Supplemental Questions: Effects of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule
Most agencies have experienced changes in their practices as a result of the Rule. Agencies are continuing to see an increased impact from the Rule, with more agencies reporting a significant change in their practices in 2010 than in previous years. The number of agencies that thought it was too early to tell if the Rule had an impact has dropped to three or fewer agencies on all of the questions except whether the agency is using a more consistent approach to planning, designing, and constructing projects where six agencies responded that it was too early to tell.
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.
- 27 agencies (52 percent) responded that the Rule had caused this practice to change - with 5 of those agencies indicating that the Rule had caused a significant change.
- 22 agencies (42 percent) responded that the Rule had not caused any change, with 20 of those agencies noting that this practice was already taking place prior to the Rule.
- 3 agencies (6 percent) said that it is too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on this area.
Figure 8. 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.
- 39 agencies (75 percent) said that the Rule had caused change – with 8 of those agencies citing the Rule as causing a significant change.
- 11 agencies (21 percent) said that the Rule had not caused a change, with all stating this was because this practice was already in place before the Rule.
- 2 agencies (4 percent) responded that it is too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on this area.
Figure 9. 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.
- 28 agencies (54 percent) said that the Rule has caused change – with 8 of those agencies citing a significant change.
- 23 agencies (44 percent) said that the Rule had not caused a change as this was already taking place.
- 1 agency (2 percent) 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
4. As a result of its work zone policy, the agency is using a more consistent approach to planning, designing, and constructing road projects.
- 30 agencies (58 percent) noted that the Rule had caused a change – with 7 of those agencies responding that the Rule had caused a significant change.
- 16 agencies (31 percent) responded that the Rule had not caused a change in this area, with all saying the practice was already in place before the Rule.
- 6 agencies (12 percent) said it was still too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on this area.
Figure 11. 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.
- 34 agencies (65 percent) responded that the Rule has caused a change in this area - with 15 of those agencies citing a significant change.
- 15 agencies (29 percent) responded that the Rule had not caused a change, with 12 of those agencies saying this practice was already taking place before the Rule.
- 3 agencies (6 percent) noted that it was still too early to tell if the Rule had an impact on training.
Figure 12. Results for Supplemental Question 5
