Overview
The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) hosted the Maintenance Work Zones Virtual Peer Exchange to share information between a cross section of agency managers in the transportation operations and maintenance function of their jurisdictions. Their experience in developing and managing temporary work zone plans, programs, technology, strategies, and policies in their organizations provided the basis for an exchange of ideas about current leading practices.
The goal of the peer exchange was to share successful real-world experience from agencies working on the safety and efficiency of temporary and maintenance work zones by using TSMO strategies. The Transportation Operations Manual states that "the phrase, 'speed kills' is perhaps more applicable in work zones than any other area. The combination of speed, reduced clearances, changes in roadway geometry… combine to heighten the risks associated with work zone crashes, especially to workers."
There was an emphasis on sharing successful approaches such as work force training and development, Smart Work Zone technologies, work zone data exchanges (WZDx), and traffic safety cameras, as well as traveler information and messaging that can be adapted and applied to other peer organizations. The discussion in each segment shared challenges, successes, and lessons learned with various applications. Agency staff are working to create new opportunities to improve maintenance work zones through collaborative problem-solving, but some aspects are still a work-in-progress in some regards.
The participants were encouraged to actively take part by sharing their questions, comments, and current practices among each other. An introductory segment conducted polling of participants to gauge where their agencies are with respect to the different topics on the agenda. Key issues not touched on or where additional engagement is needed are noted in Next Steps at the end of this report. Attendees were asked to consider the actions their agency may need to take to align desired goals and objectives to provide safe maintenance work zones, incorporate new data sources and technologies, share public information, keep their staff up to date in their training and development to resolve the current and future challenges.
Participants are able to reach out to presenters for further information or assistance, and were asked how the NOCoE, its partner associations, and FHWA can provide resources to assist them in their implementation of maintenance work zones.