Transportation Management PlanManagement Plan

Design OfficeDesign Office

(lead coordination)(lead coordination)

TMP TeamTMP Team

(support)(support)

Transportation Transportation Operations (TO) Operations (TO)

StrategiesStrategies

District TrafficDistrict Traffic

(lead & approval)(lead & approval)

Traffic Control Plan Traffic Control Plan (TCP)(TCP)

Design OfficeDesign Office

(lead)(lead)

District TrafficDistrict Traffic

(approval)(approval)

Public Information & Public Information & Outreach (PI&O)Outreach (PI&O)

Office of Office of CommunicationsCommunications

(lead & approval)(lead & approval)

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

• Get buy-in from senior managementGet buy-in from senior management– Decision making and support on policy changes, Decision making and support on policy changes,

responsibility distribution, etc. responsibility distribution, etc.

• Get input from those who will be doing the Get input from those who will be doing the workwork– If they are a part of the process, they will be If they are a part of the process, they will be

more willing to accept the changesmore willing to accept the changes

– Getting input helps to identify what is Getting input helps to identify what is “reasonable” change“reasonable” change

• For example, our proposed alternatives analysis For example, our proposed alternatives analysis process was modified to include two levels – a process was modified to include two levels – a concept level during planning and a detailed level concept level during planning and a detailed level during design – based on input from an info during design – based on input from an info session held with staff in the Office of Planning session held with staff in the Office of Planning

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Compliance!Compliance!

• Notification of compliance Notification of compliance received January 2007received January 2007

• Met with FHWA Maryland Met with FHWA Maryland Division in November 2006 to Division in November 2006 to request compliance and formally request compliance and formally submit all documentationsubmit all documentation

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Where are we Where are we headed?headed?

• Implementation process Implementation process – Include TMPs with all significant projects Include TMPs with all significant projects

that are advertised after October 2007 to that are advertised after October 2007 to the extent feasiblethe extent feasible

– Provide training to design and District Provide training to design and District offices on new policies and processesoffices on new policies and processes

– Develop “blanket exceptions” for projects Develop “blanket exceptions” for projects that are classified as significant by that are classified as significant by FHWA’s more than 3 day lane closure FHWA’s more than 3 day lane closure requirement, but are not considered requirement, but are not considered significant by SHAsignificant by SHA

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SHA’s TMP ProcessSHA’s TMP Process

• Planning, Preliminary Investigation and Planning, Preliminary Investigation and DesignDesign

Step 1 – Create TMP Team Step 1 – Create TMP Team

Step 2 – Compile Project MaterialStep 2 – Compile Project Material

Step 3 – Maintenance of Traffic Red Flag SummaryStep 3 – Maintenance of Traffic Red Flag Summary

Step 4 – Identify Significant ProjectsStep 4 – Identify Significant Projects

Step 5 – Maintenance of Traffic Alternative Analysis Step 5 – Maintenance of Traffic Alternative Analysis (MOTAA)(MOTAA)

Step 6 – Determine TMP NeedsStep 6 – Determine TMP Needs

Step 7 – Identify Stakeholders and Revise TMP TeamStep 7 – Identify Stakeholders and Revise TMP Team

Step 8 – Preliminary Design (Draft TMP)Step 8 – Preliminary Design (Draft TMP)

Step 9 – Detailed Design (Semi-final, final TMP)Step 9 – Detailed Design (Semi-final, final TMP)

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SHA’s TMP ProcessSHA’s TMP Process

• ConstructionConstructionStep 10 – Implement TMPStep 10 – Implement TMP

Step 11 – Monitor TMPStep 11 – Monitor TMP

Step 12 – Update/Revise TMPStep 12 – Update/Revise TMP

• Performance AssessmentPerformance AssessmentStep 13 - EvaluationStep 13 - Evaluation

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Defining Significant ProjectsDefining Significant Projects

• 6+ months of discussion on Significant 6+ months of discussion on Significant ProjectsProjects– Developed smaller working group with Developed smaller working group with

representatives from Districts, design and representatives from Districts, design and planning officesplanning offices

– Presented for comment several times with TTC Presented for comment several times with TTC Safety and Mobility CouncilSafety and Mobility Council

• Quantitative definition did not seem to fit Quantitative definition did not seem to fit – Smaller $ projects may still have significant Smaller $ projects may still have significant

work zone impacts or require additional work zone impacts or require additional coordinationcoordination

• Qualitative approach seemed to work bestQualitative approach seemed to work best– Allows for engineering judgment to play a roleAllows for engineering judgment to play a role

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Defining Significant ProjectsDefining Significant Projects

• Developed 2 flow charts Developed 2 flow charts – OPPE, OHD, OBD (Planning and Design Offices)OPPE, OHD, OBD (Planning and Design Offices)– District and minor projectsDistrict and minor projects

• Major criteria includeMajor criteria include– Project locationProject location– Anticipated mobility and safety impactsAnticipated mobility and safety impacts– Project and/or work zone characteristicsProject and/or work zone characteristics

• If the project is identified as a Significant If the project is identified as a Significant Project, perform Maintenance of Traffic Project, perform Maintenance of Traffic Alternatives Analysis (MOTAA) to try identify a Alternatives Analysis (MOTAA) to try identify a solution to reduce impacts below thresholdssolution to reduce impacts below thresholds

• IF MOTAA does not identify a solution that IF MOTAA does not identify a solution that reduces impacts, develop Transportation reduces impacts, develop Transportation Management PlanManagement Plan

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Is the project located on or over

The National Highway System?

An Urban Freeway/Expressway?

An Urban or Rural OPA?

Not a significant project, but may still require transportation operations and/or public information strategies.

NO

Will the project have any of the following characteristics?

Mobility Increase in delay or travel time (ie, traffic volumes that will

exceed roadway capacity in the work zone)

Safety Roadway section or intersection on the Candidate Safety

Improvement Locations (CSIL) list Special worker safety considerations (for example, worker

exposure greater than 100 hours on high speed roadways; refer to Temporary Traffic Barrier Policy)

Other Characteristics High level of public interest Road work strategies:

Full roadway closure Two-way, one-lane operations Reversible lane operations Night work Multiple stages/phases of construction

Significant impact on public/private access (e.g., businesses, communities, park & ride lots, schools, fire stations, etc.)

Project timing (e.g. special events, beach traffic, etc.) that will result in an increase in traffic volumes

Requirements in the Guidelines/Checklist for Bicycle and Pedestrian Access through Work Zones cannot be satisfied

Significant restrictions on emergency vehicle access

Is the project an OPPE, OHD or OBD Project?

Perform Maintenance of Traffic Alternatives Analysis (MOTAA)

Significant Project - Prepare TMP

Does the selected alternative still have significant work zone safety and mobility impacts?

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

Refer to District/Minor Projects Flow Chart

Not a significant project, but may still require transportation operations and/or public information strategies.

Planning and Design OfficesPlanning and Design OfficesFlow ChartFlow Chart1616

1717District and Minor ProjectsDistrict and Minor Projects

Flow ChartFlow Chart1717

Will the work involve continuous or intermittent lane closures on a freeway/expressway for more than three days?

Not a significant project. Proceed with project work.

YES Is the project a District project or minor project?

Will the project comply with the Work Zone Lane Closure Analysis Guidelines?

Significant Project – Prepare Transportation Management Plan

Does the project fall under the “Blanket Exceptions” category?

Perform Maintenance of Traffic Alternatives Analysis (MOTAA)

Will the selected alternative comply with the Work Zone Lane Closure Analysis Guidelines?

NO

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

Not a significant project. Submit exception request.

YES

Not a significant project. Submit exception request.

Not a significant project. Proceed with project work.

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QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Contact:Contact:Jawad ParachaJawad ParachaEmail: Email: jparacha@sha.state.md.usjparacha@sha.state.md.usPhone: 410-787-5891Phone: 410-787-5891