Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Sample Transportation Management Plans and Templates - Table of Contents

B. TMP Tips and Tools

TMP Development Tips and Considerations

  • Early TMP Development—Conducting TMP analyses early in a project's development helps ensure that TMP development and implementation costs are included in the project budget and that agencies consider work zone impacts in evaluation and selection of design alternatives.
  • Early Project Coordination—Coordinating among multiple projects in the same corridor or region is important to effectively manage overall work zone impacts and maximize use of resources. When coordination across projects is not done early in the process, it can lead to conflicts in roles and responsibilities, TTC plans, and other strategies in the future and can result in additional cost. Some agencies have found to helpful to create a regional TMP or corridor TMP to help coordinate individual project TMPs and address overarching issues in an integrated way when there are several projects in an area at the same time. Such coordination may also bring to light opportunities for sharing resources, such as dynamic message signs or motorist assist patrols, potentially leading to cost efficiencies.
  • Stakeholder Coordination—Stakeholder coordination is invaluable for successful completion of any project as it helps keep the stakeholders informed, provides an avenue to seek their input on and knowledge of local/regional issues, and improves interagency coordination and response to work zone issues. Good, early coordination with stakeholders can help identify additional solutions to work zone concerns and eliminate later surprises.
  • TMP Costs—Estimating the work zone management strategy implementation cost of the TMP and including these costs within the overall project budget is crucial, as it may be difficult to obtain additional funding at a later time.
  • Multi-Jurisdictional Communication and Buy-In—Early communication and coordination with surrounding DOTs and other relevant agencies will help in planning mitigation strategies and provide the basis for better support and solutions. This is particularly important for projects where impacts are expected to extend beyond State lines.
  • Viability of Alternate Routes, Including Pedestrian Detours—Consider and include proposed alternate/detour routes in the traffic analysis to assess how viable the proposed routes are in addressing the safety and mobility issues that may arise for all road users. Also assess any proposed pedestrian/bicycle detour routes to determine any safety or accessibility issues.
  • Contract Documents—Specify in contract documents which requirements supersede others to avoid any conflicts between TMP guidelines and any other contract documents. It is also desirable to include any specific TMP requirements (including the potential need for TMP modifications as the project develops) in contract documents for projects when a contractor will develop the TMP (e.g., design-build project).
  • Summary Tables—When possible, use summary tables in the TMP document to help increase the clarity of information. Some transportation agencies include a summary table in the TMP to provide a quick overview of the operational characteristics for the existing and proposed conditions.
  • TMP Updates—Revise the TMP and its appendices/attachments periodically as major changes are made to the proposed improvements and schedules. Specify the requirement of TMP updates (if needed frequency of updates can also be included) in contract documents for a contractor-developed TMP.
  • TMP Uniqueness and Flexibility in Development—Because each project is unique, these TMP Samples and Templates are not intended to be restrictive; agencies should use them as resources to assist in the TMP development process.
  • TMP Training—It is important to provide TMP Training to all involved in the development and implementation of TMPs. Training will help the staff to understand work zone impacts issues, and the process involved and options available in developing, implementing, and monitoring TMPs and help improve the consistency of TMPs within an agency.

TMP Development and Implementation Tools

FHWA has developed a guide, Developing and Implementing Transportation Management Plans for Work Zones, to assist practitioners with TMPs. The guide discusses TMP development processes and considerations, and include a work zone management strategies matrix. This guide, and more information on the below tools, are available on the FHWA Work Zone website at http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rule/tmp_examples/tmp_dev_resources.htm.

Many States have developed tools to assist their work zone practitioners through the TMP development process. A sampling of these tools include:

  • Red Flag Summary—The Maryland State Highway Administration (MdSHA) has developed a red flag summary to assist its agency personnel in making a preliminary determination on some of the major issues that could arise during project development. The checklist flags any major construction issues during the early planning stage to avoid costly and complex conflicts or changes in the future.
  • TMP Data Sheets—The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) prepares TMP data sheets for all projects during the conceptual planning and design stages of a project to gather and summarize TMP-related information as the project develops. The data sheets include preliminary TMP strategies and costs, a work description, the work areas, and available information about traffic patterns.
  • TMP Templates—Rhode Island DOT (RIDOT) has developed four templates depending on the impact level of projects, with levels 1 and 2 designated as significant. The templates help to ensure that key steps are completed during TMP development and that TMPs do not overlook key items. The templates also provide consistency, which can aid in TMP review, approval, and evaluation.
    • RIDOT TMP Templates also includes a Post-Construction Work Zone Performance Assessment to be completed by the RIDOT TMP Implementation Manager at the completion of the work. This assessment helps document lessons learned and successes/failures of the TMP itself and its requirements, and provides recommendations on how to improve the TMP process and/or modify guidelines.
  • Work Zone Impact Assessment Decision Tree—The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) has developed a work zone impact assessment decision tree and an impacts consideration worksheet to help identify the potential project work zone mobility impacts and provide guidelines for developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
  • Intelligent Work Zone (IWZ) Toolbox—Mn/DOT developed an IWZ Toolbox that contains preliminary illustrations of IWZ Systems that are typically deployed and provides guidelines for selecting an appropriate IWZ System for existing work zone traffic issues and to mitigate anticipated issues on scheduled projects. The IWZ systems illustrated in the toolbox can be combined, modified, enhanced or simplified as necessary to suit the project needs.
  • TMP Workbook—The Tennessee Department of Transportation developed a TMP Workbook to aid DOT staff in developing TMPs. The Workbook serves as a decision-making platform for the TMP and also helps document TMP development. The first part of the Workbook (Project Significance Determination) is filled in by the planning staff, and then passed to designers to complete the sections on TMP strategies during project design.
  • TMP Strategy Database—The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) developed a TMP Strategy Database program that returns possible appropriate work zone management strategies based on user inputs or various project characteristics. The program helps planners and designers select work zone management strategies and develop TMPs in a more systematic way, beginning at work zone planning, with re-evaluation occurring in the design stage. Construction personnel can use the program to find a solution should concerns arise while the work zone is in operation.
  • Work Zone Design Checklist—MdSHA developed a work zone design checklist, which provides a list of potential work zone impacts, design options, and management strategies. The Checklist helps designers identify work zone impacts that need to be assessed, and helps ensure that appropriate work zone options have been considered and strategies have been chosen before going forward.
  • Transportation Systems Management Meetings (TSMs)—The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Communications and Community Partnerships Division is involved throughout the design, construction, and maintenance process of a project to ensure that all stakeholders are involved. During construction, ADOT conducts frequent TSM meetings with all stakeholders, including contractors and political subdivisions.
  • TMP Training—The Wisconsin Department of Transportation developed and implemented a TMP training course that explains specific components of a TMP within the context of Wisconsin practice, requirements, and project development.

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