Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program

Supplemental Questions: Effects of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule

Overall agencies have experienced some changes in their practices as a result of the Rule. One of the biggest changes between 2008 and 2009 is that more agencies are seeing an impact from the Rule. The number of agencies that thought it was too early to tell if the Rule had an impact has dropped on all of the questions. Thirty-six agencies (71%) reported either a significant change (5 agencies) or some change (31 agencies) in enhanced consideration and management of work zone safety and mobility impacts, starting during planning and continuing though project completion. Agencies reported the least amount of change in training for staff (question 5). One agency did not complete the survey; therefore, percentages in the detailed discussion of the results are based upon the 51 agencies that completed the survey in 2009.

1. While planning and designing road projects, the agency is expanding planning beyond the project work zone itself to address corridor, network, and regional issues (e.g., alternate routes and/or modes, truck traffic, special events, etc.) - particularly when congestion is an issue. Twenty-three agencies (45%) responded that the Rule had caused this practice to change somewhat. Two agencies (4%) thought the Rule had caused a significant change in this area. Twenty-one agencies (41%) responded that it had not caused any change. Of those 21 agencies, three agencies responded that this was not taking place prior to the Rule and was still not occurring which was two more than in 2008. The remaining 18 agencies noted that this was already taking place prior to the Rule. Five agencies (10%) responded that it is too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on this area - this was down from 15 agencies (29%) last year which indicates that more agencies are seeing impacts from the Rule on their practices.

Figure 8. Results for Supplemental Question 1
Chart shows results for supplemental question 1.

2. The agency is seeing enhanced consideration and management of work zone safety and mobility impacts, starting during planning and continuing through project completion. Thirty-six agencies (71%) responded that the Rule had caused change, with five of those agencies citing the Rule as causing a significant change in this area. Twelve agencies (24%) responded that the Rule had not caused a change, with 11 stating this was because this practice was already in place before the Rule. One agency noted this year that this was not in place before the Rule and is not taking place after the Rule. Three agencies (6%) responded that it is too early to tell if the Work Zone Rule had an impact on this area.

Figure 9. Results for Supplemental Question 2
Chart shows results for supplemental question 2.

3. The agency is expanding work zone management beyond traffic safety and control to address mobility through the consideration and use of transportation operations and public information strategies. Twenty-six agencies (51%) responded that the Rule has caused change, with five of those agencies citing a significant change in this area. Twenty-one agencies (41%) cited that the Rule had not caused a change as this was already taking place before on this area. Four agencies (8%) noted that it was too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on expanding work zone management beyond traffic safety and control through the consideration and use of transportation operations and public information strategies.

Figure 10. Results for Supplemental Question 3
Chart shows results for supplemental question 3.

4. As a result of its work zone policy, the agency is using a more consistent approach to planning, designing, and constructing road projects. Twenty-three agencies (45%) noted that the Rule had caused a change with three of those agencies responding that the Rule had caused a significant change in this area. Eighteen agencies (35%) responded that the Rule had not caused a change in this area, all stating that the practice was already in place before the Rule. Ten agencies (20%) noted that it was still too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on this area.

Figure 11. Results for Supplemental Question 4
Chart shows results for supplemental question 4.

5. The agency has updated/changed training for its staff (designers, planners, construction staff, etc.) to address broader consideration of work zone impacts and management in the scheduling, design, and implementation of projects. Thirty agencies (59%) responded that the Rule has caused a change in this area, with 11 of those agencies citing a significant change. Fifteen agencies (29%) responded that the Rule had not caused a change, with 12 agencies stating that this was already taking place before the Rule and three stating that this was not in place before or after the Rule. Six agencies (12%) noted that it was still too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on training.

Figure 12. Results for Supplemental Question 5
Chart shows results for supplemental question 5.

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