Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program

Transportation Management Plan Effectiveness Framework and Pilot

Appendix A. Expected Strategy Impacts, Frequency of Use, and Current Understanding of Effectiveness

Table A-1. Expected Temporary Traffic Control Strategy Impacts, Typical Frequency of Use on Significant Projects, and Expected Knowledge of Effectiveness.
Transportation Management Plan Strategies Types of Impacts Frequency of Use1 Current Understanding of Effectiveness1
Strategic construction phasing Reduces project duration, frequency of capacity-reducing activities H H
Full Roadway Closures Increases work productivity and efficiency, reducing project duration; reduces worker risks M M
Lane shifts or closures–Reduced lane widths to maintain number of lanes (constriction) Maintains greater capacity than allowing lane(s) to be closed H H
Lane shifts or closures–Lane closures to provide worker safety Increases buffer distance to reduce worker risks M M
Lane shifts or closures–Reduced shoulder width to maintain number of lanes Maintains greater capacity than allowing lane(s) to be closed H H
Lane shifts or closures–Shoulder closures to provide worker safety Increases buffer distance to reduce worker risks M M
Lane shifts or closures–Lane shift to shoulder/median to maintain number of lanes Maintains greater capacity than allowing lane(s) to be closed. H M
One-lane, two-way operation Increases capacity by allowing travelers to use facility instead of closing it completely while doing work M H
Two-way traffic on one side of divided facility (crossover) Reduces worker risks; can reduce project duration M M
Reversible lanes Allows additional capacity to be used for peak direction traffic flows (compared to a static lane closure condition) M H
Ramp closures/relocation Can increase capacity by eliminating merging conflicts, smooth traffic flow; encourages diversion away from work zone at that location M M
Freeway-to-freeway interchange closures Can increase capacity by eliminating merging conflicts, smooth traffic flow; encourages diversion away from work zone at that location L L
Night work Capacity reductions occur when traffic volumes are lower H M
Weekend work Capacity reductions occur when traffic volumes are lower H M
Work hour restrictions for peak travel Capacity reductions occur when traffic volumes are lower H H
Pedestrian/bicycle accommodations Reduces traveler surprise to unexpected conditions; reduces public frustration and anxiety L L
Business access improvements Can increase capacity; reduces public frustration and anxiety L L
Off-site detours/use of alternate routes Causes additional diversion away from work zone beyond what would have occurred otherwise; can reduce other worker risks by provide more work space H L-H2
Project Coordination–Coordination with other projects Increases network/corridor capacity by reducing multiple capacity reductions happening at the same time H M
Project Coordination–Utilities coordination Reduces the duration of the work zone H H
Project Coordination–ROW coordination Reduces the duration of the work zone H H
Project Coordination–Coordination with other transportation infrastructure (e.g., rail transit, major generators) Increases network/corridor capacity by reducing multiple capacity reductions happening at the same time on different parts of the infrastructure; can also involve doing capacity reductions when traffic volumes are lower (i.e., avoiding peak travel times of major generators) H M
Contracting Strategies–Design-build Reduces the duration of the work zone M M
Contracting Strategies–A+B bidding Reduces the duration of the work zone M M
Contracting Strategies–Incentive/disincentive Reduces the duration of the work zone M M
Contracting Strategies–Lane rental Capacity reductions occur when traffic volumes are lower M M
Innovative construction techniques (e.g., precast members, rapid cure materials) Reduces the duration of the work zone M M

1 L = Low; M = Medium; H = High
2 Understanding of effectiveness of off-site detours and use of alternative routes depends on location and other factors, and so ranges from low to high

Table A-2. Expected Public Information and Outreach Strategy Impacts, Typical Frequency of Use on Significant Projects, and Expected Knowledge of Effectiveness.
Transportation Management Plan Strategies Types of Impacts Frequency of Use1 Current Understanding of Effectiveness1
Brochures and mailers Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone; reduce public frustration and anxiety M L
Press releases/media alerts Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Paid advertisements Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone; reduce public frustration and anxiety M L
Public information center Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; reduce public frustration and anxiety M L
Telephone hotline Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; reduce public frustration and anxiety L L
Planned lane closure map Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Project website Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Public meetings/hearings Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; reduce public frustration and anxiety M L
Community task forces Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; reduce public frustration and anxiety M L
Coordination with media/schools/ businesses/emergency services Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Work zone education and safety campaigns Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone H L
Work zone highway safety signs Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone H L
Rideshare promotion information Encourage additional travel diversion M L
Visual media information for meetings and web Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; reduce public frustration and anxiety M L
Traffic radio Encourage additional travel diversion H L
Changeable message signs Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Temporary motorist information signs (e.g., status of project, number of fatalities) Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Dynamic speed display signs Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone H M
Highway advisory radio Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone; reduce public frustration and anxiety L L
Highway information network (web-based) Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; reduce public frustration and anxiety L L
511 traveler information system Reduce public surprise to unexpected conditions; encourage additional travel diversion; reduce public frustration and anxiety H L
Freight travel information Encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone L L
Transportation management center Support use of motorist information strategies to encourage change in driving behavior (route, departure time, trip location) NA NA

1 L = Low; M = Medium; H = High; NA = Not Applicable

Table A-3. Expected Traffic Operations Strategy Impacts, Likely Frequency of Use on Significant Projects, and Expected Knowledge of Effectiveness.
Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Strategies Types of Impacts Frequency of Use1 Current Understanding of Effectiveness1
Transit service improvements Encourage additional travel diversion M M
Transit incentives Encourage additional travel diversion M M
Shuttle services Encourage additional travel diversion M M
Ridesharing/carpool incentives Encourage additional travel diversion M M
Park-and-Ride promotions Encourage additional travel diversion M M
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes Encourage additional travel diversion M M
Toll/congestion pricing (including High Occupancy Toll [HOT] lanes) Encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone L M
Ramp metering Increase traffic-carrying capacity through the work zone; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone M M
Parking supply management Encourage additional travel diversion L M
Variable work hours Encourage additional travel diversion L M
Telecommuting Encourage additional travel diversion L M
Signal timing/coordination improvements Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion H H
Temporary traffic signals Encourage safer driving behavior on alternative routes L L
Street/intersection improvements Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion H H
Bus turnouts Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion M H
Turn restrictions Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion H H
Parking restrictions Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion H H
Truck/heavy vehicle restrictions Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion M H
Separate truck lanes Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion L H
Reversible lanes Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; encourage additional travel diversion M H
Dynamic lane closure (merge) system Increase traffic-carrying capacity through the work zone; encourage safer driving behavior; reduce public anxiety and frustration L M
Temporary suspension of ramp metering Increase traffic-carrying capacity on alternative routes; reduce public anxiety and frustration L L
Ramp closures Increase traffic-carrying capacity through the work zone; encourage additional travel diversion; encourage safer driving behavior M L
Railroad crossing controls Encourage safer driving behavior L H
Coordination with adjacent construction sites Increases network/corridor capacity by reducing multiple capacity reductions happening at the same time M M
Speed limit reductions/variable speed limits Encourage safer driving behavior H L
Temporary traffic barrier Reduce severity of crashes between vehicles and work space H L
Moveable traffic barrier Reduce severity of crashes between vehicles and work space; allows capacity reductions to occur when traffic volumes are lower M M
Crash cushions Reduce consequences of crashes that do occur H H
Temporary rumble strips Encourage safer driving behavior M M
Intrusion alarms Reduce worker accidents L L
Warning lights Encourage safer driving behavior H L
Automated flagger assistance devices Reduce worker accidents L M
Establishing project task force/committee Support strategy to aid in identifying needs for other strategies NA NA
Establishing construction safety supervisors/inspectors Support strategy to aid in identifying needs for other strategies NA NA
Work zone safety audits Support strategy to aid in identifying needs for other strategies NA NA
Establishing a TMP monitoring/inspection team Support strategy to aid in identifying needs for other strategies NA NA
Stakeholder meetings Support strategy to aid in identifying needs for other strategies NA NA
Project on-site safety training Reduce worker accidents H L
Safety awards/incentives Reduce worker accidents M L
Windshield surveys Support strategy to aid in identifying needs for other strategies NA NA
Implementing intelligent transportation system (ITS) for traffic monitoring/management (such as queue warning systems) Increase traffic-carrying capacity through the work zone; encourage additional traveler diversion; encourage safer driving behavior; reduce public anxiety and frustration M M
Using/enhancing existing transportation management center Encourage additional traveler diversion; encourage safer driving behavior; reduce public anxiety and frustration M L
Traffic surveillance Support use of work zone ITS or existing transportation management center NA NA
Helicopter for aerial surveillance Support use of work zone ITS or existing transportation management center NA NA
Location reference signs Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur H L
Tow/freeway service patrol Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur H M
Total station units Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur M M
Photogrammetry Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur M M
Coordination with media Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur H L
Preplanned local detour routes Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur M H
Contract support for incident management Method of procuring incident management services NA NA
Incident/emergency management coordinator Support for incident management strategies NA NA
Incident/emergency response plan Reduce the consequences of crashes that occur M H
Dedicated (paid) police enforcement Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone H M
Automated enforcement Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone L M
Increased penalties for work zone violations Encourage safer driving behavior through the work zone H L

1 L = Low; M = Medium; H = High; NA = Not Applicable

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