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Sample Transportation Management Plans (TMPs)

Regulation & Policy > Final Rule > Examples > TMP Examples

Virginia Department of Transportation Sample TMPs

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has developed a document, entitled "Examples of Temporary Traffic Control Plans" (PDF 4.6MB), that contains both example Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Plans and example TMPs for previously developed projects. These examples are for illustrative purposes only and may not totally reflect current VDOT policy. The document includes sample TMPs for Type B and Type C projects. VDOT defines Type B projects as those with a moderate level of construction activity and with the primary traffic impact limited to the roadway containing the work zone. TMPs for these projects require a TTC and should include a public communications plan if traffic volumes exceed the minimum number of vehicles/hour/lane or delay times established by the Regional Traffic Engineer for lane closure periods, and a transportation operations plan if the work zone is greater than ½ mile in length and/or with reduced-width travel lane. Type C projects are significant projects, which VDOT defines as projects anticipated to cause sustained work zone impacts greater than what is considered tolerable based on policy or engineering judgment. TMPs for these projects require a TTC plan, a public communications plan, and a transportation operations plan.

Type B TMP - Spring Run Construction Area

The Spring Run Construction Area TMP is on page 34 of the document. This TMP begins with the recommended traffic management strategy for the project, which includes closing the road and establishing an off-site detour. It then describes the assessment of the construction impacts, an assessment of the off-site detour strategy, and the required collaboration needed to ensure the off-site detour is successful. It also describes the proposed road closures and estimated impacts, special signing and the associated temporary traffic control layout, transportation operations strategies, and public communication strategies. The TMP concludes with additional analysis information, such as posted speeds on the detour route, peak hour turning movements, results of project traffic and crash data analysis, and other detour routes that were evaluated and rejected.

Type C TMP - Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project TMP is on page 45 of the document. Construction of the new I-95/I-495/Telegraph Rd interchange at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (WWB) was expected to create substantial traffic impacts especially during the early phases of construction when I-95 would be reduced from eight to six lanes. The TMP includes efforts to mitigate these impacts, such as the use of traffic management technology, proactive reviews, public outreach, and enforcement. The TMP states that managing the transportation network during WWB construction will require looking not only in proximity to the project limits, but regionally since the variable speed limit system and other traffic management strategies will likely impact other nearby construction projects. TMPs will be developed for other major construction projects in the region, and together all TMPs create a regional transportation management strategy that should allow construction to be completed as quickly as possible, maintain work zone safety, minimize and manage necessary traffic impacts, and maximize mobility to motorists.

The WWB TMP contains the following sections:

  • Description of the TTC plan (actual TTC plan is an appendix) - Includes a detailed sequence of construction, general notes, typical section and special details for implementing over 20 phases of construction. It is site specific for all phases of construction and includes identification of each work zone location, the length and width of each work zone, and the lanes affected by each phase of construction including the available lane and shoulder widths.
  • Public Communications Plan - Describes key messages to be disseminated, planning needs, timing and tactics, materials to be developed, and proposed media campaigns.
  • Transportation Operations Plan - Describes lane closures and incident management procedures, traffic switches, and a variable speed limit system.
  • Summary describing the purpose of the TMP and a number of appendices, including the TTC plan, the construction schedule, a summary of modeling findings, and static sign designs.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Three Levels of TMPs

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is in the midst of an historic period of road and bridge work that will take place over a 10-year period. Keeping traffic and freight moving during this time of unprecedented construction in Oregon is one of the top priorities of the Governor, Legislature, and the ODOT director. ODOT is focusing on identifying and addressing mobility issues prior to and during the design phase and through the development and implementation of Traffic Management Plans (TMPs). The goal of the TMPs is to address the traffic-related impacts of the construction projects in a cost-effective and timely manner with minimal interference to the traveling public through the effective application of traditional and innovative traffic mitigation strategies. Although the ODOT terminology is slightly different, these plans are essentially the same as what the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule refers to as a Transportation Management Plan. Read more…

Michigan Department of Transportation Sample TMP

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) includes a sample TMP in its Work Zone Safety and Mobility Manual. This TMP is for a project that consists of joint replacement, deck patching, and barrier replacement. The TMP consists of an executive summary, a temporary traffic control plan, a transportation operations plan, and a public information plan. It calls for attachments on delay calculation details, maintenance of traffic plan sheets, and a vicinity map as part of the TMP (these attachments are not included with the sample in the manual).

MDOT recently updated the sample TMP, changing it to a blank TMP template that includes sample language and tips and suggestions for creating a TMP that is unique to a project. This TMP template is meant to be modified based on a project's needs.

Pennsylvania DOT Sample TMP

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) includes a sample TMP in its Traffic Engineering Manual. This TMP was created for a project on a rural interstate highway with low traffic impacts and was drafted using information that is readily available from other sources. The sample TMP contains sections for roles and responsibilities, project description, traffic conditions (includes safety data), work zone impact assessment, work zone impacts management strategies (to include a traffic control plan, traffic operations plan, and public information plan), TMP performance, contingency plans, and a breakout of TMP costs. It is meant to be expanded as needed depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Caltrans TMP for the Bay Bridge Full Closure

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is undergoing retrofit work to bring the bridge to current seismic design standards. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) began retrofit work in summer 1998 and expects to complete the work by winter 2014. To demolish and replace one of the viaducts, Caltrans had to shut down the entire Bay Bridge and did so as part of an 81-hour planned full closure during Labor Day weekend 2007. In addition to normal recurring traffic congestion, Caltrans anticipated that numerous major sports and cultural events planned for the weekend would cause traffic disruptions and potential gridlock around the bridge.

Caltrans considered transportation management planning to be critical to the overall success of the full closure. Caltrans begin its planning efforts one year prior to the closure. The first part of its TMP process was to prepare an initial work plan. Next, Caltrans held regular coordination meetings to obtain approvals for the bridge closure from the appropriate Caltrans offices. A multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team was formed to develop the TMP. The TMP was developed in a presentation format to allow key information to be easily presented in various meetings both internally and to the public, as well as the media. The TMP described the project (slides 3-13), illustrated the construction activities (slides 22-42), discussed the anticipated transportation impacts (slides 13-21 and 43-62), and described the work zone management strategies. Strategies included public information (slides 65-80), traveler information (slides 81-97), transportation and incident management (slides 98-107), construction (slides 108-110), demand management (slides 111-114), and alternate route strategies (slides 115-117). The TMP helped to foster inter-disciplinary communication by consolidating the work of all team members in one central location. A TMP binder was also developed and included detailed implementation plans for the various TMP strategies, such as the communication plan for public outreach, the long-term emergency transportation response plan, and details of additional transit services. The binder will also serve as a useful reference for future TMP efforts.

The TMP strategies that were implemented during the closure were effective in reducing the number of trips made around the Bay area during Labor Day weekend, thereby managing congestion levels. Close to $1 million was spent on public outreach, with notifications sent statewide to notify both local and out of town travelers more than 4 months in advance. As a result of the extensive TMP planning, the full closure was considered a success.

Caltrans TMP for I-5 "Boat Section" Rehabilitation

On May 30, 2008, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) began rehabilitation work on I-5 between L and S streets in Sacramento. This stretch of I-5 has been dubbed the "Boat Section" because it is below water level. The work includes replacing pavement, improving drainage, and installing new de-watering wells and monitoring equipment. The high Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 190,000 and reduced shoulders on this section of the roadway make repair work difficult. A majority of the work is being constructed using a crossover to handle through traffic, while merging traffic and traffic with downtown Sacramento destinations are using two non-diverted lanes. This work is being done on a 24/7 basis. The remainder of project construction will be completed using standard lane closures and 55-hour weekend lane closures.

The I-5 Boat Section TMP outlines the strategies that are being implemented to minimize impacts to the traveling public during construction of this project, and lays out the roles and responsibilities of the project stakeholders prior to and during construction. The TMP includes strategies for motorist information, incident management, construction, stakeholder coordination, corridor/network management, alternate routes, public information/public awareness, and contractor and Caltrans emergency contingency plans. Commuter traffic has experienced some delays during this project, but the delays have not been as bad as expected due to Caltrans' extensive public outreach efforts, which are outlined in the TMP. For this project, traffic handling plans (i.e., a traffic control plan, or TCP) were included as part of the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates package. Under the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule, a TMP needs to include a TCP for the project.

Caltrans TMP for I-5/I-805 Widening Project

The Interstate 5/Interstate 805 Widening Project created a separate freeway bypass system from the junction of Interstates 5 and 805 to the Del Mar Heights Road Interchange in San Diego. The project also included construction of a diamond type interchange at Carmel Mountain Road, and the adding of auxiliary lanes to the existing main lanes. The project occurred from 2002 to 2007.

The TMP for this project included strategies for public information, motorist information, incident management, construction, demand management, and alternative routes. The TMP budget was approximately $4.6 million, which equates to 2.7% of the total project cost of approximately $170 million.

  • I-5/I-805 Widening Project Transportation Management Plan (HTML, PPT 2.8MB)

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