Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

B4−6: "Build a Better Mousetrap" Competition

DESCRIPTION:

A transportation management plan (TMP) is an overall strategy for accommodating traffic during construction on a project or corridor. Through the development of TMPs, State agencies are able to plan for and implement strategies to improve safety and mobility while still completing the necessary work on the roadway.
Several States across the country have produced tools to help them develop effective TMPs. Tool efforts include developing templates so that TMPs follow a consistent format and thought process, and sample TMPs to illustrate what the State is looking for in its TMPs. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) identified four levels of work zone impacts for project classification, and then developed a set of four TMP templates in Microsoft Excel (one for each impact level) for staff to use when developing TMPs. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) developed a series of sample TMPs that designers can use when starting their own TMPs for upcoming road construction projects.
Several States, including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Maryland, have developed TMP checklists to aid designers and ensure consideration of all necessary factors in developing TMPs. For example, Maryland has a work zone design checklist for identifying traffic control options, work zone impacts, and impacts management strategies. The Illinois TMP checklist lists possible components to include in TMPs and is intended to assist both preparers and reviewers of TMPs.
FHWA developed TMP templates and samples to illustrate what TMPs could look like for low to moderate impact projects and moderate to high impact projects. Agencies can use these templates and samples as a reference or starting point for their own efforts. The templates are available in Microsoft Word format and are easily adaptable for customization by agencies. TMP samples, templates, and tips from FHWA, RIDOT, VDOT, and other State agencies are available at http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rule/tmp_examples.htm.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

Most local and Tribal agencies are very short on resources. They continually develop new concepts and techniques to accomplish their objectives, but they are not shared with other jurisdictions that might well benefit from the same idea.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Publishing novel concepts, as well as recognition of the best ideas, transfers technology and creates energy for trying new and better ways of conducting business.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

Type of Facility: Local roads.
Location: Primarily rural, some urban.
Volume/Speed: Primarily low−volume, low−speed, but includes others.
Type of Work: Primarily maintenance.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

Federal Highways

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Susan Monahan, Communications Liaison, FHWA LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse
Phone: (202) 289−4434
E−mail: smonahan@artba.org