New Trends In Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Spring Occupational Safety & Health Committee Conference Philadelphia, PA

Michael Kelly Work history - Fire service member of 30 years (retired at the rank of Battalion Chief and Training Officer) - Owner of START Group for over 30 years - Member of the NCUTCD for over 12 years Work experience - Emergency preparedness trainer for Midwest Generation/NRG for over 15 years - Trainer of TTC and other OSHA related topics for power generation, transmission, and distribution companies and contractors throughout the nation - Contractor of choice for Commonwealth Edison for transformer confined space rescue services 2

Worker Challenges for Safe TTC Distracted drivers Increased congestion on the roadways Difficult areas to complete work Increase in age of drivers 3

Solutions to TTC Challenges Worker level - Increased visibility - Increase awareness of vulnerability Safety/Management level - Utility driven policies - Increased training - TTC audits New product level - Synchronized lighting - Quick reference guide - Signs (attached to vehicles or TIM functions) - Portable rumble strips 4

Regulations That Influence TTC MUTCD OSHA State DOT Guidelines from organizations (i.e., ATSSA, ITE, AASHTO) Specific company regulations Best practices established for different work groups 5

MUTCD Levels of Compliance Shall STANDARD Should GUIDELINE May OPTION Additional Information SUPPORT 6

Safety/Management Challenges for Safe TTC Establishing company specific procedures and best practices that are practical and appropriate for each work group Training personnel on the MUTCD concepts and these company specific procedures and best practices Equipping vehicles with hardware to complete these best practices Securing the buy in of line supervisory personnel Establishing a process to audit compliance of performance in the field 7

Fundamental Concepts of TTCZ The entire section of roadway between the first advance warning sign through the last traffic control device, where traffic returns to its normal path. 8

Component Parts of a TTC Zone Traffic Space Work Space Buffer Space Termination Area Activity Area Transition Area Advance Warning Area

Advance Warning System Warning signs to - Draw attention - Warn about the situation ahead - Inform of actions to take Diamond-shape signs = WARNING! 10

Transition Required for lane closures Traffic is moved from the normal travel lanes May contain various types of tapers Will discuss tapers later 11

Activity Area 3 Sub-components - Buffer spaces Longitudinal Lateral - Work space - Traffic space 12

Traffic Space Not to scale Work Space Buffer Space Activity Area

Longitudinal Buffer Space Recovery area for errant vehicles Protects workers ALWAYS empty: No vehicles, equipment or materials allowed STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Use unless there is a documented reason not to 2009 MUTCD: If a longitudinal buffer space is used, the values shown in Table 6C-2 may be used. (6C-11) 14

Table 6C-2. Stopping Sight Distance as a Function of Speed Speed (mph) L. Buffer (ft.) 20 115 25 155 30 200 35 250 40 305 45 360 Speed (mph) L. Buffer (ft.) 50 425 55 495 60 570 65 645 70 730 75 820 15 (Use for Longitudinal Buffer Spaces)(6C-11) 15

Lateral Buffer Space No set distance or table Case-by-case Engineering judgment Lateral buffer 16

Work Space Where the work takes place - Workers - Equipment and materials - Work vehicles - Maneuver room - Truck-mounted attenuator 17

Traffic Space The space open for road users to pass safely 18

Termination Area End of TTCZ Resume normal driving May contain (optional): - END ROAD WORK - Downstream taper Min. 100 ft. per lane reopened 19

100 500 Termination Area Not to scale

What is a Taper? A series of channelizing devices (and sometimes pavement markings) placed on an angle to move traffic out of its normal path A gradual increase or decrease A gradual transition 21

Tapers in TTCZ Created using channelizing devices to move traffic form its normal path May be used both in the transition and termination areas 22

Types of Tapers in the Advance Warning System Merge Shift Shoulder 23

Merge vs. Shift Tapers Lane closures Requires merging No lane is closed No merging but rather a shift Both have MINIMUM lengths! 24

One-Lane, Two-Way Taper Flagging taper 50 MIN 100 MAX TA 10 25

Why are Two-Lane Roads a Special Case? They are treated differently: - Short tapers to encourage drivers to slow or stop 50-100 feet Formulas do not apply! - Do not use arrow panels - Flagging operation 26

Taper Lengths Merging Taper Shifting Taper Shoulder Taper One-Lane, Two- Way Taper Termination Taper L MIN. ½ L MIN. 1/3 L MIN. 50 MIN. 100 ft. MAX. (DO NOT USE FORMULAS!!) 100 ft. MIN. (per lane reopened) 27

Formulas for Min. Length (L) of a MERGING Taper L = WS (45 mph or more) L = (WS 2 )/60 (40 mph or less) Where: L = length of the MERGING taper in ft. W = width of lateral displacement in ft. S = Speed in mph 28

S = Which speed? The speed could be: - Posted speed (MIN!) - Off-peak 85th percentile speed prior to work starting, or - The anticipated operating speed Prevailing speed Not necessarily the posted speed! 29

What is the 85 th Percentile Speed? The speed at which at least 85 percent of the traffic is traveling, or below Can be computed graphically Usually 8-10 mph above the posted speed 85 th what? 30

Minimum MERGING taper (L) length in feet S 10 11 12 < 25 105 115 125 30 150 165 180 35 205 225 245 40 270 295 320 45 450 495 540 50 500 550 600 55 550 605 660 60 600 660 720 65 650 715 780 70 700 770 840 75 750 825 900 80 800 880 960

Termination: Maximum Spacing = 20 Tangent: Maximum Spacing = Speed X 2 Taper: Maximum Spacing = Speed

Maximum Spacing of Channelizing Devices Depends on whether in: - Taper - Tangent (after the taper) - Other factors Curves Road topography Arterial roads Traffic and pedestrian pattern DEVICE SPACING 33

Maximum Channelizing Device Spacing On a Taper Spacing of devices should not exceed a distance in feet equal to the POSTED speed Example: 55 mph - Max spacing of devices on taper = 55 ft. 34

Maximum Channelizing Device Spacing On a Tangent Spacing of devices should not exceed a distance in feet equal to TWICE the POSTED speed Example: 60 mph - Max spacing of devices on tangent = 120 ft. 35

Spacing of Devices on Tapers For a one-lane, two-way and a downstream taper, MAXIMUM spacing between devices equals 10-20 feet. Typically 6 devices, 10-20 feet apart 20 20 20 20 20 100 36

Determining the Minimum Number of Devices Needed Example: - Length = 100 feet - Spacing = 20 feet apart 20 20 20 20 20 100 So how many devices are needed? Is there a formula? 37

Determining the Minimum Number of Devices Needed MIN. Number of devices = Length of devices + 1 Spacing = 100 20 + 1= 6 devices 20 20 20 20 20 100 38

What are Traffic Control Devices? Things used to implement a TCP in the field Objects motorists see and respond to when they drive through a TTCZ - Shall be approved in the MUTCD 39

Purpose of Traffic Control Devices Ensure highway safety by providing for the orderly and predictable movement of traffic and provide the guidance and warning necessary for road users to get through the work zone safely. 40

Requirements of Traffic Control Devices Fulfill a need Command attention Convey a clear, simple meaning Command respect of road users Give adequate time for proper response 41

Signs Familiar to users Provide a good deal of information to road users Convey messages through - Colors & shapes - Words & symbols 42

Sign (Background) Color Code Yellow: General Warning Red: Stop or Prohibition Blue: Motorist Services Guidance Green: Direction Brown: Recreational/Cultural Interest Orange: Temporary Black/White: Regulatory Fluorescent Yellow-Green: Ped/Bike Fluorescent Pink: Incident Management 43

Fluorescent Pink May be used for Incident Management signs Optional 44

Retroreflective Signs Reflect light back to the source Retro = back Reflective Retroreflective 45

Principle of Retroreflectivity Light to driver Retroreflective sheeting Light from headlamp Sign 46

Non-Retroreflective Signs Disappear at Night 47

Sign Dimensions The higher the speed, the larger the sign 48

Minimum Sign Dimensions High-speed roadways: - 48 x 48 Moderate speed/volume: - 36 x 36 Secondary roads and city streets: - 24 x 24 48 Check local standards! 49

Sign Location Usually on right side of road May be placed on left side for special emphasis 50

Sign Spacing Increases with speed Depends on the type of road - Urban - Rural - Expressways and freeways 51

A B C 52

Suggested Advance Warning Sign Spacing Road Type A B C Urban (low speed*) 100 100 100 Urban (high speed*) 350 350 350 Rural 500 500 500 Freeways and Expressways 1,000 1,500 2,640 *Speed category to be determined by highway agency. 53 53

Channelizing Devices Cones Tubular Markers Vertical Panels Drums Barricades 54

Channelizing Devices Serve To: Delineate Protect workers Guide drivers and pedestrians safely Channelize traffic 55

The Stripes Tell the Way! This way! 56

Barricades Control Traffic By: Closing Restricting Delineating all or a portion of the road 57

Types of Barricades TYPE I TYPE II TYPE III The number of retroreflective rails equals the barricade type! 58

Direction Indicator Barricades 2009 MUTCD approved - Built-in warning light - Built-in ballast - Configurable panels Battery compartment is LOW! 59

Flashing and Steady Burn Steady burn for delineation Flashing to draw attention to an object or hazard Movement (flash) draws your attention! 60

Synchronized Warning Lights on Channelizing Devices 2009 MUTCD approved - Synchronized warning lights on channelizing devices - Configuration choices - Must be consistent in the application 61

Arrow Boards A supplemental device - Should be used in addition to appropriate signs, barricades, or other traffic control devices 62

Arrow Board Minimum Mounting Heights Trailer: 7 feet above the roadway Vehicles: as high as practicable 63

Arrow Board Modes of Operation Flashing Arrow Sequential Arrow Sequential Chevron Flashing Double Arrow Flashing Caution 64

Use of the CAUTION Mode for Shoulder Work

Preferred Arrow Board Location For a stationary lane closures should be located on the shoulder at the beginning of the taper 66

Arrow boards SHALL NOT be used on a two-lane, two-way roadway for temporary one-lane operation!! 67

Test Results: Sound and Vibration: TPRS generates more vibration than adhesive strips Matches levels of ground-in rumble strips Sound: More sound than adhesive strips Vibration Compares well with ground-in rumble strips University of Kansas Study, Lawrence KS, May, 2009

Test Results: Speed Reduction Tested in 7 Work Zones 10-13 mph speed reductions Ohio University Study, Athens OH, USA, 2010 Conclusion: will improve safety in Work Zones

Kansas TPRS Results US 50 May- June 2004 1 Highway 9 Deaths 6 Weeks 7 Years Later 22 mile asphalt paving project Zero fatalities Zero crashes

The TXDOT Evaluation Highway 64, near Tyler TX Road-widening project; flagger, pilot car operation Avg. 3 accidents per week, due to distracted drivers We haven t seen an accident since we put the rumble strips up last July. They have made a lot of difference.

Applications Any Utility Operations where you want to protect the life of your employees

ANSI Requirements for High-Visibility Apparel ANSI 107, American National Standard for High- Visibility Safety Apparel ANSI 207, American National Standard for High- Visibility Safety Apparel Included in 2009 MUTCD 73

Class 3 Apparel For use where - Speeds above 50 mph - Wide range of weather conditions - Exceeds to 1,000 ft. MUTCD visibility requirement Recommended for nighttime flagging! 74

MUTCD Categories of Work Duration Long-Term Stationary Intermediate-Term Stationary Short-Term Stationary Short Duration Mobile 75

Long-Term Stationary The project occupies a location for more than 3 days 76

Intermediate-Term Stationary Work that occupies a location more than one daylight period up to 3 days, or Nighttime work lasting more than 1 hour 77

Short-Term Stationary Daytime work, from one to twelve hours 78

Short-Duration Work that occupies a location for up to one hour 79

Mobile Work that moves: - Intermittently = mobile Trash pickup Surveys Mowing - Continuously = moving Striping Installing rumble strips 80

Roadway Type Urban Streets low speeds, low volumes. Urban Arterial Roads low speeds, high volumes. Intersections low speeds, high volumes, complex situations. Rural Two-lane Roadways high speeds, low volumes. Rural/Urban Multilanes high speeds, high volumes. Freeways high speeds, high volumes. 81

MUTCD Locations of Work Outside the shoulder On the shoulder with no encroachment On the shoulder with minor encroachment Within the median Within the travel way 82

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 1. Lay out the traffic control - Determine the beginning of the work space. - Measure: Buffer space Taper length Shoulder taper, if used Advance warning sign spacing 83

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 2. If post-mounting signs, call for utility locates 84

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 3. Install the first sign(s) motorists will see. Proceed downstream ( with the flow of traffic ) Cover inapplicable signs 85

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 4. Install the shoulder taper, if used 5. If required, place an arrow panel on the shoulder at the beginning of the merging taper 86

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 6. Place channelizing devices at the required spacing (speed limit in feet) for the appropriate distance to form the transition area taper 87

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 7. Install devices at the appropriate spacing to form the buffer space 8. Continue placing devices at the appropriate spacing through the work space moving downstream 88

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 9. If required, place devices 20 feet apart to create a 100-foot long downstream termination taper. 89

Installing Stationary Lane Closures 10. If required, install the END ROAD WORK SIGN 11. Drive-through inspection - A night inspection is needed for night work 90

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Closing Comments Questions Mike Kelly Startgrouptraining.com 103