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Contents >> 6.0 MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC BEST PRACTICES

TRAFFIC CONTROL CONCEPTS FOR INCIDENT CLEARANCE

8.0 MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC BEST PRACTICES

National Emphasis

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched an aggressive campaign to promote congestion reduction; incident management is a key focus to achieving this goal. The USDOT Secretary’s initiative is titled,” A National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network." 32 As has been referenced, part of this initiative includes such efforts as the driver removal laws and strategies to speed the clearance of collisions for non-injury crashes accounting for more than half of all reported crashes as referenced in Chapter 2.

Laws

Chapter 2 of this guidebook addresses the move it and move over laws that focus on the proactive actions by drivers. Both types of laws are designed to minimize the exposure of risk to first responders in the line of duty and the risk to the motoring public involved in minor non-injury crashes.

Expanding Role of Freeway Service Patrols

The initiative also promotes service patrol capabilities. Full function service patrols, when properly equipped, can offer support in implementing the traffic control functions required at the scene in a timely manner. As an example, in addition to its other service patrol duties, Georgia’s Highway Emergency Response Operators Program, is charged with quickly and proactively removing lane-blocking incidents. 33 Another program of note is the Illinois Service Patrol, the Minute Men, which has been a model since 1961, providing incident response support in addition to assisting disabled vehicles. 31 Maryland’s Coordinated Highways Action Response Team Program utilizes emergency response units to set up overall traffic control at accident locations. 34

Temporary Traffic Control Plan Guidance

Traffic control guidelines for incidents are addressed in Part 6 of the Manual of Unified Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) 2 or a similar state manual. The traffic control measures required for an incident are the same as for temporary work zones. Because of the emergency nature, in the initial phase of clearance, traffic control is normally done manually by the first responders using equipment such as a vehicle, flares, roll-up signs, flagging, etc. The placement and staging of the emergency vehicle response units must be coordinated to ensure efficiency and mobility to/from the site. If it is the judgment of the incident control system (ICS) commander that the time necessary to clear the incident may exceed 30 minutes, than a standard traffic control plan, as depicted in the MUTCD or state development manual or standard, will need to be implemented. In June 2006, in an effort to supplement the MUTCD, the Temporary Traffic Control Committee of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices published its recommendations of traffic control management of incidents by type of highway incident, for possible inclusion in the MUTCD. While this guidance has not been included yet, it does provide guidance for traffic incident responders for various roadway configurations and different incident time frames. 35

Similar information can be found in documents such as the Guidelines for Emergency Traffic Control developed by the University of Kentucky, College of Engineering, and the Kentucky Transportation Center. 36 This guideline goes through the basics of the MUTCD as well as identifying and addressing the four phases of traffic control.

Phase 1—Provide immediate traffic control

Phase 2—Establish the traffic control

Phase 3—Monitor and adjust

Phase 4—Hand off or removal

Several entities have simple, but formal, reference documents dealing with traffic control. An example of this is the Work Zone Traffic Control Guidance developed by Washington State Department of Transportation for frequent types of emergency incidents. The prepared guidance addresses the adjustment to the traffic control contingent on various scenarios. 37

Active Traffic Management

Traffic flow can be impacted beyond the incident scene, especially when alternate detours are on the surface roadway system and should be addressed. Because the diversion can affect normal volume and traffic patterns, especially at signalized intersections where jurisdictions have a signal network operated by central software, the timings can be modified remotely during the diversion period. One example of this additional support is the City of Scottsdale, Arizona. The city operates a centrally located computerized traffic signal system, monitoring approximately 300 traffic signals. Their system allows the operators to make changes to the signal timing when unexpected traffic incidents affect the road system. 38

Another innovative example of addressing the traffic flow needs on surface streets is the City of Houston’s Mobility Response Team. While most efforts for safe, quick clearance and traffic control have been focused on the freeway system, the City of Houston has supplemented the local incident management program within the city by creating a team of trained “service officers,” dispatched from the Houston regional traffic management center, TranStar, to respond to and lessen the effects of the impact of significant traffic congestion resulting from malfunctioning traffic signals, crashes, and other mobility issues by providing traffic control and direction on the city streets. This program is a partnership between the Public Works Section and the Houston Police Department. 39

Planning, Cooperation and Coordination

Because of the nature of incidents, each is different and the set of responders will vary by the nature and location of the event; traffic control needs will vary with the clearance activities of the responders. Improvements in planning, cooperation, and coordination between responding agencies as well a mutual understanding of the various roles and responsibilities of the each agency can significantly improve the response and implementation time of the required traffic control.

At the national level, the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition 40 consists of the following member associations that also serve as important resources regarding the advancement and applications within the field of traffic incident management:

  • American Automobile Association
  • American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
  • American Public Transportation Association
  • American Traffic Safety Services Association
  • American Transportation Research Institute
  • Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International
  • Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • I-95 Corridor Coalition
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs
  • International Association of Fire Fighters
  • International Fire Service Training Association
  • International Municipal Signal Association
  • ITS America
  • National Association of State EMS Officials
  • National Emergency Number Association
  • National Fire Protection Association
  • National Volunteer Fire Council
  • Towing and Recovery Association of America
  • Transportation Research Board
  • U.S. Fire Administration

There are also several regional or corridor coalitions that promote, educate, and advocate for improved traffic incident management. Active participation in these coalitions strengthens local response capabilities. Some examples of these regional coalitions and their activities include:

State of Washington – In 2007, the Washington State Department of Transportation joined with the Washington State Patrol to form a Traffic Incident Management Coalition focusing on state-specific traffic incident management needs. The Coalition members include the Washington State Firefighter’s Association, American Automobile Association, Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Police, and the Towing and Recovery Association of Washington. One of the initial actions of this Coalition was to hold a statewide conference bringing together all of the stakeholders and initiating interagency dialog. 41

State of Wisconsin – Under the leadership of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the Traffic Incident Management Enhancement program is comprised of multiple stakeholders that have joined forces and are dedicated to fostering and improving incident management response. Initiated in 1995, in the Southeast region of the state, the program has since been expanded to include the entire state. 42

I-95 Corridor Coalition –Members of the I-95 Corridor Coalition include state and local departments of transportation, transportation authorities, transit and rail agencies, port authorities, motor vehicle agencies, state police/law enforcement, regional transportation organizations, US Department of Transportation, transportation industry associations, and Canadian affiliates along the I-95 corridor from Florida to Maine. This Coalition fosters the coordinated traffic control response of the various traffic management, law enforcement, fire, safety and emergency, or other incident management personnel intra- and inter-state. The Coalition allows a forum for these stakeholders to meet regularly to discuss and critique how to manage incidents and emergencies more effectively. An Information Exchange Network Clearinghouse is offered through a Coalition workstation that shares incident and traveler information with member agencies along the corridor. 43

Availability and Use of Traffic Control Devices

Maryland – In addition to service patrols, Maryland operates emergency response units that are used to set up overall traffic control at accident locations. They utilize freeway incident traffic management trailers pre-stocked with the necessary traffic control devices, such as signs, cones, and trailblazers, to facilitate the timely set up of the necessary traffic control for incidents requiring a full roadway closure. 44

Florida – The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) District 4 ( Fort Lauderdale / Palm Beach) service incident response vehicle (SIRV) carries additional equipment and supplies for traffic control during major incidents. The vehicle also serves as an incident command post when fire rescue forces leave the scene. It brings portable radios for each responding agency’s incident commander. Once on the incident scene, SIRV staff contact the appropriate personnel to discuss and implement the necessary emergency maintenance of traffic. 45

Figure 8. FDOT District 4 Service Incident Response Vehicle.

Figure 8. FDOT District 4 Service Incident Response Vehicle.

Texas – The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has also adapted a commercial bus to serve as a mobile command post for major incidents. This bus is outfitted with video transmission ability so that live incident and traffic conditions can be sent back to a traffic management center using wireless communication transmission during major incidents. 46

Training

Best practices start with sound education training programs. While not intended to be an exhaustive list, some training resources available to the incident management community that focus on traffic control training and present the latest in traffic control approaches include:

Florida – FDOT is developing a formal Maintenance of Traffic Training program for incident responders in Florida. Its purpose is to provide a standard of understanding and approach to various agency responders. 24

Texas – North Central Texas Council of Governments offers an extensive training program dealing with freeway incident management. They offer courses tailored for responders, managers, and executives. The content of these classes include detailed information and best practice techniques in operations and training, providing motorist information, detection and verification, response, site management, clearances, and traffic operations/management. 47

I-95 Corridor Coalition – A strong traffic control training program is one of the main focuses of the I-95 Corridor Coalition efforts. Information on the available training modules and videos, including a safe, quick clearance tool kit, can be found on the Coalition’s Web site at http://i95coalition.org. 43 The Coalition also conducts various workshops dealing with safe, quick clearance methods. This Web site has a wealth of information regarding incident management response

Training for Tow Operators – Industry associations, such as the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), are also raising the bar and using their influence to promote good practices in implementing traffic control plans. TRAA, through a DOT grant, has developed a multiple level certification program for towers that includes incident management training. 48

National Traffic Incident Management Coalition – This is a coalition of all the multidisciplinary agencies charged with the responsibility of incident management. The Coalition’s Web site, http://timcoalition.org/?siteid=41, 49 provides access to a number of traffic control guidance documents and courses, including information on the American Traffic Safety Services Association Emergency Traffic Control for Responders Course and the Safe and Effective Use of Law Enforcement Personnel in Work Zones as well as a one-day course offered by the International Fire Service Training Association, Guidelines for Highway Incident Scene Safety and Traffic Control.

Incident Management Workshops – A popular and effective method of providing regional training and strengthening of partnerships among the various responders is the workshop. Several states, including Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri, have held traffic incident management workshops in 2007. Many of these are being done in conjunction with the departments’ of transportation Self-Assessment on Traffic Incident Management initiative. 50