Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
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Performance Measurement Examples

Performance Measurement

Agencies have developed numerous methods to measure and monitor work zone performance and have also implemented web-based resources to inform the public about the performance of roadway projects and the transportation system as a whole.

Measuring and Monitoring Work Zone Performance

State-Specific Examples

  • Missouri DOT I-64 (US 40) Full Closure Performance Tracking - Missouri DOT (MoDOT) used full closure to complete the $535 million reconstruction of Highway 40 (Interstate 64) in St. Louis in two years, rather than the originally estimated six to eight years, and at lower cost. MoDOT established incentives for the Contractor that included timely completion and re-opening of the road, and tracking and meeting performance indicators for regional mobility. MoDOT also completed an in-depth evaluation of the impacts from and satisfaction with the closure approach.
  • Missouri DOT Tracker - Tool to assess how well Missouri DOT (MoDOT) delivers services and products to its customers. The Tracker is divided into 18 performance measures, based on MoDOT's Mission and Value Statements. Several of the measures relate directly to work zones, such as ratings from an online survey MoDOT uses to gain driver feedback on visibility and traffic flow in its state highway work zones.
  • Ohio DOT Crash Analysis (HTML, PPT 1MB) - The Ohio DOT (ODOT) "Real-Time Work Zone Crash Data Analysis" compares historic, pre-construction crash data verses crashes occurring when a work zone is in effect. The ODOT database breaks the work zone into half-mile segments, sorts the crashes into their proper segment, and performs a "before-after" comparison of the pre-construction and construction crash frequencies for each half-mile segment. ODOT examines areas that show elevated work zone crash frequencies to make improvements in current work zones as well as in future work zone management practices.
  • Oregon DOT Performance Monitoring
    • Maximizing Investments in Work Zone Safety in Oregon (PDF 1.7MB) - Report examining methods for maximizing ODOT work zone safety investments in enforcement, traffic control, and public information. Includes a section on Work Zone Safety and Mobility Performance Measures currently being used by ODOT.
    • Dynamic Work Zone Traffic Management (PDF 340KB) - May 2010 ITE Journal article that describes how Oregon DOT has recognized the benefits of using smart work zone technology, including how real-time and near-real-time traffic data collected using this technology can be used by construction and management personnel to monitor the status and performance of a work zone.
  • Texas DOT Performance Monitoring - The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has identified key work zone safety and mobility performance measures to target as part of a work zone monitoring program within a district, region, or across the state.
  • Virginia DOT Work Zone Safety Checklist (PDF 237K) - Provides a consistent and helpful way to review and document temporary traffic control inspections of construction, maintenance, utility, and permit work zone operations. The checklist enables work zone deficiencies to be noted and detailed information provided to allow rapid and thorough correction of the problem.
  • Washington State DOT Performance Measures Library - Library listing online performance measurement and strategic planning mechanisms for 51 state, commonwealth, and federal district transportation authorities and other notable performance reporting by city, county, and regional entities.
  • Wisconsin DOT: State DOT Performance Measurement for Highway Design and Construction (PDF 137KB) - Synthesis of published performance measures in the areas of highway design and construction, developed as a means to help gauge current State DOT practices in this area.

Other Examples

  • AASHTO/FHWA Domestic Scan on Work Zone Assessment, Data Collection, and Performance Measurement (NCHRP 08-04) - Results of March 2010 scan looking at how 14 State agencies are planning for, monitoring, and managing work zone performance.
    • Final Report (PDF 3.8MB) - Provides detailed information about what was learned during the scan, key findings and recommendations, and an implementation strategy.
    • Summary Report (HTML, PDF 66KB) - Summarizes the scan findings, recommendations based on the findings, and potential ways to disseminate the scan results.
    • Brochure - Shares information on practices found during the scan and provides the key findings, challenges, and recommendations from the scan.
    • Webinar recording - Provides an overview of the findings and recommendations from the scan as well a presentation on some of the Ohio Department of Transportation's practices that were encountered during the scan.
  • Talking Operations Webinar on Work Zone Performance Measurement - Scroll down to the May 28, 2009 section of this page for links to the presentations, recording, podcast, and transcript from this webinar.
  • U.S. and International Approaches to Performance Measurement for Transportation Systems (PDF 1.9MB) - Includes the outcomes of plenary and breakout sessions on performance-based contracting and measuring project delivery and the use of data and tools to support performance measurement.
  • European Work Zone Study - In spring 2005, EuroTest (a European consortium of auto clubs) conducted a study of 50 work zones in 11 European countries in order to identify shortcomings and possibilities for improvement, as well as successful practices. The study focused on five key areas: the quality of the road signing and road markings, the traffic routing, information to motorists, the road surface and night time orientation.
  • Work Zone Data Examples - Examples illustrating how states are collecting and analyzing work zone data.

Transportation Performance Reporting

  • Florida Transportation Performance Reporting - A central location for reports and information about the performance of Florida's transportation system and of Florida DOT (FDOT). FDOT focuses on five performance measures – transportation system safety, customer and market focus, production performance, transportation system performance, and organizational performance.
  • Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Dashboard - Web-based tool that provides policymakers and citizens access to information about ITD's progress in meeting long-range goals. The nine performance measures correlate directly with ITD's three primary goals – improving safety, enhancing mobility, and supporting economic vitality. Several of the measures relate to work zones, such as percent of highway projects developed on time, and construction cost at award (as a percentage of the construction budget).
  • San Diego TransNet - Provides construction updates, project information, public meeting and hearing notices, and answers to frequently asked questions for projects in the San Diego area. The site also includes a feature called the TransNet Dashboard, which provides detailed information for tracking project timelines, milestones, budgets, and expenditures.
  • Virginia DOT Dashboard - Web-based system that provides current information on project status. The Dashboard reports on project advertisement schedules for bidding, project budgets and schedules, and work orders and rates project status according to the red, yellow and green colors of a traffic signal. Virginia DOT focuses on addressing problems when projects are in the yellow zone.

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