Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
Office of Operations 21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Text from 'Trip-Planning: More Than Just Road Signs' PowerPoint Presentation

Workshops > Work Zone Information

Slide 1

Michele Ackles

Delaware Department of Transportation DelDOT

Work Zone Safety Conference

Slide 2

The Context in Delaware

  • Small state with emphasis on personal relationships
  • Extensive state road system
    • 88% of roads are state-maintained
  • Population becoming more diverse

Slide 3

Routes for DelDOT Communication

  • Ongoing, general DelDOT Outreach
  • Project-Specific Outreach
    • Pre-Construction
    • During Construction

Slide 4

General DelDOT Outreach

  • Website
  • Email Subscription Notices
  • Print Construction Report
  • Events
  • DelDOT AM Radio Station
  • DelDOT 1-800 number

Slide 5

DelDOT Web Site

  • Press Releases
  • Travel Advisories & Live Traffic Camera
  • Subscription Services
  • Announcements of Public Meetings & Workshops
  • Capital Transportation Program
  • Links to DART, RideShare, TMA
  • Links to Project Sites

Screen capture of DelDOT web site

Slide 6

Live Traffic Cameras

Screen capture of DelDOT Live Traffic Cameras page

Slide 7

Subscription Email Services

Screen capture of DelDOT Subscription Email Services page

Slide 8

Print Construction Reports

  • Weekly traffic restriction information
  • Summer Construction Report

Screen capture of DelDOT Press Release page

Slide 9

Events

  • Transportation Festival, Home Show, Trade Shows
  • Meet people in a non-confrontational setting
  • General DelDOT information, job openings, project information

Slide 10

DelDOT Radio WTCM — AM 1280

  • Daily real-time traffic information
  • Weekly construction information
  • Transit information
  • Public workshop announcements

Screen capture of Travelers Advisory Radio System

Slide 11

And there’s more. . .

  • DelDOT 1-800 number
  • Work with MPOs
  • Public information brochures
  • Giveaways with website and radio station call numbers

Slide 12

Project-Specific, Pre-Construction Outreach

  • Working Groups/Planning Advisory Groups
  • Public Workshops
  • Internet
  • Print Media
  • Legislative Briefings
  • "Branding"

Slide 13

Working Groups/ Planning Advisory Groups

  • Range in size
  • Include neighborhood residents, public officials, other government entities, business groups, etc.
  • Help plan design & mitigation
  • Promote project to constituencies

Slide 14

Public Workshops

  • Go where people are
  • Make it fun
  • Target the workshop to your audience

Slide 15

Internet

  • Project Web Sites
  • "Virtual" Workshops

Screen capture of New Linden Road Project page

Slide 16

Screen capture of New Linden Road Project page

Slide 17

Screen capture of New Linden Road Project page

Slide 18

Screen capture of New Linden Road Project page

Slide 19

Print Media

  • Press Briefings
  • Press Releases
  • Newspaper ads
  • Survival Guides

Slide 20

Legislative Briefings

  • Legislators under time pressure and often do not attend working group meetings
  • Important avenue for reaching constituents

Slide 21

"Branding"

Unified graphic design throughout the project
Raises public awareness

Slide 22

The I-95 "Creep"

Photos of the I-95 "Creep"

Slide 23

Project-Specific Outreach During Construction

Continue Some Pre-Construction Activities:

  • Project Working Group
  • Project Web Sites
  • Press Releases

Slide 24

Project-Specific Outreach During Construction

Add New Activities:

  • Project Flyers
  • Construction Working Group
  • Construction Update Meetings
  • Project 1-800 hotlines
  • Employer Outreach

Slide 25

Construction Update Meetings

  • Meet with the public and the construction manager in the neighborhood
  • Allows residents and construction manager to know each other

Slide 26

Project Hotlines

  • Provide taped information
  • Outlet for people to comment
  • I-95 hotline had 900 calls per month during peak

Slide 27

Employer Outreach

  • Transportation Management Association reaches 70,000 employees via email
  • Coordinate transit with employer needs

Slide 28

Closing Thoughts

Our publics are changing, so our methods must change.

Nothing substitutes for personal relationships.
Office of Operations