Guidance on Data Needs, Availability, and Opportunities for Work Zone Performance Measures

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Contact Information: WorkZoneFeedback@dot.gov

Source: Cover images (clockwise from left): (1) Texas Transportation Institute, (2) Texas Transportation Institute, (3) Freeway and Arterial System for Transportation (FAST), Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, and (4) Federal Highway Administration Publication (FHWA-HRT-12-004)

Publication No. FHWA-HOP-13-011

March 2013

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Notice
The Federal Highway Administration provides high quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1.1 Why Are Work Zone Performance Measures Needed?
• 1.2 What Data Is Needed?
• 1.3 Where Can Practitioners Obtain Data?
• 1.4 Guidance Document Objectives

• 2.1 Characteristics of Useful and Effective Work Zone Performance Measures
• 2.2 Users of Work Zone Performance Measures
• 2.3 Determining Work Zone Performance Measures of Greatest Interest and Use

• 3.1 Mobility-Related Data Sources
  • 3.1.1 Throughput Data
    • 3.1.1.1 Data Sources That Already Exist
    • 3.1.1.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
    • 3.1.1.3 Key Considerations and Trade-offs of Throughput Data Sources
  • 3.1.2 Delay, Unit Travel Time, and Travel Time Reliability Data
    • 3.1.2.1 Data Sources Currently Available
    • 3.1.2.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
    • 3.1.2.3 Key Considerations and Trade-offs of Delay, Unit Travel Time, and Travel Time Reliability Data Sources
  • 3.1.3 Traffic Queue Data
    • 3.1.3.1 Sources Currently Available
    • 3.1.3.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
    • 3.1.3.3 Key Considerations and Trade-offs of Traffic Queue Data Sources
• 3.2 Identifying and Computing Specific Mobility Measures of Interest
  • 3.2.1 General Considerations
  • 3.2.2 Specific Throughput Measures
  • 3.2.3 Specific Unit Travel Time and Delay Measures
  • 3.2.4 Specific Travel Time Reliability Measures
  • 3.2.5 Specific Traffic Queue Measures

• 4.1 Safety-Related Data Sources
  • 4.1.1 Crash Data Sources
    • 4.1.1.1 Sources That Already Exist
    • 4.1.1.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
    • 4.1.1.3 Key Considerations and Trade-offs of Work Zone Traffic Crash Data Sources
  • 4.1.2 Safety Surrogate Data Sources
    • 4.1.2.1 Sources That Already Exist
    • 4.1.2.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
    • 4.1.2.3 Key Considerations and Trade-offs of Safety Surrogate Data Sources
  • 4.1.3 Worker Accident Data Sources
    • 4.1.3.1 Sources That Already Exist
    • 4.1.3.2 Possible Sources in the Near Future
    • 4.1.3.3 Key Considerations and Trade-offs of Worker Accident Data Sources
• 4.2 Identifying and Computing Specific Safety Measures of Interest
  • 4.2.1 General Considerations
  • 4.2.2 Specific Crash Measures
  • 4.2.3 Specific Safety Surrogate Measures
  • 4.2.4 Specific Worker Accident Measures

• 5.1 Customer Satisfaction Data Sources
  • 5.1.1 Sources that Currently Exist
  • 5.1.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
  • 5.1.3 Key Considerations and Trade-Offs of Work Zone Customer Satisfaction Data Sources
• 5.2 Identifying and Computing Specific Customer Satisfaction Performance Measures

• 6.1 Efficiency and Productivity Data Sources
  • 6.1.1 Sources That Already Exist
  • 6.1.2 Potential Sources in the Near Future
  • 6.1.3 Key Considerations and Trade-Offs of Work Zone Efficiency and Productivity Data Sources
• 6.2 Identifying and Computing Specific Work Zone Efficiency and Productivity Measures

List of Appendices

List of Tables

• Table 1-1. Overview of Data Types
• Table 1-2. Work Zone Performance Data Categories
• Table 1-3. Sources of Exposure and Indicator/Stratification Data
• Table 3-1. Considerations and Trade-offs of Throughput Data Sources
• Table 3-2. Considerations and Trade-offs of Delay, Unit Travel Time, and Travel Time Reliability Data Sources
• Table 3-3. Estimated Queue Length Each Hour
• Table 3-4. Considerations and Trade-offs of Traffic Queue Data Sources
• Table 3-5. Examples of Specific Throughput Performance Measures
• Table 3-6. Examples of Specific Unit Travel Time and Delay Measures
• Table 3-7. Examples of Specific Travel Time Reliability Performance Measures
• Table 3-8. Examples of Specific Traffic Queue Measures
• Table 4-1. Considerations and Trade-offs of Traffic Crash Data Sources
• Table 4-2. Considerations and Trade-offs of Traffic Safety Surrogate Data Sources
• Table 4-3. Considerations and Trade-offs of Worker Accident Data Sources
• Table 4-4. Examples of Specific Work Zone Traffic Crash Performance Measures
• Table 4-5. Examples of Specific Work Zone Safety Surrogate Crash Performance Measures
• Table 4-6. Examples of Specific Worker Accident Performance Measures
• Table 5-1. Considerations and Trade-Offs of Customer Satisfaction Data Sources
• Table 5-2. Examples of Specific Customer Satisfaction Performance Measures
• Table 6-1. Considerations and Trade-Offs of Construction Productivity and Efficiency Data Sources
• Table 6-2. Examples of Specific Agency or Contractor Efficiency and Productivity Performance Measures

List of Figures

• Figure 2-1. Example Use of Performance Measures for Continuous Improvement of Agency Work Zone Policy
• Figure 3-1. Relationship between Traffic Demand and Throughput at Work Zones
• Figure 3-2. Some Traffic Signal Systems can be a Source of Traffic Volume Data
• Figure 3-3. Mechanical Counters can Sample Throughput and/or Demand Volumes at a Work Zone
• Figure 3-4. The Connected Vehicle Initiative involves Communication between Vehicles and between Vehicles and Roadside Infrastructure
• Figure 3-5. Delays can be Estimated from a Series of Spot Speed Sensors along the Roadway Segment
• Figure 3-6. Components of Work Zone Delay
• Figure 3-7. Bluetooth Detection Technology is a Low-cost Method of Collecting Anonymous Point-to-Point Travel Time Data
• Figure 3-8. Steps to Estimate Queue Lengths from Spot Speed Sensor Data
• Figure 3-9. Example of Sensor Speed Analysis to Determine Duration and Length of Queue
• Figure 3-10. TOC Operators can Manually Record Upstream End of Queue Periodically for Use in Computing Queue Lengths and Durations
• Figure 3-11. Periodic Screen Captures of Private-Sector Traveler Information Maps can also be Used to Gather Work Zone Queuing Data
• Figure 3-12. Example of a Work Zone Mobility Dashboard Under Development
• Figure 4-1. Crash Dashboard In Use by FAST Personnel in Las Vegas, NV
• Figure 4-2. Example of the Inspection Form Used by Oregon DOT
• Figure 4-3. TTC is one Type of Safety Surrogate Data that can be Extracted from Traffic Simulation Model Output
• Figure 4-4. Determination of Whether Crashes have Increased Significantly in a Work Zone
• Figure 5-1. Focus Group Participants provide their Opinions about Particular Topics and can Offer Ideas on Possible Improvement Needs
• Figure 5-2. Example of a Script Used during a Telephone Interview of South Dakota Motorists
• Figure 5-3. Agency Websites are a Common Venue Used for Customer Surveys/Questionnaires (17)
• Figure 5-4. Illinois Tollway Actively Solicit Input about Work Zones on Its Facilities
• Figure 6-1. Various Construction Performance Metrics are Computed from an Agency's Construction Management Database
• Figure 6-2. Illinois Tollway Lane Closure Entry Screen
• Figure 6-3. Illinois Tollway Temporary Lane/Shoulder Closure Database

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