Guidelines for Developing Transportation Management Plans in Virginia

About the report:

A transportation management plan (TMP) is a comprehensive program of traffic control, communication, operation, and demand management strategies designed to maintain acceptable levels of traffic flow in work zones. A systematic procedure and/or checklist is needed for developing plans to lessen the impact of construction projects that restore or improve highways. The purpose of this research was to establish guidelines for developing TMPs for construction projects. Three questions were addressed by the guidelines: When should a TMP be developed? How should a TMP be developed? What should be in a TMP? The Federal Highway Administration published the Final Rule on Work Zone Safety and Mobility on September 9, 2004. It facilitates the comprehensive consideration of the broader safety and mobility impacts of work zones across project development stages and the adoption of additional strategies including TMPs that help manage these impacts during project implementation. Guidelines for TMPs were derived from a draft implementation guide for the final rule with minor revisions. TMPs may consist of up to three components: (1) a temporary traffic control plan that describes traffic control measures used to facilitate road users through a work zone; (2) transportation operations strategies that will be used to ease work zone impacts; and (3) public information strategies to inform those affected by the project of the expected work zone impacts and changing conditions. At a minimum, each TMP should have a temporary traffic control plan. It is recommended that the Virginia Department of Transportation implement the guidelines developed in this study.

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