National Transportation Operations Coalition: Work Zone Traffic Analysis Strategies Webinar

1
National Transportation Operations
CoalitionWork Zone Traffic Analysis
StrategiesWebinar

• FHWA
• Daniel Grate
• Noblis
• Dr. Karl Wunderlich
• Matthew Hardy
• 9 July 2008

2
Overview

• Introduction Welcome
• Topic 1 Perspectives on Work Zone Traffic
  Analysis Strategies
• Topic 2 Decision-Making Process and Work Zone
  Traffic Analysis
• Topic 3 Issues in Work Zone Traffic Analysis
• Conclusions

3
Topic 1Perspectives on Work Zone Traffic
Analysis Strategies
4
Goal Key Messages

• Goal
• Develop guidance for state and local DOTs on the
  effective use of traffic analysis tools to assist
  in the planning, design and operation of work
  zones
• Key Messages
• No single correct tool for all work zone
  analyses
• Effective work zone analysis and tool selection
  depends on
• schedule and resource constraints
• data availability and quality
• work zone characteristics
• decisions that need to be supported

5
Products

• Traffic Analysis Tools Volume VIIIA Guide for
  Decision-Makers
• Traffic Analysis Tools Volume IXA Guide for
  Analysts
• Case Studies are a critical component
• Project Applications
• Strategic Modeling Approaches

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Case StudiesProject Applications

• Woodrow Wilson Bridge
• Lane Closure Analysis (WWB-LCA)
• Roadway Operations Analysis (WWB-ROA)
• Roadway Closure Analysis (WWB-RCA)
• California I-15 Pavement Reconstruction (CA
  I-15)
• Nova Scotia, Canada Reeves Street (NS-Reeves)
• Glacier National Park Going to the Sun Road
  Rehabilitation Project (GNP)
• Zion National Park Entrance Booth Reconstruction
  (ZION)
• Yosemite National Park Yosemite Village Roadway
  Reconstruction (YOS)
• Utah I-15 Reconstruction Design-Build Evaluation
  (UT I-15)
• Detroit, Michigan
• Ambassador Gateway Bridge MOTSIM (MI AMB)
• I-94 Rehab MOTSIM (MI I-94)
• I-75 Trade Corridor MOTSIM (MI I-75)

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Case StudiesStrategic Modeling Approaches

• New Jersey Turnpike AuthorityLane Closure
  Application
• Wisconsin DOTTransportation Management Plan
  Development Process
• Michigan DOT Southeastern Michigan Simulation
  Network (SEMSIM)

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Case Study Locations
Project Applications
KEY
Strategic ModelingApproaches
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Topic 2Decision-Making Process and Work Zone
Traffic Analysis
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Decision-Making Engine
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Decision Making in the Project Life Cycle
Work Zone Traffic AnalysisDecision-Making Process
Program Delivery Process
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Decision-Making Process
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Planning

• Initial assumptions may emerge

• Strongest connections between application and
  scheduling

• Many scenarios are tested and many changes are
  made

Case Study Example Going to the Sun Road,
Glacier National Park
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PE/Design

• Stronger connection between scheduling and
  application

• Scheduling and application decisions create
  constraints

• Traffic control becomes more important

Case Study Example M-10 Lodge Freeway, Detroit,
Michigan
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Construction

• Application technique finalized

• Limited flexibility to change project schedule

• Traffic control plans have been developed some
  adaptation may be possible due to schedule

Case Study Example Woodrow Wilson Bridge,
Northern Virginia
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Impact of Decisions
planning
pe/design
construction
modeling opportunities
data requirements
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Topic 3Issues in Work Zone Traffic Analysis
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Factors in Selecting aWork Zone Analysis Tool

• Work Zone Characteristics
• Transportation Management Plan
• Data Availability and Quality
• Agency Resources
• Performance Measures

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Work Zone Characteristics

• Type
• I Affects a a large number of traveler at the
  regional scale, with high public interest,
  significant user cost impacts and a long
  duration.
• II Similar to Type I but moderate impact.
• III Similar to Type I but low impact.
• IV Short-duration work zone with low visibility
  and public interest
• Configuration
• Isolated Single work zone with limited
  interaction of surrounding infrastructure.
• Pipe Single work zone with limited interaction
  of surrounding infrastructure.
• Network Connected, inter-dependent network
  structure with multiple access points and
  alternate routes.
• Geographic Scale
• Small, Medium, Large
• Analysis Area
• Site, Local, Metropolitan

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Case Studies Project ApplicationsCharacteristic
Summary
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Transportation Management Plan

• Temporary Traffic Control
• Control Strategies
• Traffic Control Devices
• Coordination/Contracting/Innovative Construction
  Strategies
• CA I-15 CA4PRS Application
• Public Information
• Public Awareness Strategies
• WWB Roadway Closure Analysis
• Motorist Information Strategies
• Transportation Operations
• Demand Management Strategies
• Corridor/Network Management
• Work Zone Safety Management
• UT I-15 Work Zone Safety Analysis
• Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement

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Data Availability and Quality
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Agency Resources

• Institutional Arrangements
• Technical Staff
• Funding
• Schedule

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Performance Measures

• Travel Time
• Delay
• Queue Length
• Speed
• Volume
• User Cost
• Incidents
• Cumulative Impact

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Choosing a Modeling Approach
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Modeling Spectrum
Simple
Complex
Sketch Planning
HCM
Meso
Micro
Macro
Limited Rough Estimation Shorter Limited Lower
Comprehensive Precise Calculation Longer Required
Higher
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ComprehensiveWork Zone Analysis Methodologies
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Identifying a Modeling ApproachModeling Risk
Frontier
high
Modeling Opportunities
Resource Availability
Significant Technical Risk
low
high
Level of Detail
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Identifying a Modeling ApproachWork Zone Case
Studies
WWB
high
Detroit, MI SEMSIN
CA I-15 (operations)
WWB-ROA
UT I-15
CA I-15 (planning) WWB-RCA
Resource Availability
medium
New Jersey Turnpike LCA WWB-LCA ZION
Significant Technical Risk
low
low
high
medium
Level of Detail
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Identifying a Modeling ApproachWork Zone
Modeling Tool Selection
Microscopic (Multi-scale)
Mesoscopic (Network)
high
Microscopic
Travel DemandModel (Network)
Mesoscopic (Pipe)
Resource Availability
medium
Macroscopic (Pipe)
Significant Technical Risk
Sketch Planning HCM
low
low
high
medium
Level of Detail
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Conclusions

• Results from models serve to improve overall
  understanding of forces affecting work zone
  decision-making.
• mobility, financial, environmental and safety
• Modeling should never be used to make key
  decisions but a trusted resource identifying the
  potential mobility impacts informing key
  decisions.
• Value of analysis is directly related to the
  context for analysis and the context for
  validation.
• Work zone analysis extends beyond running the
  model and reporting results.
• Must provide decision-makers with a broader
  understanding that connects the findings of the
  analysis within the decision-making context.

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Available Resources

• FHWA Office of Operations, Work Zone Safety and
  Mobility Program
• http//www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/index.asp
• Work Zone Impacts Assessment An Approach to
  Assess and Manage Work Zone Safety and Mobility
  Impacts of Road Projects
• http//www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/final_rul
  e/wzi_guide/index.htm
• FHWA Traffic Analysis Toolbox (TAT)
• http//ops.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficanalysistools/index
  .htm
• FHWA Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program Best
  Practices Guide
• http//www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/practices/practices
  .htm